Good morning Predore at Lake Iseo!
Italy like from a picture book: Melancholic and morbid, but all that with "grandezza".
Evening atmosphere in Sarnico at the south end of the lake. The scenery is reminiscent of German Romantic paintings.
To the south, the lake flows into the river Oglio, which is embedded in a lovely, gentle plain.
Churches belong to Italy like wine and pasta. The pictures in the churches are often surprisingly close to real life - at least in colour.
In honour of the Virgin Mary, many churches in the lake towns are decorated with paper flowers in October.
Many churches in Italy are very elaborately decorated inside.
Sarnico at night: The bridge between Paratico and Sarnico is a bottleneck for traffic.
The Torbiere del Sebino Natural Park is located in the very south of the lake. It is open all day and can be visited free of charge.
Photographers will find numerous landscape motifs here. The park is also a meeting place for ornithologists.
In the park there are numerous small ponds and swamps.
A rarely used single-track railway line also crosses the park at the edge.
The village of Pisogne lies at the northern end of Lake Iseo.
The place offers many photo motives.
In Pisogne there is an annual chestnut and mushroom festival on the last weekend of September. Then the traders roast the chestnuts on the beach in large pans over an open fire.
Even the children enthusiastically help roasting the chestnuts.
On quiet days, the promenade also offers visitors secluded corners.
The most frequently photographed motif in the town is a narrow alley with umbrellas.
But there are also some other curious motifs, like this little shop with comics and toys.
Not all alleys and streets in the towns on the lake are polished to a high gloss for tourists. Almost everywhere, however, ochre and yellow dominate the facades of the houses.
Almost from all points on the ring road, the large main island Monte Isola can be seen.
Iseo is also an important mooring for the lake's ships, which connect all the larger towns around the lake and on the main island. The promenade of Sarnico has a southern flair and invites you to stroll.
One of the two main ports of the island is Peschiera Maraglio. The picturesque village serves all Italian clichés.
From Peschiera Maraglio, a small steep path leads to the church Santuario della Madonna della Ceriola on the highest point of the island. Half way you have a wonderful view to the small island Isola di San Paolo south of the main island that belongs to the Beretta family and reminds of the painting "Toteninsel" by Arnold Böklin.
The climb to the church 'Santuario della Madonna della Ceriola' is steep, but also safe for older people and children.
The best time to visit the small church is spring and autumn outside the travel season.
The interior of the church is richly decorated and contains some historical pictures and frescoes.
For the descent I recommend the less steep road over Senzano.
On the return trip by boat to Iseo you will pass the island of Isola di San Paolo.
Our excursion to the island ends with an evening walk on the promenade of Iseo.
The next day the lake says goodbye to us with a beautiful sunset like from a fairy tale book.
