Terre e Lago: The Wonderful “Earth and Lake” Italian Agriturismo

Terre e Lago means “earth and lake” in Italian.

And this name is so appropriate for this agriturismo as it sits just a few kilometers from the beautiful Lago d’Iseo and a few kilometers from the vineyards of Franciacorta.

It’s an excellent place to stay for your time in this part of the Lombardy region of Northern Italy.

Let’s start with some of the basics.

 

Where is Terre e Lago?

So Lago d’Iseo, Lake Iseo in English, is in the Lombardy region of Italy, specifically the province of Brescia.

Agriturismo Terre e Lago sits a few kilometers southwest of the lake and a wee bit west of the vineyards of the Franciacorta region.

I’ve written about the stunning Lago d’Iseo.

It really is a gorgeous lake.

The Franciacorta wine region I have yet to write about.

But this small region is known for its sparkling wine — bubbly that is made just like Champagne.

It’s a very special sparkling wine and the vineyards are lovely as they sit close to the lake.

Stay tuned for more about Franciacorta.

But if you are into the vines, lakes and some mountains, then you’ll want to visit this area of Lombardy.

And Terre e Lago is in the ideal location.

It does sit right along a main road, but because there is a shop in front (I’ll get to this) and the rooms are in the back, you don’t really notice any noise.

Being along this main road, the SP469, does mean that getting to Lago d’Iseo and its lakeside towns is easy.

The vineyards of Franciacorta are also accessible as is getting to the autostrada that goes from Torino to Milano to Venezia to Trieste.

 

The rooms

Giuliana, your lovely hostess, has just 4 rooms.

But the rooms are simply and tastefully decorated and they are SPOTLESS!

I can’t emphasize this enough that these rooms are kept very clean.

The rooms aren’t huge, but they are certainly large enough.

In fact the 3 doubles can be triples if need be.

Each room has a small refrigerator that also is the “mini bar”.

But there is enough space to put a few of your own items.

The bathrooms are a good size with nice hot showers and a bidet which are so common in Italy.

I stayed in the single room with the one twin bed.

The bed is very comfy and cozy with 2 pillows and a nice firm mattress.

There is a wardrobe to store your clothing and a desk which is a welcome addition for a digital nomad like me.

And the wifi is good.

I loved having the outdoor space just out my door — a table and chairs on a patio.

Unfortunately the weather wasn’t the best, so I only sat out there on my first night.

While you’re not sitting lakeside, there is a pretty field to enjoy.

 

The breakfast

Breakfast at Terre e Lago is amazing.

Giuliana sets a lovely table with breads, croissants, yogurt, meats and cheeses as well as fresh fruit that comes from the fields by the house and preserves and jams made from that fruit.

These are some of the products she sells in the shop — preserves and jams along with fresh berries as they come into season.

She has other local products from the area including olive oils and wines.

Back to breakfast…

You get your tea or coffee and fresh juices that Giuliana also makes from the fruit and sells in the shop.

So your breakfast is filled with fresh, local goodness.

I love this!

 

Your hostess

Giuliana is a delightful host.

She used to work in the local tourist office so this means she has great tips for where to go and what to do.

She’ll give you lots maps and brochures to help you plan out your time in the area.

And Giuliana is a very warm, welcoming and kind person.

I think I mentioned that I had cool, rainy weather during my stay.

Giuliana kept saying, “This is not normal. I’m sorry you are not having good weather.”

I know she felt bad.

But this is how things go — you just never know what kind of weather you’ll get and you can’t do a damn thing about it.

In all seriousness, Giuliana is the perfect hostess and her English is pretty darn good which is a benefit for those of us whose Italian is not so good.

 

My experience at Terre e Lago

Despite the not-so-great weather, I had a fabulous stay at Terre e Lago.

I loved my single room with its cozy bed.

The desk came in handy as I used one of those rainy days to get some work done on the laptop.

And I did get to take advantage of the outdoor space, eating a light dinner with some wine on my first evening.

Giuliana is incredibly helpful.

She even made a dinner reservation for me one night.

And she had recommended vineyards to visit prior to my arrival so I was able to email and arrange a tour to one of the wineries in the Franciacorta region.

Would it have been nice to stay right along Lago d’Iseo?

Yes.

But one of the things that makes Terre e Lago a great place to stay is that it’s very affordable.

Many of the hotels in the towns along the lake are a bit pricey.

Prices at Terre e Lago run from €50-55 euro per night for a single to €75-80 for a double.

The other plus is being so close to the wine route of the Franciacorta.

It only took me 15 minutes to get to Ferghettina, the vineyard I visited which I’ll be posting about very soon.

Giuliana gave me a hard time because I didn’t eat much breakfast.

I’m just not a big breakfast eater although I appreciate all that she offers.

I know many folks would have devoured all that she put on the table.

 

Do I recommend Terre e Lago?

Absolutely.

But if you do want to be lakeside or perhaps in the vines of Franciacorta, then this is not the accommodation for you.

I found the location to be good for my purposes of exploring this area for the first time.

And you will too if want to stay in a place that’s in between Lago d’Iseo and the vineyards.

Terre e Lago is perfect for this.

It’s also a great value for those wanting a comfortable, spotless place to lay their head with a fabulous breakfast and a wonderful host.

 

This is part of a series I call Charming Places — a series in which I talk about the places I stay. From B&B’s, hotels and guesthouses to apartments and farm stays, I’ll give my honest thoughts on these spaces. I’ve found that the accommodation I choose to stay often directly affects how I feel about a particular destination. And how I connect with that location and its people. So I want to share these places with you by dishing out a bit of info and some of my opinions.

Disclaimer: I was a guest of Terre e Lago so my stay was discounted. However all opinions are my own.