The medieval charm of Bagolino

Welcome to Bagolino, one of most beautiful villages in Italy

Nestled among the mountains in a dominant position along the road that connects Lake Idro with Mount Maniva and the Gaver Plain, Bagolino is one of the most precious pearls of the Sabbia valley.

A medieval village dating back to Roman times and recently honored as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, Bagolino preserves the authentic flavor of those local traditions that have made the small town a point of reference for the area’s economy and culture over the centuries. Let’s discover together what surprises it has in store for us.

Bagolino: culture, traditions, gastronomy

Did you know that Bagolino, with its traditions, contributes to making the Brescia territory an increasingly UNESCO province? The transhumance, i.e. the curious seasonal movement of livestocks to the mountains and, in autumn, back to their sheds, has been included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2019. Transhumance is one of the most anticipated events in Bagolino: cows, sheep and goats together with their shepherds traverse the streets of the village in a festive atmosphere that attracts onlookers from all over the world.

Another famous local initiative is the Bagolino Carnival, one of the oldest and most important in northern Italy. An invasion of music, colors, dances and original costumes for a phenomenon entirely characteristic of this community that takes you back over 500 years.

Speaking of Bagolino traditions, a place of honor belongs to the Bagòss, an aged hard cheese that is a true local specialty. With its unmistakable taste, Bagòss is produced using artisanal methods from the milk of Alpine Brown cows raised exclusively in Bagolino, for a production of about 10,000 wheels per year.

Bagòss is excellent both to enjoy as a table cheese and to prepare local dishes such as pasta alla bagossa and bagòss breadsticks. Many pizzerias in the surrounding area make pizza al Bagòss in different versions.

The list of local products continues with butter, formaggella cheese, ricotta, Fioricc(a creamy derivative of milk), and the ‘Söcher Amar’, Bagolino’s mountain herb bittersugar made here in its original version, according to the recipe handed down from generation to generation.

What to do and see in Bagolino

So many points of interest to be enjoyed without haste during a leisurely stroll through Bagolino’s ancient alleys and paths.

These include the splendid places of worship – such as the Church of Saints Gervasius and Protasius perched on the rock of the same name, and the imposing Parish Church of St. George, known as the ‘Cathedral in the Mountains’ with works by Titian, Tintoretto, Palma the Younger inside, the old cemetery with its artistic heritage, the old squares, the Habitar-in-sta-terra House Museum”and the newly discovered geological site ‘Romanterra’.

As for recreation and relaxation opportunities, those who love nature and the outdoors will find their ideal place in Parco Pineta with a bar, barbecue area, children’s play area, pond for sport fishing, and a fascinating path along the river to indulge in a rejuvenating walk in the silence of nature.

To complete your stay in Bagolino you can choose from a wide range of winter and summer sporting activities, from the fishing on Lake Idroto the skiing in Maniva, from the adrenaline rush of the hiking and climbing in Castoto thebike miles of the Greenway, and the beautiful routes to be discovered on foot with your family.

For a detailed list of places of interest, local products and events in the magnificent Bagossa setting visit bagolinoinfo.it.