Landscapes of Lower Lombardy by Gravel bike

Lower Lombardy offers several gravel bike routes that allow you to explore countryside and dirt road landscapes.

Among the most popular routes is a tour that mainly winds through the lower Brescia area, where you can admire castles and countryside landscapes.

This route is particularly suitable for gravel bikes and MTB, with some dirt road sections inside the Parco dell’Oglio Nord.

Another interesting route is the one that starts from Desenzano, passing through Salò and crossing many dirt roads or cycle paths, with enchanting views of the lake and visiting castles and villages in the area.

In addition, there are routes that cross Franciacorta, such as the one that starts from Pontoglio and winds along the Ciclovia dell’Oglio, passing through the towns of Palazzolo and Capriolo.

These routes offer a mix of countryside and dirt road landscapes, ideal for those who want to explore Lower Lombardy by gravel bike.

Some routes are suitable for all ages and are ideal for discovering the nature and landscapes of the region away from the most crowded places.

These routes allow you to visit the vineyards of Franciacorta, the castles of Paderno and Passirano, and admire the characteristic hamlets of Varenna with unique views of the central lake basin.

Historical note

‘The mystery of Lake Gerundo’

Lake Gerundo was a large body of water that extended in the Po Valley area, covering an area of over 180 square kilometers. Its origins date back to about 7/8000 years ago, when it was formed during the thaw period and was fed by the floods of the Adda, Brembo, Serio and Oglio rivers. According to historical sources, the lake was quite deep, reaching a maximum depth of 20 meters in the Adda basin. Lake Gerundo has a legendary history associated with it, including the legend of the dragon Tarantasio, a monster that according to tradition inhabited the waters of the lake and spread terror among the population. According to legend, the nobleman Uberto Visconti defeated the monster and from then on his family adopted the image of the snake with a young boy in its mouth as their coat of arms. Numerous archaeological finds testify to the existence of Lake Gerundo, including remains of pile dwellings and monoxyle canoes dating back to the period between 400 and 750 AD. The lake began to progressively shrink starting from the 11th century AD and disappeared completely during the 12th century AD, mainly due to the reclamation works promoted by the Cistercian and Benedictine monks.
Today, numerous place names in the region are a tribute to the old lake, such as Gera d’Adda, Gerola and Girola, and its memory still lives on through historical and archaeological evidence.

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