For the last 2 days we have been based at Iseo in order to explore Franciacorta which is an area of gentle hills covered with vineyards and peppered with medieval towers and rustic villas. This area is South of Lake Iseo and is dedicated to the production of Franciacorta Sparkling wine, considered to be the best wine of it’s type in Italy.
We have cycled our way around 2 of the circular ‘cycle routes’ that have been specially designed to tour specific parts of the region and include wine tasting amongst other things!. Each route is apron 30 kilometres and we have managed 60 or so on our little Bromptons (not without drama! see further down the page).
All good cycles in Italy should begin with ice cream! (actually I bought sorbet by mistake but it was still yummy!)
Day one on cycle route No: 1
Halfway around route No:1 Kate started wobbling along the road (more than usual!) …… it turned out to be a flat rear tyre. However with judicious pumping up at regular intervals we limped back to the van. We repaired the inner tube the following morning and found that this little tiny pin was the culprit!
Day two on cycle route No:2. We actually did this one in reverse (and I don’t mean cycling backwards!) The routes are marked by small brown (and easily missed!) signs.
Nice little monastery…. now a conference centre….
One of the many producing villas….
This one is a convent, still active….
a typical cluster of colourful rustic villas surround the local church
Halfway around route No: 2 we called in to ‘La Fiorita’, one of the many wine producers (we actually found this one after stumbling across a lovely review on Trip Advisor!). Having sampled a few glasses of their Franciacorta we ordered half a dozen mixed bottles which we will collect tomorrow. Whilst in their tasting area, wonderful cooking smells were wafting through from their large kitchens. We asked about this and discovered they have a small restaurant…… so we have arranged to have dinner there tomorrow night (and this includes a cheeky night stop in the van!)
Update to follow!
Excellent. You should use all your photos and travel diary and produce a book. Looking forward to next posts.
ReplyDeletelovely! might well cycle these routes ourselves on yearly Italian jaunt this summer. where did you stay or have I missed it....
ReplyDeleteEddie (JM)
There is a Sosta in Iseo by Lake Iseo (free but no services). We also stayed the next night at La Fiorita Winery near Ome (highly recommend the wine and the restaurant!)
ReplyDeleteSo like the Loire with different architectural features. hugs Mumski xxxxxxxx
ReplyDelete