Italy’s Lombardy region is one of the most popular in Europe, attracting over 37 million tourists and visitors every year.
The regional capital, Milan, is one of the world’s most famous fashion centres, home to many exclusive brands.
Lombardy is also renowned for its stunning natural scenery, which includes several breathtaking lakes.
Set against the foothills of the Alps, Lake Como is perhaps the best-known and most frequented.
However, Lombardy boasts another lakeside resort that attracts fewer tourists and is home to some of the most beautiful small towns in Italy.
Monte Isola is located in the middle of Lake Iseo, which is also surrounded by mountains and sits in a valley known as the Val Camonica.
The island has a population of around 1800 people, who live in one of its 12 villages.
Cars are banned from the island, with locals using motorcycles and mopeds to get around, as well as bicycles.
Public buses also crisscross the island, making it easy to travel around and explore the territory.
Monte Isola has a total area of 4.5 square kilometres, a circumference of about 9 km and an altitude of 600 metres.
Peschiera Maraglio, Carzano, and Novale are just some of the places of interest on the island, with their centuries-old history.
These picturesque villages, with their colourful buildings and winding cobblestone lanes, were once inhabited by fishermen.
They still retain their unique charm, surrounded by the waters of the lake, woods, and olive groves.
The shrine of Madonna della Ceriola provides a perfect panorama of the lake and its surrounding area.
It was built in the 13th century and is situated 600 metres above the lake, the highest point on the island.
Inside the shrine are a number of fine paintings and frescoes, making the trek up to the sanctuary well worth the effort.
