The woods at Giovetto di
PalineThe reserve is spread over Monte Giovetto, the eastern part lying in the
province of Brescia and the western in the province of Bergamo.
To get there from the Brescian side, leave from Borno. The
reserve, from 800 to 1800 m, is completely covered with woods and is important for being
the habitat of many colonies of formica rufa (natural predator of processional pine moth,
a damaging parasite of conifers) whose nets up to 1 m in height are easily seen in the
trees.
The Pyramids of Zone
The
pyramids of Zone form one of the most unusual sights in the province. They are found near
to the village of Zone on the road from Marone. Some of the pyramids are 30 m high and 8 m
in circumference.
They are capped by a rock which protects the soil immediately below it, while the rest is
washed away by erosion.
They are
the remains of a ancient glacier which covered the whole of Lake Iseo valley one million
years ago. When the glacier withdrew, the waters began to erode the soil which, being a
mixture of clay and gravel, did not crumble easily.
The less easily accessible soil, that below the rocks, remains entire while the rest is
slowly washed away (see "Lake Iseo").
Caves and caverns
There are natural caves in the province of Brescia throughout northern Brescia starting
with those on the Cariadeghe plateau right outside Brescia between Caino valley and
Botticino. More than 50 sink- holes and caves have been found so far, paradise for
spelaeologists.
The best known caves are the "Bus del Quai" above
Iseo, "Bus di Budrio", Serle and Gavardo caves.
The Peat moss at Sebino
South of
Lake Iseo are the most important wet-lands in the province.
They were formed towards the end of the 18th
century as the peat was taken away for use as fuel. The excavations in the peat formed the
large basins, now filled with water, that have been taken over by wildlife for their
habitat. They form an ecosystem of their own with canes and rushes surrounding expanses of
water covered by water-lilies and thronged by insects, herons, cormorants, brown kites and
shovellers.
There are paths laid out across the peat moss with bridges, walkways, bird-hides and
picnic areas.
The pleasantest walk is probably the circular one starting and finishing at the Monastery
of San Pietro in Lamosa at Provaglio.