Pisogne
Pisogne, an enchanted place on Lake Iseo
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about an enchanted place that I was lucky enough to visit: Pisogne. This Italian municipality of 7829 inhabitants is located on the north-eastern shore of Lake Iseo, in Lombardy.
Physical geography
Territory
Pisogne is located in the northeast area of Lake Iseo, between the mouth of the Oglio River and the Trobiolo valley. The view is truly breathtaking: the North wall of Mount Guglielmo overlooks the high Sebino, the Corna Trentapassi divides the Vallecamonica from the rest of the lake and Mount Aguina offers a summer alpine pasture used both for grazing and for the production of fine cheeses.
Part of the Pisogne's territory is also Val Palot, an alpine valley with coniferous forests, which develops at an altitude of 1100m. Here you can find the smallest ski resort in Italy which is highly appreciated by national and European competitive teams for training.
The municipality is crossed by the Trobiolo and the Tufere streams, up to its waterfall above the small town of Govine. In the hamlet of Pontasio, iron veins can be found, as evidenced by numerous mines.
Origin of the name
The name Pisogne could derive from the name of a Roman gens, Pisonius, or from the Gallic words "Bo" (shelter) and "duno" (rural enclosure).
History
The Pisogne municipality has a very fascinating history. Already inhabited in prehistoric times, during the Middle Ages it became an important commercial center between Valle Camonica and Lake Iseo. In 813 AD the Bishop of Verona Rataldo owned properties in Valcamonica, including Pisogne.
In 1132 it was donated to the monastery of San Faustino and Giovita in Brescia through a deed of pope Innocent II. In 1199, being in the middle of the war between Brescians and Bergamasques, it was set on fire and destroyed by the Bergamasques. Later, in 1206, the Avogadro family received the investiture of the court of Cemmo, Mù, Pisogne and Gratacasolo from the Bishop of Brescia Giovanni da Palazzo.
In 1229 the market of Pisogne was mentioned for the first time, while in 1287 the city was devastated by the great Camuna rebellion led by the Federici and the Celeri against Brescia. After this event, the town was fortified and granted to the noble Brusati family.
What to see in Pisogne
If you decide to visit Pisogne, there are some things that you cannot miss. First of all, the Church of Santa Maria della Neve and San Giovanni Battista, an example of Romanesque architecture with frescoed paintings.
Furthermore, you can visit Palazzo Garamli, which currently houses the civic library, and its beautiful garden. Do not miss also the Castle of Pisogne, located on the hill overlooking the town, and the Visconteo Bridge, a humpback bridge dating back to the Visconti period.
If you love winter sports, you can visit the small ski resort of Val Palot, perfect for those who want to do some training or learn how to ski. Finally, the Saturday morning market is an experience not to be missed.
Conclusions
In short, Pisogne is an enchanted place that encompasses history, nature, and artistic wonders. If you have the opportunity, I recommend visiting it at least once in your lifetime. I am sure it will leave you speechless!
