4 villages for 4 giant benches, discovering Lake Iseo

Start from Sale Marasino, about half an hour from Brescia: climbing the heights is Big Bench 74, a sunny yellow colour and an open view of Lake Iseo. The place is wonderful in itself and even more enjoyable if you bring a picnic or snack to stop and admire the landscape a little longer: villages tucked into the heights, islets, mountains in the background. If you take the car from Sale Marasino, it takes about 15 minutes to reach the Zone Pyramids Nature Reserve, where from the road you can clearly see the group of spires made of earth with the characteristic boulders at the top that seem to have been balanced. A unique scenario, the result of a rare phenomenon of erosion, which attracts more and more fans and is certainly worth a stop.

Going down to the shores of the Lake, a visit to Monte Isola, the largest lake island in Italy, is a must. It can be reached in about 20 minutes by ferry from Sale Marasino and offers unique views, among the villages of Peschiera Maraglio, the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Ceriola and the village of Cura, lost in time.

Back on dry land, we head towards Pilzone by car to get to Big Bench 73, which is accessed starting from the village square along a paved mule track of about one kilometre. A few metres from the bench is the church of San Fermo, a simple building but much loved by the locals. Of particular interest is the bell tower detached from the main structure, which is clearly visible from afar. The bottle-green-coloured Big Bench is a perfect stopping point to enjoy the view and the surrounding nature. On the way back, we come across a pretty village, with beaches and areas equipped for relaxation and boat trips.

The next stop is towards Iseo, where you can spend the night if you like, and continue further, reaching the Torbiere del Sebino Natural Park for a pleasant visit in nature. Declared a wetland of international importance, it is an area of great biodiversity in the Lombardy Po Valley, with a variety of habitats and aquatic-palustrine species, which are precious, rare or at risk of extinction. This is just one of the many excursions, but Lake Iseo can also be discovered by boat, using the Lake Iseo Navigation service, by bike and on foot with trails for walkers of all levels.

On the way back from the excursion in the Park, we continue towards the opposite shore of the lake. From Sarnico, a lively and charming town, you pass through Predore to Tavernola Bergamasca. From here you can take a winding road up the hill to reach Vigolo, the municipality that is home to the red-blue Big Bench 176, set among the slopes of the hills and framed by the lake in the background.

To conclude our tour to discover the Big Benches on Lake Iseo, we take the road that runs along the lake, in a succession of bays, small coves and viewpoints. We have arrived at the last Big Bench: Riva di Solto-Fonteno. It can be accessed by a short walk parking your car in Fonteno, or get closer and walk only a few steps. You will be amazed by the scenery that opens out onto the lake and the mountains. Continuing the route in a northern direction, Bogn Bay, Punta delle Croci Bergamasche, Gre and Orrido di Castro follow one another in a crescendo of beauty, until you reach Lovere, an ancient village where you can visit the Tadini Academy of Fine Arts. It's worth a stop, for the collection of porcelain and for the works of the sculptor, Antonio Canova, which are preserved here. The ancient village of Lovere is a treasure trove of alleys, mediaeval buildings, such as Torri, Palazzo del Podestà, Castelliere, and many breathtaking views.

Content compiled with information provided by our partner Big Bench