Val Trompia, Lago d'Idro and Lago di Ledro
In Brescia, you may not pay attention to the arms industry, but passing through Val Trompia, located north of the city, it is impossible to avoid it. The beginnings of industry date back to the sixteenth century, when the Venetians began to extract rich iron ore deposits. Local production soon became so necessary for them, that in order to ensure sufficient manpower, introduced restrictions on the departure of residents of this region. Today, the main centre of the no longer important armaments industry is GARDONE VAL TROMPIA, where Beretta is headquartered.
The valley behind Gardone is industrialized up to LAVONE, and hiking becomes possible only in BOVENGNO. From this small village, the trails lead to Monte Muffetto (4 Hours.) and on Monte Crestoso and to the local mountain ponds (more interesting route; 5 Hours. 30 Min.), but because there is no rifugi here (Shelters), you need to take a tent with you. Those who do not have a tent can go to the rifugi lying a little further away'. Croce Domini (1992 m) at the end of the valley and Bonardi (1743 m), above the beautiful Passo del Maniva. From both shelters you can go to both Lago d'Idro, as well as climb Monte Colombino (there are also a few ponds). The most useful tourist map is Kompass Carta Turistica Le Tre Valli Bresciane. In the ski resorts collio and SAN COLUMBANOthere are several quite cheap hotels with double rooms for approx.. 20 OOOL, and tiny (but often full) Behedere (030/927259) offers double rooms.
From the rifugio Croce Domini, a steep path leads to the wide Valle della Berga and to the village of BAGOLINO on the road to Lago d'Idro. In this peaceful village, numerous medieval buildings and the church of San Rocco with an astonishingly realistic cycle of fifteenth-century frescoes have been preserved.. Wanting to avoid quite uninteresting summer resorts on the Idro, you can stop right here. Hotel Cavallino (0365/99103) has double rooms for 34 OOOL, and to the lake and back relatively often run buses.
LAGO D'IDRO is quite a picturesque lake, except for its swampy northern end, where the landscape is disfigured by a sand-extracting dredge. Because there is no road along the northern part of the east coast, easier to find a quiet beach there. Despite, that bathing in the lake supposedly causes a rash, few newcomers are able to deny themselves entry into cool and clean water. Besides swimming and relaxing on the beach, you can also go for walks in the surroundings. Marked trails are led from the east bank to the hills and from ANFO on the west bank, next to the rifugio Rosa di Baramone, to Bagolino. The map mentioned above is also useful here.
Characterless summer resorts on the Idro are similar to each other. You can spend the night in Da Parida (0365/809026) in ANFO in a double room for 26 OOOL, or in Miralago (0365 /83138), In CRONE, located on the bus route, two kilometers from the city of Idro (similar price). The most convenient among the campsites are two in Anfo and two in Vantone, on the eastern shore (both towns are on the bus route from Brescia).
Northeast of Idro, for Ponte Caffaro, crosses the former Austrian border (into 1918). From here the road leads to Sabbia located in Val, two kilometers long, and wide a little less, postcard beautiful Lago di Ledro. On this calmer and much more pleasant lake than Idro there are two campsites and the Mezzolago hotel (•0464/508181; all year round), in which a double room is paid for 40 OOOL.