Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
At the lake's southeast edge, the sun sets directly in front of the lakefront promenade in
Iseo and the string of squares just behind the waterfront is wonderful for hanging about in
cafes and people-watching.
About 500m west of the old centre, you can hire canoes and pedalos for about €6 an
hour. At
Iseobike
( 340 39 62 095;
www.iseobike.com
;
Via Colombera 2; bike rental per hour/day €4.50/12, hel-
met €3; 9.30am-12.15pm & 2.30-7pm May-Aug, Fri-Sun Sep-Apr)
Franco rents bikes, but will also put
together tailor-made cycling tours around the lake and amid the vineyards of the Franciac-
orta wine area immediately to the south. There's also an
IAT Iseo
( 030 98 02 09;
www.agenzialagoiseofranciacorta.it
;
Lungolago Marconi 2, Iseo; 10am-12.30pm & 3.30-6.30pm Easter-Sep,
10am-12.30pm & 3-6pm Mon-Fri, 10am-12.30pm Sat Oct-Easter)
tourist office.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Sarnico
POP 6652
Approaching Lake Iseo from the southwest brings you to Sarnico, prettily located on a
corner of the lake and the Oglio river. It is characterised by several lovely
stile liberty
vil-
las, many of them designed by Giuseppe Sommaruga. Among them, his lakeside
Villa Fac-
canoni
(Via Veneto)
is the most outstanding.
The heart of the old town, known as La Contrada, straggles back from its pretty river-
side location on the mouth of the Oglio river and is perfect for a wander after a morning
coffee along the riverside. Head up Via Lantieri, lined by shops and eateries, and along
which you can make out vestiges of the past. Via Scaletta, which runs down to the lake, is
where you'll find most evidence of Sarnico's medieval past, with the remnants of towers
and stout surviving walls.
Set in L'Albereta hotel in Erbusco 11.5km south of Sarnico,
Ristorante Gualtiero Marchesi
(
www.marchesi.it
;
meals €150-200; noon-2.30pm & 7.30-10pm Tue-Sat, noon-2.30pm Sun)
is possibly one
of the best-known names in contemporary Italian dining. Gualtiero Marchesi (once be-
medalled with three Michelin stars, which he tossed overboard in a tiff with the French ar-
biters of taste at table) continues to experiment and create dishes that win the approval of
the happy few that manage to dine here. The setting is as breathtaking as is the cuisine -
as their motto goes: 'cooking is in itself a science it's the chef's job to turn it into an art'…
If you can't decide, try the tasting menu for €200.
