Photo: Luca Giarelli, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
- Type
- Historic village
- Elevation
- 275 m above sea level
- Area
- 12,800,000 m²
- Coordinates
- 45°43′00″ N, 10°04′60″ E
History and description
Monte Isola (also known by the name of the main island Montisola; Brescian: Muntìsola) is a town and comune (municipality) in the Province of Brescia in the region of Lombardy in Italy. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").
It is located on the islands Montisola (the major island, from which it takes the name), Loreto and San Paolo in Lake Iseo and, as of 2026, its population is 1,576. Monte Isola's population is approximately spread over eleven villages and hamlets. There are several churches built between the 15th and the 17th century with frescoes, statues, altars in vernacular art.
History
There are indications of a Roman settlement. The first written document mentioning "Insulae curtis" dates from 905, when the island was listed among the properties of the monastery of S. Salvatore in Brescia. The family Oldofredi, rulers of Iseo, built on the island two strongholds in the 11th-12th centuries. Members of the powerful Visconti family came here to hunt in 1400. In 1497 Francesco Sforza, duke of Milan, gave the islanders some fishing rights and reduced the taxes. In the same year, Caterina Cornaro, queen of Cyprus, resided a while on the island. During the 19th century the main industry on the island was the construction of boats and the manufacturing of fishing nets.
Peschiera Maraglio and Siviano (the municipal seat) merged in 1929 to create the actual comune.
In June and early July, 2016, Monte Isola was the site of The Floating Piers by artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
Main sights
The single-nave church of San Michele in Peschiera Maraglio was consecrated in 1648. This baroque church is notable for the many frescoes on the walls and on the ceiling and for its wooden carvings.
The shrine of Madonna della Ceriola stands 600 metres (1,969 feet) above sea level, the highest spot on the island. It can only be reached by walking from the small village of Cure.
The fortress Martinengo can be reached from Menzino. It was built in the 15th century by the Oldofredi family and enlarged in the 16th century by Martinengo. After a long period of neglect, it has been renovated in an elegant residence by the architect Vittorio Faglia. In 1497 Catherine Cornaro, queen of Cyprus, sojourned here for a short stay.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Monte Isola».
Photos
Getting there
Sale MarasinoTrain, nearest
2.2 km as the crow flies
Monte Isola
Paradiso500 m
Aeroporto internazionale il Caravaggio di Bergamo-Orio al Serio29.6 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore historic villages in Lombardy
- Most beautiful villages
- UNESCO
- Most beautiful villages
- Most beautiful villages
- Most beautiful villages
- Most beautiful villages
Frequently asked questions
Where is Monte Isola?
Monte Isola is in Monte Isola, in the province of Brescia (Lombardy), Italy. GPS coordinates: 45.71667, 10.08333.
What else is there to see near Monte Isola?
Nearby you’ll find: Castello Oldofredi (7 km away), Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (8.7 km away), Monastero di San Pietro in Lamosa (9.3 km away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 9 photos
- Panorama di Montisola da Sulzano (Foto Luca Giarelli) — Luca Giarelli, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 25050 Monte Isola, Province of Brescia, Italy - panoramio (1) — Fabio Poggi, CC BY 3.0
- BS Monte Isola rocca Martinengo — Lauramagri712, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Iseosee - Monte Isola — Kondephy, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lago d'Iseo 2019 - Monte Isola (55147171643) — Karlheinz Klingbeil from Germany, CC BY 4.0
- Lago d'iseo,Monte Isola,e l'isola di Loreto,vista dalla sponda bergamasca - panoramio — pacj, CC BY 3.0
- Monte Isola - panoramio — ildirettore, CC BY 3.0
- Monte Isola - Siviano - panoramio — ildirettore, CC BY 3.0
- Monte Isola (1) — JoJan, CC BY 3.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences