Isola
Welcome to Monte Isola!
Hello friends! Today I will talk to you about Monte Isola, a small municipality located on the largest lake island in Italy, in the beautiful Lake Iseo, in Lombardy. Monte Isola has a population of about 1626 people, who live on a total area of 4.5 km². With its natural beauty and history, Monte Isola is a popular tourist destination.
The Physical Geography of Monte Isola
The territory of Monte Isola is characterized by its vegetation, consisting mainly of numerous Olea europaea trees, which extend along the southern coast, between Peschiera Maraglio and Sensole. Behind them stand the particular tree species typically Alpine, which instead characterize the north and the highest parts of the mountain.
In addition to its privileged geographical position in the middle of Lake Iseo, Monte Isola is famous for its height, reaching 600 meters above sea level. Although it is often cited as the largest lake island in Europe, it is actually the largest in Italy. Some of the largest lake islands in Europe include Hurissalo in Finland with an area of 172 square kilometers or Mantsinsaari in Russia, on Lake Ladoga, with an area of 102 km².
The Origin of the Name
Monte Isola has been called many different names throughout its history. "Montisola", which in Lombard language literally means "mountain island", is often used, but incorrect. "Monte d'Isola" or "Isola di Peschiera" are alternatively used, but the official name of the municipality is Monte Isola, as established by Italian law. The toponym Monte Isola has been used since the early centuries of the Christian era to indicate the largest island of Lake Iseo, decades before the creation of the municipality.
The History of Monte Isola
Monte Isola is a place rich in history and tradition. Before human settlement, the island was completely covered with forests. Later, the first Romans settled, building several villas. In the 5th century AD, it was christianized by the bishop of Brescia, Vigilio of Trento. The first historical source that speaks of Monte Isola refers to the village of Peschiera Maraglio and dates back to 905, when only four houses were counted.
Later, the Cluniac monks founded a monastery and became famous for net production. Thanks to them, the first agricultural villages began to appear in the highest position of the island, and then fishing villages along the coast. In the 13th century, the Oldofredi built a castle to defend the Brescia territory, and the island finally became a fief of the Republic of Venice.
One of the most important events in the tradition of Monte Isola is the Feast of the Holy Cross, which takes place in Carzano. The origin of the feast dates back to 1836, when the end of a cholera epidemic was celebrated.
Until 1928, Monte Isola had only two municipalities, Siviano and Peschiera Maraglio, but with the suppression of Italian municipalities in 1929, they were merged, forming today's Monte Isola. The municipality is composed of several localities, including Siviano, the municipal seat, Carzano, Novale, Porto di Siviano, Masse, Sinchignano, Olzano, Sensole, Peschiera Maraglio, Senzano, Menzino, and Cure.
Conclusion
Monte Isola is a wonderful place to visit if you are traveling in Lombardy. With its rich history and the natural beauties that the island offers, you can take long walks in nature and visit places of great interest such as the Rocca Martinengo or the Monastery of Santa Giulia. We look forward to welcoming you to the largest and most fascinating island in Italy!
