How large and how deep is Lake Iseo?

It covers 65.3 square kilometres, is 251 metres deep at its deepest point and 124 metres deep on average. It is the fourth largest lake in Lombardy.

In Lombardy, split almost equally between the provinces of Brescia and Bergamo, about 20 kilometres north-west of Brescia.

What is Franciacorta?

A wine region south of Lake Iseo between the lakeshore and Brescia. Its sparkling wines have carried the DOCG designation since 1995 and are made by the traditional bottle-fermentation method.

What does property in Iseo cost?

Based on asking prices and estimates from RealAdvisor in July 2026, roughly 2,700 euros per square metre for houses and 3,100 euros for apartments. Individual prices can differ a lot.

Can foreigners buy property on Lake Iseo?

EU and EEA citizens can buy without restriction. For buyers from non-EU countries it depends on a reciprocity rule between Italy and their home country. You need a Codice Fiscale before you buy.

Lake Iseo: living and property, an overview

The lake in figures

Lake Iseo covers 65.3 square kilometres and is 251 metres deep at its deepest point, with an average depth of 124 metres. It is the fourth largest lake in Lombardy and is shared almost equally between the provinces of Bergamo and Brescia. The River Oglio flows into the lake and out again.

Monte Isola sits in the middle of the lake. German Wikipedia calls it the largest island in a southern European inland water. The municipality also includes the small, privately owned islands of Loreto and San Paolo.

The towns on the shore

On the Brescia side lie Iseo, Sulzano, Marone, Sale Marasino, Pisogne and Paratico, among others. On the Bergamo side lie Sarnico, Predore, Tavernola Bergamasca, Riva di Solto, Castro, Lovere and Costa Volpino.

Iseo and Sarnico are described as the largest of the medieval towns around the lake.

Franciacorta, just south of the lake

Franciacorta begins directly south of the lake, a wine region between the southern shore and the city of Brescia. Since 1995 the DOCG designation has been reserved exclusively for the area’s sparkling wines, made by the traditional bottle-fermentation method.

The vines cover about 2,200 hectares across 19 municipalities. Permitted varieties are Chardonnay, Pinot Nero and Pinot Bianco.

Location, landscape and history

The lake lies about 20 kilometres north-west of Brescia. The former lakeside road (Strada statale 510 Sebina Orientale) was moved inland into tunnels in 2003, and the old route is now a cycling and walking path.

Since 2018 the northern part of the lake (Alto Sebino) has been part of a UNESCO biosphere reserve. In 2016 the lake drew attention through the art project The Floating Piers by Christo and Jeanne-Claude: floating walkways were open to visitors for 16 days.

What property in Iseo costs

Exact prices only exist case by case. As a guide, the portal RealAdvisor gave an average of about 2,730 euros per square metre for houses and about 3,100 euros for apartments in Iseo in July 2026, up 6.6 per cent over twelve months.

These are asking prices and estimates, not actual sale prices. Within one municipality they vary widely, depending on lakefront location, town centre or outlying district, and the condition of the house.

What to clarify before you buy from abroad

EU and EEA citizens can buy property in Italy freely, while buyers from non-EU countries are subject to a reciprocity rule that depends on their country. You need an Italian tax code, the Codice Fiscale, for the preliminary contract (compromesso) and the purchase contract.

Have documents, building permits and the land register checked by a lawyer or geometra before you sign anything or pay a deposit. A preliminary contract can already be binding.

Codice Fiscale: how to get one

Frequently asked questions

How large and how deep is Lake Iseo?: It covers 65.3 square kilometres, is 251 metres deep at its deepest point and 124 metres deep on average. It is the fourth largest lake in Lombardy.
Where is Lake Iseo?: In Lombardy, split almost equally between the provinces of Brescia and Bergamo, about 20 kilometres north-west of Brescia.
What is Franciacorta?: A wine region south of Lake Iseo between the lakeshore and Brescia. Its sparkling wines have carried the DOCG designation since 1995 and are made by the traditional bottle-fermentation method.
What does property in Iseo cost?: Based on asking prices and estimates from RealAdvisor in July 2026, roughly 2,700 euros per square metre for houses and 3,100 euros for apartments. Individual prices can differ a lot.
Can foreigners buy property on Lake Iseo?: EU and EEA citizens can buy without restriction. For buyers from non-EU countries it depends on a reciprocity rule between Italy and their home country. You need a Codice Fiscale before you buy.

Sources

This guide is not legal or tax advice. The information is based on the sources listed and valid as of the date shown. Rules and prices change: check them with the competent authority, a notary or a lawyer before you decide.

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