Where is  Zorzino:

Cominig from Brenner pass o from Milan, by motorway Milan-Venice, get out at Pont’Oglio exit and go on towards Sarnico. Go through Sarnico and drive along the lake bank, till you get to Riva di Solto. Then turn on the left towards Solto Collina. At the third winding of the road, turn on the right (you’ll see a signpost for “ Ristorante Miranda Albergo”). After 150 metres you’ll get in a little square, where you’ll see a little foodstore named “PANETTERIA ALIMENTARI RANZANICI” Turn on the right and drive along Castello street till n° 30. At the entrance ring up the doorbell with the name of the flat you rent on.

Lake Iseo (Sebino)
Lake Iseo is really different from any other lake: simple and picturesque, at once tame and wild. A Romantic Lake, dear to poets and painters. Set in a splendid range of mountains, fed by the Oglio river, at 185 meters above sea-level, the lake has a maximum depth of 251 meters, an average width of 2,5 kms and a 60 Km. perimeter. It is also called Lake Sebino (from the Roman «Sebinus Lacus») and is the seventh longest lake in Italy. It lies only a few kilometers from Bergamo and Brescia and from the Orio al Serio and Linate Airports. At the centre of the lake stands Monteisola, the largest Iake island in Europe. There are also two smaller islands; one to the north, one to the south, called Loreto and S. Paolo. An amazing variety of natural beauties in a landscape confinually changing in light and colour. In summer the climate is cooled by constant breezes and in autumn and winter sunny days are frequent. The small lakeside towns are pleasant to visit and explore, full of memories of their glorious past and with deep-rooted traditions.
History is always present whilst modem life rarely intrudes on the peaceful atmosphere. All along the coast there are comfortable hotels, boarding-houses, camp sites and modern facilities far bathing and all other sports. A short trip from the Sebino will take you fo Capodiponte, whose neolithic age engravings attract scholars from all aver the world. Boario Terme and Angolo Terme are well-known spas. The Franciacorta region covered in vineyards produces a number ot well-known wines; Montecampione is famous far winter sports.

Bossico
A lovely holiday resort on a sunny plateau about 1000 meters above sea-level covered with meadows and chestnut and pine woods. From here there is a wonderful view ot the lake and mountains. In the old village, visitors will appreciate the typical narrow streets, doorways and wooden balconies. The XVIIIth century parish church and that of S. Rocco of the same period are both worth visiting.

Castro
This ancient tortified town clustered around a XVIIth century parish church probably takes its nome from the Roman and medieval castrum” situated on the hill known as the ‘Rocca”. Il is a typical lakeside trading village: the harbour has buildings that were once stores, and narrow streets climbing up beyond it. One can see the ruins al a Guelph tower. At the mouth al the river Borlezza one can admire the striking beauty ot the awesome cliff know as the “Bogn” of Castro.

Riva di Solto
A picturesque tishing vil’Iage, winding along the shore beneath hills covered in olive groves and vineyards. Higher up, above the road, the old centre, Zorzino, is a maze ot winding streets and subterranean passages. Traces of medieval fortitications are visible (the Castle of Zorzino). The Palace of the Counts Martinoni di Caleppio is also of interest.  Nearby, the Zorzino ‘Bogn”, with its vertical slabs of limestone, is certainly the wildest and most lonely inlet of the whole lake.

Solto Collina
A collectian of streets facing the sun and with beautitul panoramas. In Dosso stands a group of medieval houses. In the heart of this village is a Xllth century tawer-house, with thick grey stone walls and typical arched portals. lnside the parish church, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin, there is a large XVIIIth century wooden choir stall by Andrea Fantoni.

Fonteno
Set in a valley surrounded by woods and meadows, this is a typical mountain village with narrow cobbled streets,
old stone houses and balconies overlooking the lake. A quiet corner where men and animals live in peace. The
countryside is dotted with farmhouses frequently visited by the agritourism groups. Further down the valley, in a village called Xino, there is a very interesting XVllth century church dedicated to St. Carlo.

Lovere
Lovere winds along the north-western shore, a succession of buildings and monuments clustered together in a medieval town centre built on descending plains. The Basilica of S. Maria in Valvendra (XVth century), the Municipal Tower (XlVth century), the Alghisi Tower (XIII century), the Soca Tower (Xlllth century), the church of S. Giorgio Martire (XlVth century) and the Torricella fortress (Xlllth century) are all built to follow the terrace-like slope. People particularly interested in art will find further interest in the XlXth century Tadini palace rooms which house a rich picture gallery, a valuable collection of sculptures, ceramics and arms and which is also the centre for a substantial season of lectures and concerts. The impressive ruins of a Gallic castle (lVth to lllird century BC.) at the foot of Mt. Cala are proof of the ancient origins of Lovere.
Immense panoramas con be admired from the S. Giovanni Sanctuary on Mt. Cala (once a Franciscan hermitage) and from the Loveresi Sanctuary. The town is a busy centre of commerce, cultural activities, the arts, sport and tourism. Boating, sailing, windsurfing and canoeing clubs, restaurants and entertainment facilities make Lovere one of the most pleasant and popular holiday resorts.

Sarnico
Set at the foot of a hill, surrounded by a large morainic amphitheatre. Remains of palafitte houses indicate that the town was already inhabited in prehistoric times and became a fortified village in the Middle Ages (remains of the castle and part of the walls are extant). Sarnico is a busy holiday and commercial centre. A pleasant resort with wide squares giving onto the lake, a town centre with rustic buildings, a tree-lined lakeside, hotels and restaurants. Here you will also see many works by G. Sommaruga, one of the major ltalian Art Nouveau architects. During the restoration of the S. Nazario and S. Rocco churches in a village called Castione, Xlth century frescoes were recently discovered. Castione has some important motor-boat factories, and it is also equipped for water-skiing and speed-boat racing. Many international competitions are held here as well as attempts at breaking speed records.

Zone
Zone lies in a luxuriant ever-green valley at the foot of Mt. Guglielmo (1949 meters) surrounded by beech and fir woods. A starting point for walks that ofter sweet but wild landscapes. Before Cislano, one sees an unusual sight: the pyramids of erosion, thin towers of earth up te 30 meters high, surmounted by granite boulders, caused by the gradual erosion of the morain deposits. Also well worth visiting are the parish church of S. Giorgio, Xlllth century, with its beautiful XVlth frescoes on the outside walls, and the smaller XVth century churches S. Cassiano and S. Antonio and the XVlllth century parish church with its famous central altarpiece and Deposition by A. Fantoni. There are many restaurants and inns that serve plain but excellent food.