Sulzano
Welcome to Sulzano!
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about Sulzano, a small Italian municipality of 1,928 inhabitants located on the eastern shore of Lake Iseo. Here you can admire a variety of landscapes, from beaches to the old town, from the mountains to the panoramic points where you can enjoy a spectacular view of Lake Iseo and the Po Valley. But what has truly brought Sulzano to worldwide attention is the artwork The Floating Piers, a floating pier that connected Sulzano to Monte Isola.
But let's go back to the origins of this municipality.
Origins of the Name
The name Sulzano is said to derive from the Latin "Sulcius" or "Saltius," while the name of the hamlet of Martignano is linked to the personal name "Martinius."
History
During the Roman era, the main center was Martignano, while Sulzano originated as a lake port. The municipality was crossed by an important Roman road that connected Brescia to Val Camonica, running alongside Lake Iseo and ending in Rogno.
After the Second Italian War of Independence, Sulzano became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia and later the Kingdom of Italy. In 1927, the municipality was suppressed, and the territory was aggregated to the municipality of Sale Marasino, but thanks to the legislative decree of the provisional head of state in 1947, the municipality regained its autonomy.
But the history of Sulzano is also linked to the presence of the three Villa Craven di Seyssel d'Aix brothers, sons of Lord Walter Arthur Keppel, Earl of Craven, and Brescia countess Elisa Oldofredi. These brothers spent every summer in Sulzano, where they had many properties along the shores of Lake Iseo. Furthermore, the land on which the municipality of Sulzano stands was donated by them to the municipality. Lord Louis Craven, in particular, was passionate about sailing and built prototypes of motorboats and sailboats in Varese, which were then tested in Sulzano.
What to Do in Sulzano
In addition to enjoying breathtaking landscapes, there are also many things to do in Sulzano. You can visit the old town and admire the parish church of San Giorgio. Instead, if you prefer a more immersive experience in nature, you can take a hike up Mount Guglielmo, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Lake Iseo and the Alps. But if you want to relax, you can also take a swim in the lake's beaches or take a walk along the Sentiero della Forra, a hiking trail that runs through the suggestive gorge of the Calchere stream.
But the real attraction of Sulzano is undoubtedly The Floating Piers, the artwork of Christo and Jeanne-Claude that attracted tourists from all over the world. The floating pier that connected Sulzano to Monte Isola made the municipality famous internationally and gave rise to an important tourist activity.
Local Cuisine and Wines
Finally, you cannot talk about Sulzano without mentioning the local cuisine. Here you can savor traditional Brescia dishes, such as polenta, casoncelli, spalla cotta, and salame nostrano. Furthermore, Sulzano is an excellent starting point to discover the cellars of Franciacorta, an area renowned for the production of sparkling wines.
Conclusions
In short, Sulzano is a municipality that offers many opportunities for all tastes, from nature to culture, from history to enogastronomy. If you are looking for a quiet place to relax and enjoy unique landscapes in the world, Sulzano is the right place for you!
