Monte Isola
Template:Infobox Italian comune
Monte Isola (also known by the name of the main island Montisola; Brescian: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) is a town and comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
It is located on the islands Montisola (the major island, from which it takes the name), Loreto and San Paolo in Lake Iseo and, Template:As of, its population is 1,770.<ref>Template:In lang Source: Istat 2015</ref> Monte Isola's population is approximately spread over eleven villages and hamlets. There are several churches built between the 15th and the 17th century with frescoes, statues, altars in vernacular art.
GeographyEdit
The municipality covers a total area of Template:Convert; the main island, Monte Isola, with an area of Template:Convert ranks as the largest lake island not only in Italy, but also in South and Central Europe, but is dwarfed by the large lake islands in Northern Europe. The peak of the island at Template:Convert above sea level is Template:Convert above the average surface elevation of Lake Iseo (Template:Convert), making Monte Isola one of the highest lake islands in Europe.
Monte Isola includes 12 frazioni: Carzano, Cure, Masse, Menzino, Novale, Olzano, Peschiera Maraglio, Porto di Siviano, Sensole, Senzano, Sinchignano and Siviano.
The bordering municipalities are Iseo, Marone, Sale Marasino, Sulzano, Parzanica, Tavernola Bergamasca and Sarnico.
There are two main ports Carzano and Peschieria with a frequent ferry service with the surrounding mainland villages, including Iseo.
HistoryEdit
There are indications of a Roman settlement. The first written document mentioning "Insulae curtis" dates from 905, when the island was listed among the properties of the monastery of S. Salvatore in Brescia. The family Oldofredi, rulers of Iseo, built on the island two strongholds in the 11th-12th centuries. Members of the powerful Visconti family came here to hunt in 1400. In 1497 Francesco Sforza, duke of Milan, gave the islanders some fishing rights and reduced the taxes. In the same year, Caterina Cornaro, queen of Cyprus, resided a while on the island. During the 19th century the main industry on the island was the construction of boats and the manufacturing of fishing nets.
Peschiera Maraglio and Siviano (the municipal seat)<ref>Template:In lang Town hall address on municipal website</ref> merged in 1929 to create the actual comune.
In June and early July, 2016, Monte Isola was the site of The Floating Piers by artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
Main sightsEdit
The single-nave church of San Michele in Peschiera Maraglio was consecrated in 1648. This baroque church is notable for the many frescoes on the walls and on the ceiling and for its wooden carvings.
The shrine of Madonna della Ceriola stands Template:Convert above sea level, the highest spot on the island. It can only be reached by walking from the small village of Cure.
The fortress Martinengo can be reached from Menzino. It was built in the 15th century by the Oldofredi family and enlarged in the 16th century by Martinengo. After a long period of neglect, it has been renovated in an elegant residence by the architect Vittorio Faglia. In 1497 Catherine Cornaro, queen of Cyprus, sojourned here for a short stay.
TransportationEdit
Monte Isola can be reached through a network of ferry connection with regular schedules.<ref name=ferries>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Driving restrictions are currently enforced, with mopeds and bicycles only allowed on the island. An extensive grid of dedicated bike lanes and hiking trails span all over the island, reaching the peaceful fishing villages with lakeside cafés and the Madonna della Ceriola chapel, nested near the summit of the island. A circular trail of almost Template:Convert allows a complete tour of Monte Isola.
A regular bus service, with special buses, is operated by the municipality of Monte Isola.
PhotogalleryEdit
- MonteIsola Siviano veduta.jpg
View of Siviano
- Iseo Lake Lombardy, Italy.jpg
Southern view of Lake Iseo, with Peschiera Maraglio and Sulzano
- MonteIsolaCeriola.jpg
The shrine of Madonna della Ceriola in the highest point of the island
- Rocca di Monte Isola.jpg
The fortress of Monte Isola
- Santa Croce 4.jpg
The streets of Monte Isola decorated with flowers during the Holy Cross week in September
- Peschiera Maraglio street.jpg
View of the port in Peschiera Maraglio
- Floating Piers – San Paolo.jpg
View from Montisola of The Floating Piers and the San Paolo isle in the middle, Gallinarga (Tavernola Bergamasca, province of Bergamo) in the left side of the background, and Clusane (Iseo, BS) in the right side of the background, 2016
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:Commons category-inline
- Template:In lang Monte Isola official website
- Awarded "EDEN - European Destinations of Excellence" non traditional tourist destination 2010
- Template:In lang Website of the Santa Croce di Carzano festival
Template:Lago d'Iseo Template:Province of Brescia Template:Landmarks of Lombardy