Monte Isola
Welcome to Monte Isola: the largest lake island in Italy
Hello friends! Let me introduce you to Monte Isola, a beautiful island located in Lake Iseo, in Lombardy. With a population of 1626 inhabitants and an area of 4.5 km², it is the largest lake island in Italy and one of the largest in Europe. Today, I will tell you a little bit about its physical geography, the origins of its name, and its history.
Physical geography
Monte Isola is a scattered municipality of Brescia, Lombardy, which covers the island of Lake Iseo. Its vegetation is composed of numerous Olea europaea trees along the southern coast between Peschiera Maraglio and Sensole, while typically alpine trees characterize the north and the highest parts of the island. The highest point of Monte Isola is the mountain that reaches 600 meters above sea level.
Origins of the name
Unlike what one might think, Montisola is not only the name of the municipality, but it is also the only correct toponym in Italian to indicate the largest Sebino island. In the past, the toponym Monte d'Isola or Isola di Peschiera was used. Although the use of the Italianized term "Montisola" is rather widespread, it is incorrect, while the use of the term Mont'Isola is correct.
History
Montisola, completely wooded in antiquity, had a pagan temple on its peak. It is presumed that there were also villas from the Roman era. In the 5th century AD, the area was Christianized by the Brescian bishop Vigilio of Trento. The first historical source of the inhabited center of Peschiera Maraglio dates back to a document of the Monastery of Santa Giulia dated 905, which includes four houses, arable land, vineyards, a forest, a port, and farms.
The Cluniac monks settled a monastery on the island and began the manufacture of nets that prospered in the following centuries. The island saw the birth of agricultural villages in the highest positions and, subsequently, fishing villages along the coast. In the 13th century, to defend the Brescian territory, the Oldofredi built a castle (now Rocca Martinengo, privately owned). Finally, the Republic of Venice transformed it into a feud.
One of the island's traditions is the feast of Santa Croce di Carzano, in which the whole town is adorned with handmade flowers and pine branches. This festival originated in 1836 to celebrate the end of a cholera epidemic.
Until 1928, Montisola had two municipalities: Siviano and Peschiera Maraglio. Subsequently, in 1929, following the suppression of Italian municipalities, the municipality was called Monte Isola and included several localities: Siviano (the seat of the municipality with the elementary and middle school and the post office), Carzano, Novale, Porto di Siviano, Masse, Sinchignano, Olzano, Sensole, Peschiera Maraglio, Senzano, Menzino, and Cure.
Conclusions
Monte Isola is an old and fascinating island that has much to offer its visitors, from the beauty of its landscapes and vegetation to the history of its traditions. If you want to take a pleasant walk on the island, you should know that there are few cars and that the most common way to get to the island is by ferry. I highly recommend visiting Monte Isola during the feast of Santa Croce di Carzano, one of the island's most beautiful traditions. You won't regret it!
