A picture made of countryside flavors,
of slowed down life, of seasons that
perform on the stage of nature.
La Franciacorta
Overlooking the shores of Lake Iseo and close to Brescia, Bergamo and Milan, the Franciacorta area is nestled right in the heart of Lombardy. A stunning region with its backdrop of hills, Lombardy overlooks the Rhaetian Alps. There are scenes straight out of country life here; a laid-back pace and seasons that play out on nature’s great stage.
Franciacorta is easy to reach and to get around, being so close to Brescia, whose amazing Roman ruins are worth discovering in their own right. Franciacorta is synonymous with grapevines planted in times gone by. Discoveries of prehistoric grape seeds and archaeological findings all across the Franciacorta area are testament to this, as well as various testimonies from classical writers such as Pliny, Columella and Virgil.
Ome
A charming, small town in the northeast Franciacorta area. Ome is a hilly town, with valley features and countryside planted with vines.
The Majolini property and business was established here.
Characteristic, cosy, timeless and steeped in peaceful tradition, Ome has several tourist attractions.
Rural Buildings
Make up the heart of the town, with two museums, the Averoldi Hammer Museum and the Pietro Malossi House Museum.
The first museum (a 15th century forge) features a working water wheel that still operates a hammer; the second museum is a large and
diverse private collection of cultural heritage, from guns to furniture, photos to paintings.
Chiesa di San Michele
You can see St. Michael’s church and the ruins of an ancient castle perched on the ridge of “the crest of St. Michael” hill. From the ridge of the hill, there is a open view of the Nas and Fus valleys that are respectively crossed by the Martignano stream and the Gandovere stream. The site’s precise date of origin is unknown, even if archaeological surveys point to a settlement existing in the 7-8th centuries. How extraordinary!
Santuario Madonna dell'Avello
The sanctuary is located on the north side of the Cerezzata di Ome hamlet (Brescia), at the start of the hills that lead to the Alps. This church is the restoration of an older church, probably carried out by the Cluniac monks of Rodengo and was preceded by other religious and military buildings. It was renovated to its present form in 1510.
L'Orto Botanico delle Conifere
The gardens are in the Fus Valley and can be reached by foot from the centre of the Valle district in Ome in 20 minutes, following the Gandovere stream. Plants from the seven conifer families from all across the world can be found in the gardens (Pinaceae, Taxodiaceae, Cupressaceae, Taxaceae, Cephalotaxaceae, Araucariaceae, Podocarpaceae). There are 82 species and each plant has at least two specimens. It is a magical wood, where you can relish a moment of peace, play or study. There is an equipped picnic area.
Il Lago d'Iseo
in 2016, Lake Iseo knew world fame for “The Floating Piers” installation. The lake has always been a symbol of great elegance, rich flavours, water sports and phenomenal views.
The largest natural lake island in Italy and the highest lake island in Europe is right on the border between the provinces of Bergamo and Brescia: Monte Isola. The island is at an altitude of 180 m in the Pre-Alps, at the bottom of Val Camonica. The two small satellite islands of Loreto and San Paolo flank the stupendous Monte Isola on the north and south. This area is the habitat of more than 500 different animal species.
The Floating Piers
Since 2016, Lake Iseo has been synonymous throughout the world with “The Floating Piers”. “The Floating Piers” was a temporary art installation by the artist Christo, designed as a walkway over the waters of Lake Iseo.