And here comes winter with its snow and the desire for the mountains. If you stay in one of our facilities around the two lakes you can reach in a short time many ski resorts where to practise winter sports: from the thrilling snowboard skimming snow at high speed, to cross-country skiing with ski-slopes winding inside tempting landscapes turned into magic by snow, and downhill bringing you in amazing sceneries. And for those who don't want to ski there are walks with alpenstocks and skating.

Val Palot, at just 10 km from Pisogne (BS), on lake Iseo, will surprise you for its natural landscape beauties and for its typically Alpine quiet; lying at only 1.100 meters above sea level, it is the ideal spot for different leisure activities for children, teenagers and the elderly.

The Presolana Pass with a great amount of easy ski-slopes, is defined the "skiing training ground" of the province of Bergamo; it is certainly the best place to learn to ski in total safety. Colere is located in Val di Scalve, an ideal background for the practice of downhill-skiing. Let's not forget cross-country skiing, practised by many people in the neighbourhoods of Magnolini Refuge and in Schilpario where, during Christmas-time, the ski-slope is lit for night skiing.


In Monte Campione, fourteen ski-lifts facilities guarantee to everybody, from beginners to experts, the possibility of skiing.

Ponte di Legno is considered to be among the oldest and noblest ski-resorts of the Alpine Arc with the famous black slope of the Peak of Aola: it is one of the most sought-after ski-slopes, and has already been used for several national ski races.

When the climate gets colder, the water of lake Endine freezes offering a grandiose spectacle. Other attractions are the iron, lead and zinc mines which had been one of the most important economic resource since the Roman times. The Quattrossi mine in Grignaghe, a hamlet near Pisogne, has a great charm and a taste of adventure that captures everybody from teenagers to adults. The celebration of Christmas Mass inside the mine is absolutely unique.

An itinerary of exceptional cultural interest develops from the shores of lake Iseo to the middle of the Camonica Valley, linking the places where Girolamo Romanino left some fundamental works of his artistic course. The journey starts in Tavernola Bergamasca, where the artist painted, in the parish Church of St. Pietro the fresco of the "Madonna enthroned with the Child, Saints and Benefactors"; it continues across Pisogne, with the cycle of frescoes depicting "the life of Christ" in the Church of St. Maria della Neve, as far as Breno and Bienno.

Another artistic itinerary in the province of Bergamo is the one following Lorenzo Lotto's tracks, the troubled genius of the Renaissance. There is a wide range of works of Lotto's art in many holy places in Bergamo and in the neighbourhood, but the genuine and unsurpassed masterpiece is in Trescore Balneario: his marvellous cycle of frescoes at Suardi's Oratory.

From lake Sebino you can reach several destinations of great tourist and cultural interest.
First of all, Bergamo with its extraordinary artistic richness. In the town, moving from Piazza Vecchia, the hearth of the old upper town, which puts together in not much space and in exceptional balance, historical density, architectural quality and environmental quality, down to the lower town you can find a succession of treasures.
Other interesting cities are:
Brescia rich in monuments such as: the Castle with the Ancient Arms and Risorgimento Museums, Piazza del Foro (Forum Square) the centre of civil and religious Roman life, the Roman theatre. The Tosio Martinengo art gallery, which houses one of the most important collections of Italian paintings, the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Arts and the Roman Civic Museum contribute to enriching the city's cultural prestige.
Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliette, rich in history and culture, famous for its Arena and its cultural events.
Mantova, city of art, located where the river Mincio gives life to a lake surrounding the city on three sides.
Cremona renowned for its events and routes going from art to music.
Venice, the pearl of the Adriatic Sea, a marvellous city springing up from the waters.
Genova, a sea-town with its typical alleyways called 'carruggi', the aquarium and many Churches witnessing its faith.

Olive oil
	On the Bergamo shore of lake Iseo, and especially on the hills surrounding Riva di Solto you will be impressed by the quantity of olive trees and by the special attention paid to them. The inhabitants actually give a lot of care to their olive trees, although they are few. Between October and January olives are picked, peeled and taken to the olive press for the pressing without heating. The oil you get is almost unique: light and tasty with such a low degree of acidity that some doctors even prescribe it for therapeutic use, knowing its importance in the Mediterranean diet. The only problem is: the quantity of oil produced is fast only for family use. Tasting one of the few bottles on the market, or available at the local restaurants is an experience you won't forget!