Round trip “Eroici Remi”- from Lovere to Loreto Island
Discovering Lake Iseo by canoe or kayak; the 22 km loop itinerary starts from Lovere and leads to the discovery of the upper part of the lake up to the Island of Loreto.
The route starts from the headquarters of the Società Canottieri Sebino in Lovere (Bergamo), via G. Paglia n. 3. Proceed north-west towards the town of Lovere, that you can admire from the lake; after about 750 meters – near the boat docking point in Lovere – reverse the route and proceed south-west, heading towards the tip of the Lucchini RS factory, behind which the village of Castro appears. After passing in front of Castro and the mouth of the Borlezza stream, you find yourself at the Orrido or “Bögn”, with imposing rocky walls looming over the lake; along the shore you come across a small waterfall and a little further on in another fall of water covered with moss and vegetation called “Bear’s Foot”. You skirt the western coast of Lake Iseo, that connects Lovere to Sarnico; the road – very characteristic in this section – is completely carved into the rock overlooking the lake. On the opposite side, there is the Corno dei Trenta Passi (1248 meters above sea level) with the imposing rocky walls; here Lake Iseo reaches its maximum depth of 251 meters. Proceeding in a southerly direction you arrive in the locality of Grè, famous for its stump quarries. Pass the SportAction nautical center where, in case of need, you find various useful services, and head towards one of the most beautiful, fascinating and unmissable hidden corners of Lake Iseo; the Orrido or “Bögn” of Riva di Solto, with its wild natural bay with vertical slabs of rocks overhanging the lake which takes on emerald green colors. Leaving the bay of “Bögn”, leave the coast and cross the lake with direction of Loreto island, about 7 km from the bay. The private Island of Loreto – the smallest of the three islands on Lake Iseo – is located opposite the larger island of Monte Isola, behind which, to the south, is located the other private Island of S. Paolo. On the island of Loreto it is possible to admire a neo-Gothic style building with a tower surrounded by a botanical park with a small private dock. We are 12 km from the start, we circumnavigate the Island of Loreto leaving it – always for those who proceed by kayak – to our left and reversing the route and heading towards the eastern shore of Lake Iseo in a north-easterly direction pointing towards the town of Marone dominated by Mount Guglielmo. Immediately after the town of Marone, always proceeding northwards, pass the characteristic hamlet of Vello. 15 km from the starting point, skirt the rocky walls for about 4 km and head once again towards the tip of the Lucchini RS. After passing the tip of the factory, head straight towards the Tourist Harbor (Porto Turistico) and the hq of the Canottieri Sebino where, after about 22 km, the “HEROIC REMI” route on Lake Iseo ends.
Photos and translation: Canottieri Sebino