Set amid the rolling vineyards of Lombardy, Gussago sits at the gateway to Franciacorta—the Italian heartland of traditional-method sparkling wine. Its skyline is crowned by the 16th-century Convento della Santissima Annunciata, a hilltop sanctuary that has watched over vines and pilgrims for centuries. Between storied cellars and panoramic trails, Gussago delivers a slice of authentic countryside just minutes from city-scale culture.

Franciacorta’s reputation is no accident: limestone-rich soils and strict methods yield elegant bubbles rivaling Champagne. Nearby Brescia, a UNESCO World Heritage site for its Roman Capitolium and the Santa Giulia museum complex, layers history from empire to Renaissance arcades. This compact itinerary pairs the region’s finest tastings with time-honored recipes like spiedo bresciano and manzo all’olio.

Practical notes: book winery tours 1–2 weeks in advance, especially on weekends, and note that many museums close on Mondays. Trains from Milan and Bergamo to Brescia are frequent; Gussago is a short taxi or bus ride from Brescia station. Spring to early autumn is prime vineyard season, though winter brings fire-lit trattorie and hearty mountain cheeses.

Gussago

Vines creep up sunny slopes, stone hamlets cluster around bell towers, and the air smells faintly of must and rosemary. Gussago is where everyday Lombard life meets celebratory glasses of Franciacorta, poured with pride in family-run cantine.

• Top sights: La Santissima (Convento della Santissima Annunciata) for sweeping views and frescoes; vineyard lanes that connect Gussago to neighboring Cellatica DOC plots.
• Signature experiences: Guided tastings at elite Franciacorta houses, countryside walks at golden hour, and dinners centered on spit-roasted meats and aged Bagòss cheese.
• Stay nearby: Search stays in or near Gussago on VRBO or Hotels.com. If choices are limited, widen to Brescia or lakeside Iseo.
• Getting there: Fly into Milan or Bergamo with Omio (flights within or to Europe), then take a regional train to Brescia via Omio Trains (45–55 minutes from Milano Centrale, roughly €7–15; 50–70 minutes from Bergamo, about €6–10). Taxi from Brescia station to Gussago takes ~20 minutes (€20–30) or use a local bus (~30 minutes, around €2) via Omio Buses.

Food and wine highlights: Taste classic and rosé Franciacorta, crisp Satèn styles, and still reds from nearby Cellatica. Pair with casoncelli bresciani, polenta taragna, manzo all’olio (slow-braised beef in olive oil), and the weekend-favorite spiedo bresciano.

Day 1: Arrival, La Santissima, and a Franciacorta Welcome

Morning: Travel to Gussago. Use Omio to search convenient flights into Milan (LIN/MXP) or Bergamo (BGY). From your arrival city, hop a train to Brescia with Omio Trains—departures run at least twice hourly from Milan. Aim to arrive in the early afternoon.

Afternoon: Check in to your stay via VRBO or Hotels.com, then stretch your legs on the gentle 20–30 minute walk up to the Convento della Santissima Annunciata. The portico frames views over the patchwork of vines—perfect for orientation photos and a quiet moment inside the church’s frescoed nave.

Evening: Ease into local flavors with a glass of Franciacorta at golden hour. For dinner, pick one of these excellent options:

• Ristorante Carlo Magno (Collebeato, ~10 minutes by car): Refined Lombard cuisine—think lake fish risotto, suckling pig, seasonal truffles—paired with a deep Franciacorta list. Reserve for their tasting menu to sample regional classics artfully reworked.
• Uva Rara (Monticelli Brusati, ~15 minutes): Cozy stone-walled dining and a menu anchored in territory: casoncelli, roasted quail, and local cow’s milk cheeses. Warm, unfussy service and great value.
• La Dispensa Franciacorta (Adro, ~20 minutes): A lively bistro-bottega with an all-star by-the-glass lineup—order the tagliere of cured meats, vitello tonnato, and a silky Satèn to start your trip with a sparkle.

Day 2: Franciacorta Wineries and UNESCO Brescia

Morning: Breakfast in nearby Brescia before tastings. Two can’t-miss stops:

• Pasticceria Veneto (Iginio Massari): Italy’s most lauded pastry maestro—order a cappuccino with his iconic pistachio or lemon cream croissant, or a slice of Setteveli-style mousse cake.
• Bedussi: Third-generation café-gelateria known for buttery brioche and single-origin espresso; if it’s warm, get a scoop of hazelnut gelato to go.

Then head to your first cellar (prebook). Aim for 10:30–11:00 tours:

• Guido Berlucchi (Borgonato, ~20 minutes): Historic birthplace of Franciacorta DOCG. Descend into ancient stone cellars, learn remuage and dosage, and taste 2–3 cuvées. Expect ~1.5 hours, €25–35.
• Ca’ del Bosco (Erbusco, ~25 minutes): Sculptural art in the vineyards and cutting-edge presses inside. Premium visits include vintage pours; ~1.5–2 hours, €40–60.

Prefer something hyper-local? Le Cantorie (Gussago hills) pairs a panoramic terrace with characterful bubbles and still reds; tastings ~€25–35.

Afternoon: Lunch among the vines:

• Due Colombe al Borgo Antico (Corte Franca): A Michelin-starred ode to the region—try the manzo all’olio reinterpretation or the tasting menu that walks through alpine-to-lake flavors.
• Agriturismo Al Colmetto (Rodengo Saiano): Farm-to-table in a rustic setting; spiedo bresciano on select days, house-made pastas, and seasonal vegetables from their garden.

After lunch, trade vineyards for Roman stones in Brescia (15–25 minutes). Visit the Capitolium and Roman Theatre, then the Santa Giulia Museum—a superb complex spanning Lombard-era relics to Renaissance cloisters. Budget 2–2.5 hours total; standard tickets ~€12. Pause for an espresso or spritz under the arcades of Piazza della Loggia.

Evening: Aperitivo and a hearty farewell dinner:

• Vineria Dolcevite: Friendly wine bar for a Franciacorta flight with local salumi and alpine cheeses.
• Osteria Al Bianchi: Old-school Brescia favorite—casoncelli with sage butter, baccalà on Fridays, and meaty secondi that pair beautifully with a robust Cellatica red.
• Trattoria del Gallo (Rovato, if you’re up for a short drive): Benchmark manzo all’olio and weekend spiedo; book ahead and come hungry.

Return to Gussago for a slow stroll through village lanes, listening to the soft clink of glasses and distant church bells—Lombardy at its most serene.

Logistics and tips: Use Omio Trains to time your return from Brescia if you’re connecting onward tomorrow afternoon. Many wineries close midweek afternoons in winter; Sundays can book out fast. If you won’t drive, taxis are easy to arrange via your accommodation, and buses link Brescia with Franciacorta towns; check options on Omio Buses.

Where to stay: Browse countryside apartments and villas on VRBO (Gussago) or compare hotels and agriturismi on Hotels.com (Gussago). Prefer a city base? See Brescia hotels for easy museum access and train links.

Departure day: Your schedule assumes an afternoon departure. Enjoy a lazy breakfast and, if time allows, a quick vineyard stroll before heading to Brescia station or your airport connection via Omio Trains or Omio Flights.

In two days, you’ll toast in historic cellars, climb to a hilltop sanctuary, and stand amid Roman columns—all within a short drive. Gussago and Franciacorta reward unhurried travelers with soulful food, serious wine, and landscapes that invite return visits.