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Valleys of Bergamo and Brescia

2 days · ~4 h 50 ·Mountains, Food

Day by day

Driving times are approximate, from OpenStreetMap roads without traffic; long legs are rougher estimates. The Google Maps links give up-to-date times.

  1. Day 1

    ~2 h · 6 h

    Mountain hamlets from the Brembo to the Serio

    1. Bergamo
    2. ~35 min · 30 km
      CornelloLombardy

      Leave the car and climb on foot into Cornello, where the old stone arcade of the Via Mercatorum leads you past the ruined Tasso palace. Step into the postal museum and the church with its leaning bell tower, then continue up the valley to Gromo.

    3. ~1 h 10 · 62 km
      GromoLombardy

      In Gromo, wander up to Castello Ginami and its 13th-century tower, then look inside Santi Giacomo e Vincenzo for the Cifrondi canvases. Stop for a plate of casoncelli alla bergamasca before heading on to Clusone.

    4. ~15 min · 13 km
      ClusoneLombardy

      Arrive in Clusone to meet the Dance of Death frescoes on the oratory wall, then find the astronomical clock on the town hall, still keeping time. Settle in for the evening and stay the night here, with the basilica's bell tower in view across the valley.

    5. Overnight in Clusone

  2. Day 2

    ~2 h 50 · 6 h

    Lake Iseo, iron forges and a carnival village

    1. ~20 min · 16 km
      LovereLombardy

      Day two opens on the shore of Lake Iseo. Walk Lovere's lakefront to the Accademia Tadini and its Canova works, glance up at the medieval tower-houses, and take a coffee by the water before turning inland to Bienno.

    2. ~30 min · 26 km
      BiennoLombardy

      Bienno is a village of working water. Visit the iron museum with its old forge and great wooden hammer, then find the mill in Via Glere, which still grinds. Frescoes by Romanino wait in Santa Maria Annunziata before you go on to Bagolino.

    3. ~50 min · 43 km
      BagolinoLombardy

      Bagolino closes the journey, with fountains and arcades and lanes of steps rising to San Giorgio. Taste Bagòss, the area's salty cheese, and if you visit at carnival you will meet the masked balarì dancers. Then take the road on to Brescia.

    4. ~1 h 10 · 75 km
      Brescia

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What you'll eat

What each stop is known for, and the dishes its region is famous for.

Cornello

  • MOs810Formai de mutCC BY-SA 3.0
    Formai de Mut dell'Alta Valle BrembanaCheeseMountain cheese in summer and winter versions
  • Polenta cunsadaDishPolenta with Taleggio and sage butter
  • CasonsèiBread and pastaLarge ravioli of breadcrumbs, cheese and egg, with butter and sage
  • ChisölDishPolenta stuffed with Taleggio and toasted on the embers
  • Branzi cheeseCheeseMild cheese of the Brembana valley

Gromo

Bagolino

Also typical of Lombardy

Adapted from Wikipedia (Bagolino, Cucina lombarda, Lombard cuisine), Wikivoyage (Cornello dei Tasso, Gromo). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where you'll sleep

The village where each night falls, with the places to stay mapped within 3 km.

Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Thermal baths along the way

Spas and hot springs near your stops, the closest by road first.

  • QC Terme San Pellegrino (IT) · ~11 min by car from Cornello
  • Terme di Boario · ~15 min by car from Bienno
  • Terme di Trescore · ~34 min by car from Lovere
  • Terme di Vallio · ~53 min by car from Bagolino
  • Aquaria · ~1 h 26 by car from Bagolino

Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Soundtrack for this trip

Lombard music: Milanese song, the little ribeba, Baroque and opera from Bergamo, then rock and roll, pop and metal.

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