A PLACE THAT SPANS TIME
Through its history, architecture and landscape, the Baia delle Rose captures the true spirit of Costa Volpino.
The History of the Bay of Roses
The history of Baia delle Rose has its roots in the Costa Volpino of the 1970s, when a major project to develop the northern shore of Lake Iseo began to take shape.
In the book Volpino Coast, published in 1976, the priest and local historian Martino Campagnoni It described the creation of the “Nuova Spiaggia”, a project designed to transform this area into a space dedicated to tourism, relaxation and the outdoors.
The project involved a large natural swimming pool connected directly to the lake, a spacious sandy beach, green spaces, catering facilities and visitor services. From the outset, the aim was to create a place that would enhance the landscape and offer new opportunities for socialising, leisure and tourism in the area.
From the former shooting range to the Bay of Roses
The identity of the Bay of Roses is closely linked to the history of the ancient Shooting Range, a military and civilian complex built between the late 19th century and the early 20th century.
The site comprised a two-storey main building and a long firing range stretching almost 400 metres to the south. It is precisely the presence of the large walls designed to stop bullets that gave rise to the historic name of the place: “Target”.
The so-called “bullet-proof walls”, built of solid bricks and lined with wood on the inside to cushion the impact, were used by the Royal Army for rifle and pistol drills. Even today, they stand as a unique testament to the history of the area and to the architectural and military developments of the period.
The Liberty Villa
The historic heart of Baia delle Rose is the former shooting range building, an elegant structure that reflects the eclectic and Art Nouveau architectural styles of late 19th-century Lombardy.
According to the Lombardy Regional Directorate for Cultural and Landscape Heritage, the building retains important artistic and decorative features from the period: stylised pilasters, eaves decorations, historical coats of arms and architectural details that illustrate the transition from 19th-century historicism to the early forms of Art Nouveau.
The main façade still bears a historic coat of arms depicting a target surrounded by weapons and laurel wreaths, surmounted by the royal crown and the eagle bearing the shield of the House of Savoy – symbols that bear witness to the complex’s military origins.
The ground floor housed the operational areas dedicated to shooting and the armoury, whilst the upper floor was used as the caretaker’s accommodation. Despite the passage of time, the building still retains much of its original structure and stands as a valuable historical monument set amidst a landscape of extraordinary beauty.
The Bay of Roses Today
Today, the Bay of Roses is a place that is constantly evolving, where history, landscape and hospitality come together.
The area has been redesigned as a space dedicated to tourism, relaxation and socialising, whilst maintaining a strong connection with its historical identity and the surrounding area.
A beach, campervan area, apartments, events and outdoor activities all come together in a unique setting on Lake Iseo, designed to offer guests an authentic experience combining nature, sport and wellbeing.
