Summer Bergamo by Giuseppe Venuti

OROBIE BERGAMASCHE

Val Taleggio

Gromo

Valle Imagna

VALTELLINA SONDRIO MONTE CADELLE 2485 m

MORBEGNO

LAGO DI COMO PIZZO DEI TRE SIGNORI 2554 m

PASSO DI S. MARCO 1985 m

ORNICA

PIZZO DEL DIAVOLO 2914 m

CORNO STELLA 2620 m

PIZZO DI REDORTA 3038 m

CIMA SOLIVA

PIZZO DI COCA 3050 m

MONTE TORENA 2911 m MONTE GLENO 2882 m

SAN SIMONE 2000 1670 m SENTIERO DELLE OROBIE

FOPPOLO 1600 m

MONTE PEGHEROLO 2369 m

MONTE AVARO 1650 m

VALBONDIONE VALLEVE MEZZOLDO

CUSIO VALTORTA 935 m

PASSO DEL VIVIONE 1892 m

BACINO DEL BARBELLINO 1895 m

CARONA 1100 m

MONTE TORCOLA 1636 m

LAGO GEMELLI 1953 m

PIAZZATORRE 900 m

SANTA BRIGIDA AVERARA

FIUMENERO

PIZZO CAMINO 2498 m VILMINORE

PASSO LAGHI GEMELLI 2139 m

BRANZI

SCHILPARIO 1134 m

LIZZOLA 1250 m

TEVENO

GANDELLINO VALGOGLIO

PIANI DI BOBBIO 1662 m

CIMA DI TIMOGNO 2122 m

GROMO

OLMO AL BREMBO BO

PASSO BRANCHINO 1821 m

PIAZZA BREMBANA

PIANI DI ARTAVAGGIO 1637 m

PIZZO ARERA 2512 m

RONCOBELLO

MONTE FERRANTE 2426 m

SPIAZZI 1150 m

AZZONE

COLERE 1000 m

PIZZO DELLA PRESOLANA 2521 m

VALCANALE 1200 m

DEZZO DI SCALVE

BARESI

BARZIO

PASSO DELLA PRESOLANA

VALZURIO

LENNA ARDESIO

1300 m

PIZZINO VILLA D’OGNA VEDESETA RESEGONE 1875 m

CAMERATA CORNELLO

TALEGGIO

DOSSENA

BRATTO

ZAMBLA 1100 m

S. GIOVANNI BIANCO

PEGHERA 900 m

VALPIANA MONTE ALBEN 2019 m

PARRE

DORGA FINO CASTIONE DEL MONTE DELLA PRESOLANA ONORE

PIARIO

ONETA CLUSONE GORNO

SERINA LECCO

S. OMOBONO

PONTE NOSSA

SAN PELLEGRINO TERME

SONGAVAZZO CERETE

GANDINO VERTOVA

CARENNO AVIATICO

VALCAVA 1250 m

ENDINE

SELVINO 1050 m

ZOGNO

TORRE DE BUSI

LOVERE

LAGO DI ENDINE

GAZZANIGA

CANTO ALTO 1116 m

GAVERINA

CENE

SPINONE

RIVA DI SOLTO

MONASTEROLO

ALBENZA

E AD

LAGO D’ISEO

PONTIDA

ALMENNO VALBREMBO

COLLI S. FERMO 1100 m

ALBINO ME

FIU

PONTE SAN PIETRO EM BO

PREDORE

TRESCORE BALNEARIO

ORIO AL SERIO

TAVERNOLA B.

SER

BERGAMO 249 m

SOTTO IL MONTE GIOVANNI XXIII

SARNICO

CASTELLI CALEPIO

EXIT SERIATE

FIUME

LIO

ISEO

FIUM

DARFO

BOSSICO

BREMBILLA

CALOLZIOCORTE

MONTE PORA 1500 m

ROVETTA

FARNO 1278 m

COSTA IMAGNA LAGO DI LECCO

ANGOLO TERME

OLTRE IL COLLE

FIUM

MILANO

EXIT DALMINE

BRESCIA

MONTE ISOLA

PER EDOLO BOARIO TERME

When we state that there are many good reasons to organise a holiday in the Province of Bergamo, we are well aware that we are making a biased observation, as we love this region and we are committed to developing tourism here. But, in reality, it is an honest claim. We convince ourselves of this fact, merely by thinking of the wonder we feel each time we pass through the tangled streets of Gandino or Clusone, when we see traces of frescoes on the sides of houses, and doorways bearing the coats of arms of old noble families, whose men and women lived behind these walls, and walked through these rooms and streets. Good reasons to choose the Province of Bergamo. The sense of contemplation, almost of awe, which is inspired by the massive structure of the Grand Hotel at San Pellegrino, with its ghostly ambience, with its huge domes and Art Nouveau friezes that speak of luxury, of the “belle époque”, of the joy of life and frivolity. The Grand Hotel and Casino of San Pellegrino amidst the hills that protect the town, dark green contrasting with the blue of the sky. Holidays in the hills, at Clusone, for example; spa holidays, at Sant’Omobono, Trescore, Bracca and Gaverina. Just a short distance from the mountains. The mountains in the Bergamo area always fascinate us; each time they bring us closer to ourselves. The Orobie Prealps and Alps. From the gentle hills surrounding Bergamo to the two-thousandmetre-high rugged ridge of the Alben, which seems like a witches’ castle, to the splendid grandeur of the Arera group at an altitude of 2,500 metres, above the Valcanale, a gorge lined with fir trees and scattered with tiny old hamlets, where one can soak up a genuine alpine atmosphere and where, in the summertime, we come across numerous flocks and herds. And then there are the queens of the Orobie Prealps, with the Presolana, the Pizzo dei Tre Signori (Three Lords Peak), the Corno Stella and the Pizzo del Becco (Beak Peak) on one side, while on the other we find the great three-thousand-metre-high peaks, the Coca, the Redorta and the Scais, with footpaths and small lakes, and itineraries winding across meadows, scree slopes and rocks, the thrills of which are difficult to describe. Good reasons for a holiday in the Province of Bergamo. And now we start to think of pinewoods and the silence of the Scalve Valley, a strip of land at the far end of the province; when we arrive here, descending from the Presolana Pass or climbing up along the Via Mala, it is as though we enter a different dimension of time. These are all places where a discreet form of tourism, which was once reserved exclusively for the elite, has existed since well before the beginning of the last century: San Pellegrino, Clusone, the Presolana Pass, Schilpario... The allure of water again springs to mind. The small and enchanting Endine Lake, walled in by the mountains, with its cane thickets and the anglers camouflaged among them, and the rowing boats that plough lazily along its green shores. Lake Iseo, Lake Sebino, with Lovere, Predore, and Sarnico, the home of boat manufacturing, the rare charm of Monte Isola, in the middle of the lake, the largest lake island in Europe. And then the rivers, certain stretches of which can still be enjoyed, such as the Brembo with its lido (beach) at Clanezzo, amidst the remains of medieval fortresses. We could talk about the beauty of the Province of Bergamo for hours, and fill books with reasons why you should spend a holiday here. You can get a good idea by reading this brochure. You’ll get an even better idea if you come here in person.

SCHILPARIO, CIMON DELLA BAGOZZA

Valle Brembana Valle Seriana Superiore Valle di Scalve Valle Seriana Valle Imagna

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Camp site

Horse riding

Refuge

Grass skiing

Out-of-hours medical service

Ice skating

Emergency service

Bocce court (italian bowling), bowling

SPA baths

Summer toboggan run

Discothèque/night club

Protected areas

Cinema

Tubing run

I.A.T. Tourist information ofﬁce Historical remains Museum Nature reserve Canoeing, rowing, kayaking, rafting, hydrospeed Attractions Gastronomic specialities Alpine rescue Alpine rescue corps Elilombardia helicopter rescue service Rock climbing school Walks, excursions, climbs Hang gliding, paragliding Gliding Cycle tracks Tennis court Golf, minigolf Swimming pool Sailing Windsurﬁng Waterskiing Fishing Target shooting, clay pigeon shooting

INFORMATION OFFICES UFFICIO I.A.T. BERGAMO ALTA Via Gombito 13, - 24129 BERGAMO Tel. 035.242.226 - Fax 035.242.994 www.comune.bergamo.it - turismo@comune.bg.it UFFICIO I.A.T. BERGAMO BASSA Piazzale Marconi - 24100 BERGAMO Tel. 035.210.204 - Fax 035.230.184 www.comune.bergamo.it - turismo1@comune.bg.it UFFICIO I.A.T DI VALLE BREMBANA Via S. Carlo 4 - 24016 S. PELLEGRINO TERME Tel. 0345.23.344 - 0345.21.020 - Fax 0345.23.344 - 0345.21.020 www.vallebrembana.com - ufﬁcioturistico@valbrembana.info UFFICIO I.A.T. DELL’ALTOPIANO DI SELVINO-AVIATICO C.so Milano, 19 - 24020 SELVINO Tel. 035.765.959 - Fax 035.765.928 www.comunediselvino.it - apt@comunediselvino.it UFFICIO TURISTICO ALTO SEBINO Piazza XIII Martiri - 24065 LOVERE Tel. 035.962.178 - Fax 035.962.525 www.comune.lovere.bg.it - iat.altosebino@tiscali.it UFFICIO I.A.T. BASSO SEBINO Via Lantieri, 6 - 24067 SARNICO Tel. 035.910.900 - Fax 035.4261.334 www.comune.sarnico.bg.it - www.bronzone.it info@prolocosarnico.it - segreteria@prolocosarnico.it UFFICIO I.A.T. VALCAVALLINA Via Suardi, 20 - 24069 TRESCORE Tel. 035.944.777 - Fax 035.944.777 www.prolocotrescore.it - info@prolocotrescore.it UFFICIO I.A.T. MARTINENGO e Comprensorio Via Tadino - 24047 MARTINENGO Tel. 0363.986.031 (pro loco) - 0363.986.006 (Municipio) Fax 0363.987.765 ufﬁcioturistico@comune.martinengo.bg.it - proloco.martinengo@libero.it www.iatmartinengo.it UFFICIO I.A.T. TREVIGLIO e Comprensorio Piazza Cameroni 3 - 24047 TREVIGLIO Tel. 0363.45.466 - Fax 0363.59.5559 www.prolocotreviglio.it - info@prolocotreviglio.it UFFICIO I.A.T. SOTTO IL MONTE-ISOLA BERGAMASCA Via IV Novembre 1 - 24039 SOTTO IL MONTE Tel. 035.4376.798 - Fax 035.4375.239 www.isolabergamasca.org - promoisola@isolabergamasca.com UFFICIO I.A.T. DEGLI ALMENNO Via Papa Giovanni XXIII - 24030 ALMENNO SAN BARTOLOMEO Tel. 035.548.634 - Fax 035.548.634 www.iatvalleimagna.com - info@iatvalleimagna.com

Isola di Fondra, Piazzatorre Alpe Corte, Baita Armentarga, Benigni, Ca’ San Marco, F.lli Calvi, F.lli Longo, Gherardi, Laghi Gemelli (Twin Lakes) Piazza Brembana, S. Giovanni Bianco, Zogno S. Giovanni Bianco v v

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S. Pellegrino Terme Carona, Foppolo, Moio de’ Calvi, Piazzatorre, Piazza Brembana, S. Pellegrino Terme, Valleve, Zogno Carona, Piazzatorre, S. Pellegrino Terme, Valtorta, Zogno S. Pellegrino Terme Averara, Camerata, Ubiale-Clanezzo, Cusio, Piazza Brembana, S. Brigida, S. Giovanni Bianco, S. Pellegrino Terme, Sedrina, Valtorta, Zogno, Isola di Fondra

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Regional Natural Park of the Orobie Prealps

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VALLEY

bolzano

BREMBANA VALLEY

SAN GIOVANNI BIANCO

Val Camonica

Valtellin a Passo S. Marco ORNICA

SAN SIMONE

LIZZOLA

BRANZI

VALT ORTA

GROMO VALCANALE

OLMO AL BREMBO

ALMENNO S. Salvatore

LENNA

ALZANO L. VILLA D'ALME'

GAVERINA Terme

BERGAMO

SOTTO IL MONTE GIOVANNI XXIII

Endine

MONASTEROLO del Castello

TRESCORE BALNEARIO

AZZONE

COLERE ARDESIO

RONCOBELLO

SCHILPARIO

VILMINORE SPIAZZI

OLTRESENDA OLTRE IL COLLE VEDESETA PONTE S. GIOVANNI NOSSA Lecco Bianco CASTIONE P EGH FUIPIANO SERINA d. Presolana ERA CLUS0NE S. PELLEGRINO ONETA ROTA Terme COLZATE GANDINO Imagna LOVERE GEROSA BRACCA BREMBILLA COSTA ENDINE ZO SELVINO Imagna GN LEFFE VA O LC AVA CENE SEDRINA Lago di TALEGGIO

Passo del Vivione

VALBONDIONE

CARONA

PIAZZA TORRE

CUSIO

FOPPOLO

SARNICO

Val Camonica

Passo della Presolana MONTE PORA

Lago d'Iseo Monte Isola

DALMINE Malpaga

MILANO

MARTINENGO TREVIGLIO MILANO

Lodi Crema

CARAVAGGI O

ROMANO di Lombardia

Rovato

Brescia VERO

arved by the River Brembo, the valley soon becomes rather wild, enclosed, mountainous and almost inaccessible, thus differing considerably from the gentler and more open Seriana Valley. The River Brembo has a much higher ﬂow rate than the Serio and less water is diverted from it for industrial purposes; therefore, it normally proves to be more abundant than its sibling. The Brembana Valley begins with wild and craggy landscapes. However, as we continue on towards its source, we encounter unexpected openings, magniﬁcent and vast basins, new narrowings, and the valley breaks off into countless smaller vales. Towns that can be regarded as the valley’s “calling cards” include Villa d’Almè and, above all, Al-

menno and Clanezzo, localities situated on the border between the Brembana and Imagna Valleys. Here, the landscape is still hilly, but soon becomes rocky. Fifteen kilometres from Bergamo we find Sedrina, which is considered to be the first town to truly belong to the Brembana Valley. We are at the beginning, yet the valley is already craggy, with steep rock faces, and the Brembo runs at the bottom of a steep cliff. At Sedrina, visitors can stop off and visit the church, with its façade designed by the architect Mauro Codussi in the 15th century. The building houses an altar piece by Lorenzo Lotto. Just past Sedrina, we arrive at one of the most characteristic places in the whole Brembana Valley: we find ourselves at the Ponti di Sedrina (Sedrina Bridges), the point in which the Brembilla Valley merges with the Brembana Valley, and where the overhanging cliffs and rock faces are linked by four bridges from different historical periods. Sedrina was the birthplace of Pacì Paciana, the Province of Bergamo’s most famous brigand, a legendary figure who lived during the 18th century. After Sedrina we continue towards Zogno, the small administrative and economic capital of the Brembana Valley. Along the road on our left is the entrance to the Grotte delle Meraviglie (Caves of Wonder), a genuine attraction, whose natural chambers are adorned with fantastic stalactites and stalagmites. Zogno is the most populated town in the valley, with eight thousand inhabitants. In the historic town centre are several old shops and palazzos, including the one once owned by Bortolo Belotti, the local historian and politician. In Zogno, a visit must be made to the Museo della Valle (Museum of the Valley), which houses approximately five thousand objects that document the evolution of civilisation in the valley during the course of the centuries. A section of the museum contains archaeological finds that were discov9

SEDRINA BRIDGES

ered in several caves in the area: Busa de l’Andrea, Busa de l’Edera and Busa del Pusù, in the proximity of the Sedrina Bridges. The caverns represented tombs in the Bronze Age, and have yielded human bones and remains in addition to utensils. Mention should also be made of several of the town’s beautiful little hamlets, such as Endenna, Somendenna, Stabello and Poscante, extremely peaceful places, surrounded by woods and meadows, which are ideal for relaxing holidays. Beyond this vast green amphitheatre, the valley narrows once again and the road, skirting the Brembo, arrives at the tourist capital, San Pellegrino Terme, of which we will speak later. Past San Pellegrino, on the right, the road climbs up to Dossena, which is situated one thousand metres above sea level in a lovely position, and has approximately nine hundred inhabitants. The parish church dedicated to St. John the Baptist is a veritable artistic gem and houses two huge polyptychs; one attributed to Palma il Vecchio, the other to Francesco Rizzo da Santacroce. We also ﬁnd paintings by Carlo Ceresa, Paolo Veronese and 10

Rubens, and a processional cross in gilded silver from the 16th century, one of the most valuable of its kind in the Bergamo area. Dossena is home to one of the most important rustic carnivals in the province. Going back down into the valley, we carry on until we reach San Giovanni Bianco, approximately thirty kilometres from Bergamo, perhaps the oldest and most historically rich town in the valley. A small, separate section will be dedicated to San Giovanni Bianco and Cornello dei Tasso. Continuing on our way, we pass the junction for the Taleggio Valley (separate chapter) before arriving at Camerata Cornello, which is particularly renowned for the hamlet of Cornello dei Tasso, a centuries-old village that has remained unchanged since the Middle Ages. It is the home of the celebrated family that invented the postal service in the 13th century, and whose lineage includes the famous poet Torquato Tasso. We continue our journey towards the heart of the Upper Brembana Valley and arrive at Lenna, which stands at an altitude of 560 metres at the confluence of the two main branches of the Brembo, which descend from Olmo and Fondra respectively. At this point, the valley opens into a small plain, where a beautiful artificial lake lies peacefully in the middle of the ﬁr tree forests. The parish church with the Neo-Gothic façade houses numerous works of art. Lenna was the birthplace of the 15th-century architect Mauro Codussi. At Lenna, the valley branches off in various directions: one fork climbs towards Branzi before reaching Carona and Foppolo, another stretches towards Piazza Brembana. From Piazza Brembana, other routes lead to Valtorta, the San Marco Pass and Cusio along with Monte Avaro. We take the road that rises towards Carona and Foppolo and arrive in Valnegra, a little town with just 230 inhabitants, which lies on the slopes of Monte Torcola at 581 metres above sea level. At 650 metres above

BREMBANA VALLEY sea level we find Moio de’ Calvi (with approximately two hundred inhabitants), the birthplace of the four Calvi brothers, three of whom died tragically in the Great War, the fourth perishing on the Adamello mountain range. In the centre of the village, several groups of 14th-century houses, excellent examples of rustic architecture, still preserve their age-old characteristics. It is also possible to see several Venetian-style buildings that date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. The 15th-century parish church is dedicated to San Mattia. Further on, we reach the junction with a road on the right that leads to Valsecca, where we find the hamlets of Bordogna and Baresi, the towns of Roncobello and Capovalle. This charming valley, carved by the Valsecca torrent, is home to characteristic rustic villages, many of which have remained substantially unchanged. Roncobello was one of the first places in the Brembana Valley to be discovered by tourists, thanks primarily to the outstanding beauty of the surrounding landscapes. Mention should be made of the rustic and austere beauty of Capovalle, a now-abandoned village of old houses. From Ca-

povalle it is possible to reach the Branchino Lake Pass, where you can partake in an enjoyable excursion, descending towards the Alpe Corte Refuge: we are in the very heart of the Seriana Valley. Another excursion leads to the Laghi Gemelli (Twin Lakes) Pass, then on to the refuge of the same name. Another interesting excursion will take you to the Cima di Menna (Menna Peak, 2,300 metres). The next port of call is composed of two hamlets, Fondra and Trabuchello, which form the municipality of Isola di Fondra, with approximately 180 inhabitants. Isola di Fondra’s economy was based on mining activity and it was renowned for the production of nails. From Isola di Fondra, the numerous mule tracks offer the possibility of interesting walks to charming places, such as the tiny hamlets on the slopes of Monte Torcola (1,636 m): Foppa, Cornelli, Forcella and Pusdosso, at an altitude of approximately one thousand metres. Other excursions lead to the Tre Pizzi (Three Peaks, 2,216 metres) and Monte Pietra Quadra (2,356 metres), passing through lush valleys. We should also mention the climb to the Pizzo Badile

CORNELLO DEI TASSO

(Badile Peak, 2,044 m), with the Monte Colle Pass which descends towards Valleve. We are now at Branzi (870 m - pop. 850); an important centre that is renowned for its cheese, it is situated at the conﬂuence of the Borleggia torrent and the Brembo, and is the most highly populated village in this part of the valley. Branzi is an extremely popular tourist destination, mainly because of its charming position between the towering mountains, a

SAN PELLEGRINO TERME

short distance from the wonderful basin of the Laghi Gemelli (Twin Lakes). It has also developed a winter tourism industry, based on the magnificent Gardata cross-country ski trail. Branzi is further renowned for the quarrying of slate, which is used for the characteristic stone roof slabs that are typical of mountain dwellings. Holidaymakers can enjoy charming walks in the surrounding areas. For instance, the two-and-a-half-hour route that leads to the Laghi Gemelli (Twin Lakes), following the delightful Borleggia Valley and touching the Casere and Marcio Lakes. From the Laghi Gemelli (Twin Lakes), interesting excursions can be made to the Pizzo del Becco (Beak Peak), the Aviasco Pass and the Valle dei Frati (Valley of the Monks). From the Gemelli, it is also possible to link up with the Orobie Prealps Path. From Branzi, excursions are also possible to Monte del Tonale (2,425 m), following the Scura Valley and the Carnera Valley. Another outing will take you to the Pizzo Vacca (Cow Peak, 1,914 m), passing the Tabia Chalet. We are now approaching the head of the valley. After Branzi we find the junction for Carona (1,110 m - pop. 450): well known for summer tourism, it is now also an important winter resort, given the large number of ski lifts. The village offers a beautiful artificial lake as well as several historic monuments, such as the little 17th-century church of San Gottardo in the beautiful and characteristic little hamlet of Pagliari, situated on the carriageable dirt road that leads to the Fregabolgia Lake dam and then on to the Calvi Refuge. Just after Pagliari, you can admire a waterfall formed by the torrent that descends from the Sambuzza Valley. This is one of the most enjoyable walks that the Bergamo mountains have to offer: you set off just past the waterfall in the locality of Forcella;

BREMBANA VALLEY you then pass through the lovely Sambuzza Valley until you reach the little lake of the same name (2,085 m), and from there, you climb up to the Publino Pass (2,368 m), on the border with the Valtellina. From Carona, however, the most popular walks are those that lead to the Laghi Gemelli (Twin Lakes), the Longo Refuge and, above all, to the Basin of the Calvi Refuge, the starting point for unforgettable excursions to the Pizzo del Diavolo (Devil’s Peak), the Valsecca Pass (on the Orobie Prealps Path), Monte Madonnino, Cabianca and numerous other locations. We now go back to the junction and back up the valley until we reach Valleve, which stands at an altitude of 1,141 metres and has a population of approximately 170 inhabitants. The parish church houses works by Carlo Ceresa, Gian Paolo Cavagna and Antonio Cifrondi. Also worthy of mention is the small 17th-century church of San Rocco. Valleve offers numerous walks for visitors, including those that lead to Monte Pegherolo (2,369 m), Monte Cavallo (2,223 m) and the Pizzo del Vescovo (Bishop’s Peak, 2,175 m). Just a few kilometres from Valleve lies the cold Basin of San Simone, one of the ski resorts in the Province of Bergamo where winter sports can be practised for a remarkable number of months, thanks to the unique climate. We leave Valleve, and climb up to the head of the valley where we ﬁnd Foppolo, a tiny old village of farmers and herdsmen who have successfully turned their hand to the tourist industry. At 1,515 metres, Foppolo is the highest lying town in our province. It is also an international tourist destination, offering a vast ski area during the winter and guaranteeing a cool climate, green landscapes, peace and the possibility of numerous excursions during the summer months. Excursions include: Monte Toro (2,525 m), Corno Stella (2,620 m) and Monte Cadelle (2,483 m). Descending from the Passo

CASINO OF SAN PELLEGRINO

LONGO REFUGE

del Porcile (Pigpen Pass, 2,290 m) we arrive in Valtellina, at the Laghi del Porcile (Pigpen Lakes, 2,095 m). A long and beautiful path leads from Foppolo to the Casera di Carisole (a refuge), and then on to the Sambuzza Valley. Heading back towards Lenna, we take the road that leads towards the other great branch of the Brembana Valley, the one that climbs up to Piazza Brembana, then to Olmo al Brembo, before splitting off in several other directions. Piazza Brembana is the little capital of the western branch of the valley; it has approximately one thousand inhabitants and is situated at 553 metres above sea level. Every year in September, an important festival takes 13

MEZZOLDO, SAN MARCO PASS

place dedicated to Formai de Mut, a fine cheese produced in the valley. Several of the town’s historical corners are still intact, splendid examples of rustic, old-style valley architecture. Particular mention should be made of the Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall) and the 17th-century Church of San Bernardino, which houses a polyptych by Lattanzio da Rimini and wood carvings by Andrea Fantoni. During the summer months, the town welcomes a steady number of holidaymakers, who come to enjoy the peace and tranquillity. Excursions include those to Monte Torcola (1,636 m) and to the Pizzo Badile (Badile Peak, 2,044 m). Olmo al Brembo (556 m - pop. 560) is situated at the conﬂuence of the Stabina and Averara valleys with the western branch of the Brembo. In the old town centre, which overlooks a beautiful little medieval-style piazza, it is still possible to see old houses built from square blocks of local stone. Many charming corners can be found in the narrow lanes and beneath the porticoes. The 14th-century Church of San Pietro, in the hamlet of Cugno, is worthy of particular mention. Three branches of the Brembana Valley stretch away from Olmo, culminating 14

respectively at Valtorta, at Cusio with the Avaro (Miser’s) Plains and at Mezzoldo with the San Marco Pass. The ﬁrst branch passes through the Stabina Valley, touching the municipality of Cassiglio (602 m - pop. 135), a tiny village that is home to the Church of San Bartolomeo, which has been renovated since its construction in the 15th century. Mention should be made of the Danza Macabra (Dance Macabre) painted on a wall of the Casa Milesi, which dates back to the 17th century. Cassiglio is the starting point of the western Orobie Prealps Path, a charming eighty kilometre route which, via six refuges, leads to the Calvi Refuge before joining up with the more commonly travelled Orobie Prealps Path. Walks from Cassiglio lead to the Cazzaniga Refuge (1,889 m), the Baciamorti (Kiss of the Dead) Pass at 1,540 metres, which leads down to the Taleggio Valley, to the Pizzo Baciamorti (Kiss of the Dead Peak, 2,009 m), Monte Venturosa (1,993 m) and Monte Aralalta (2,020 m). Ornica (922 m - pop. 300) is another little summer resort, the starting point for some of the most interesting excursions in the Brembana Valley. The parish church houses a beautiful 16th-century polyptych and a

BREMBANA VALLEY high altar in carved wood dating back to the same period. The sacristy contains frescoes painted by Angelo da Averara in 1485. A typical destination from Ornica is the most magniﬁcent mountain in the whole Brembana Valley, the Pizzo dei Tre Signori (Three Lords Peak), a splendid massif that rises to a height of 2,554 m. Another walk leads to the summit of the Camisolo at 2,157 metres. Valtorta (935 m - pop. 350) stands at the head of the Stabina Valley, which is traversed by the torrent of the same name. In recent years, it has also become an important ski resort, linked with the Valsassina and in particular with the Piani di Bobbio. The parish church houses two polyptychs, composed of various sections, which date back to the 15th century. The beautiful little Romanesque church in the hamlet of La Torre is also worthy of mention. Inside are interesting 15thcentury frescoes. From Valtorta it is possible to link up with the western Orobie Prealps Path, from where you can continue to either the Cazzaniga Refuge or the Grassi Refuge; other splendid walks through the greenery and pine forests lead to the Ceresola

Chalet (1,600 m), the Pizzo dei Tre Signori (Three Lords Peak) and to the Piani di Bobbio in Valsassina. Now let’s return to Olmo al Brembo and take the road that climbs towards Cusio and the Avaro Plains. We arrive at Averara (650 m - pop. 400), the renowned district through which the Strada dei Mercanti once passed, the merchant’s road that stretched as far as the San Marco Pass. Several splendid testimonies of those times still remain. One place that must be visited is the porticoed street, where the merchants rested before the last difﬁcult climb. The buildings and the frescoes that adorn them can still be admired today. In the parish church, on the façade and beneath the portico, are frescoes by Simone Baschenis, from the internationally renowned family of painters. A visit should also be made to the tiny hamlet of Redivo, which surrounds the centuries-old Church of San Pantaleone with its Romanesque bell tower. Nearby, we can observe the celebrated Venetian customs house with its unique architecture and unusual external wooden stairways. The hamlet of Valmoresca is also extremely charming. Further

CUSIO, PONTERANICA LAKE

on, we ﬁnd Santa Brigida (805 m pop. 680), where we can still see the old parish church in the hamlet of Foppa. Built in around 1000 AD, testimonies to its antiquity include the 15th-century frescoes. The Oratory of San Lorenzo preserves a tombstone dedicated to Flavia, a woman who died in 435 AD. The area is rich in chalk quarries. There are walks to Monte Avaro (2,088 m), the Santa Croce Hill (1,718 m) and Monte Disner (1,330 m), from where you can descend into the Stabina Valley. At the head of this section of the Brembana Valley we ﬁnd the small village of Cusio (1,050 m - pop. 400). Cusio is not only a summer holiday destination, but also a winter resort that takes full advantage

ORNICA, OLD VILLAGE

of the Avaro Plains, an area of great interest for both holidaymakers and because of its age-old farming traditions: the plains offer splendid green pastures at an altitude of 1,700 m. A visit should be paid to the little Oratorio della Maddalena (Oratory of the Magdalene) with its fascinating 14thcentury frescoes. The historic heart of the town is also interesting, with the Venetian customs building and several houses dating back to the 13th century. From Cusio, beautiful walks lead to the Avaro Plains (served by a carriageable road), the Ponteranica Lakes, Cà San Marco, the Pizzo dei Tre Signori (Three Lords Peak) and the Trona Peak (2,510 m), and to the Cusio Peak (1,466 m). We are now back in Olmo, ready to take the third branch that leads to the San Marco Pass and beyond, into the Valtellina. The ﬁrst village we come to is Piazzolo (700 m - pop. 120), a tiny agricultural centre and holiday resort surrounded by greenery, which offers pleasant excursions to Monte Torcola (1,636 m), and from there to the other branch of the valley, descending towards Fondra and Branzi. You can also climb up towards Monte Zuccone (1,506 m) and Monte Faino (1,562 m). Piazzatorre (860 m - pop. 490), the most highly developed tourist resort in the Upper Brembana Valley, lies approximately ﬁfty kilometres from Bergamo and boasts various ski lifts and a covered ice-skating rink. Piazzatorre is the starting point for numerous pleasant excursions, including those to Monte Torcola, Monte Secco (2,293 m), and to the Forcolino di Torcola (1,856 m), a pass that leads to Branzi and to the Costone (Ridge, 1,565 m). The last village in this branch of the valley is Mezzoldo (830 m - pop. 339). Mezzoldo is a well-developed tourist resort that is home to several historical landmarks, such as the 18th-century customs house with its frescoed façade; numerous rustic houses were built from stone that was quarried from the

BREMBANA VALLEY

AVERARA PARTICOES

mountain and, as a result, the age-old village blends in naturally with the surrounding landscape. The portico of the parish church features a fresco from 1522. Inside, we ﬁnd a central altar piece by Lattanzio da Rimini. The carriageable road continues past Mezzoldo until it reaches the delightful locality of Ponte dell’Acqua (The Bridge of Water), with the Madonna delle Nevi (Madonna of the Snows) Refuge; it then climbs up to the Cà San Marco Refuge and on to the San Marco Pass, before descending into the Valtellina. These are places that can be reached by car or on foot, following footpaths or the old mule track known as the Via Priula, which was built by the Venetian Republic in order to improve relations with the Valtellina and Switzerland. The Cà San Marco Refuge possesses an extraordinary evocative capacity, dictated by the rock stones from which it is built, the solid vaults of its rooms and the fountain in the internal entrance hall, all elements that reﬂect the age-old history of this building, which was created as a frontier post between the Venetian Republic and the Valtellina. Mezzoldo and the San Marco Pass are

starting points for unforgettable excursions to Monte Ponteranica (2,378 m), the Verrobbio Pass (at 2,026 m with the First World War fortiﬁcations), Pescegallo Lake (1,862 m) and then to Gerola, in Valtellina, to Monte Tartano (2,292 m).

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OLMO AL BREMBO

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Lago d'Iseo Monte Isola

DALMINE Malpaga

MILANO

MARTINENGO TREVIGLIO MILANO

Lodi Crema

CARAVAGGI O

ROMANO di Lombardia

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Brescia VERO

fter Zogno, we turn to the right and begin climbing, entering a sort of tunnel between the mountains, dark rock faces, precipices and carved solid rock, where the road runs alongside a torrent. A frightening gorge, which is referred to as “orrido” (meaning both “ravine” and “dreadful” in Italian). This is the contradictory calling card of a valley which, a little further on, widens into a vast, green, sunny basin, with two branches that climb towards Selvino and towards Serina and Zambla. The huge basin is enclosed by the peaks of the Alben, the Arera and the Menna. The valley boasts a long and important history: it was traversed by the old merchants’ road, which linked Bergamo and the Seriana Valley to the Brembana Valley. The Serina Valley was

the administrative centre of the whole Brembana Valley. At the beginning of the valley we ﬁnd the locality of Ambra with Ponte Merlo. Further ahead, on the left, is Bracca (620 m - pop. 680), a locality that is renowned for its springs and mineral water. At the junction, one road leads towards Selvino, the other to Serina. We head towards Selvino, and arrive in the village of Algua (432 m - pop. 720). A trip should be made to the parish church in the hamlet of Pagliaro, which contains interesting frescoes and one in particular, attributed to Lorenzo Lotto, which depicts St. Francis. Visits should also be paid to the parish church in the hamlet of Frerola and to the Perello sanctuary, which was built in 1580 upon the mountain of the same name. The church of Rigosa is also interesting, with its early 16th-century frescoes. Further up, the ascent leads to the Selvino plateau, to which a separate chapter is devoted. We return to the bottom of the valley and set off on the road that climbs up towards Serina. The ﬁrst village on the right is Costa di Serina (907 m - pop. 910), which offers beautiful walks in the surrounding forests and to the summits of Monte Alben (2,019 m), Monte Suchello (1,505 m) and to the Blumen Pass (1,277 m), which leads to the Riso Valley. After Costa di Serina, we pass several tiny hamlets before reaching Cornalba (900 m - pop. 300). The parish church preserves three panels from the 15th century. Painted shrines, known as “santelle”, are a characteristic feature that we can see on many farmhouses in the Bergamo mountains. One in particular, depicting the Deposition, is painted on an old house. Walks include those listed for Costa Serina, plus one to the La Forca Pass (1,848 m), which descends in the Riso Valley. A natural rock gymnasium, equipped for free climbing, can also be found in the Cornalba area. As we ascend, we come upon the tiny hamlet of Lepreno before arriving in Serina (850 m - pop. 2,000), one of the most important tourist destinations in the Province of Bergamo 21

RAVINE

COSTA SERINA, ASCENSION

and a village with a long and prestigious history, as evidenced by the rich architecture. There are many monuments and buildings to see in Serina. The 16th-century Fontana del Vicario (Vicar’s Fountain), and another similarly old structure, with three spires and a lion’s mouth, from which water flows into a basin (dating back to 1645). The Parish Church of the Annunciata was rebuilt by the Caniana family in the 18th century. Inside are frescoes by Gian Battista Rodriguez (1750), stuccoes by Eugenio Camuzio from Lugano, the Pala del Redentore (Altar-Piece of the Redeemer) by Palma il Vecchio, a great 16th-century painter and a native of Serina, and other works by Palma il Giovane, the Fantoni family, Francesco Rizzo da Santacroce and Andrea Previtali. Visits should also be paid to the Church of San Rocco, the Monastery of the Santissima Trinità (Holy Trinity), the Casa del Vicario, (Vicar’s House), a 15th-century building with the lion of San Marco, the San Bernardino portico with frescoes and the old route of the Via dei trafficanti (Merchants’ Road). The hamlets of Lepreno, Valpiana and Corone are also of interest. An important cattle fair is held in Serina every September. Numerous walks are possible in the surrounding countryside: Monte Alben, Menna, the La Forca Pass, Monte Zucco (1,336 m). A footpath also leads to Dossena and then into the Brembana Valley, through the Crocetta (little cross) Pass, at 1,051 m. From Serina, you can also reach Monte Vaccareggio (1,474 m), Monte Castello (1,474 m) and the Pizzo Arera (Arera Peak, 2,512 m). Oltre il Colle is the last village, and is made up of various hamlets: Zambla Alta, Zambla Bassa and Zorzone. Oltre il Colle lies at an altitude of 1,030 m in a splendid basin surrounded by the Alben, the Arera and the Cima di Menna (Menna Peak). Ski lifts can be found on the slopes of the Arera. Oltre il Colle also boasts a magnificent cross-country ski trail. During the summer, the area is populated by

SERINA VALLEY numerous holidaymakers. The parish church houses a canvas by Enrico Scuri that must be seen. At Zambla Bassa, the parish church possesses a painting by Gian Paolo Cavagna. The church of Zorzone is the work of the Caniana family. The old and characteristic little church of Grimoldo is dedicated to the Santa Croce (Holy Cross) and has frescoes on its faĂ§ade. Inside, we ďŹ nd a Madonna by Andrea Fantoni. Numerous beautiful walks are possible from Oltre il Colle and Zambla. By setting off from Zorzone and crossing the Vedra Valley

and its pass (1,850 m), you can reach Branchino Lake and the Seriana Valley. From Zorzone, you can also climb up to the Vindiolo Pass, at 1,974 m, and then descend to Roncobello. Walks then lead to the Arera, with the Sentiero dei Fiori (Path of Flowers). From Zambla Alta, it is possible to climb up to the Cima di Grem (Grem Peak, 2,049 m), arriving at the Camplano chalet (1,826 m), before descending along the Gorgolina Valley as far as Ponte Nossa. Another excursion leads to the Nembrini bivouac, then to the Alben.

COSTA SERINA

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Val Camonica

Valtellin a Passo S. Marco ORNICA

SAN SIMONE

LIZZOLA

BRANZI

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VALBONDIONE

CARONA

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FOPPOLO

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Lago d'Iseo Monte Isola

DALMINE Malpaga

MILANO

MARTINENGO TREVIGLIO MILANO

Lodi Crema

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ROMANO di Lombardia

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he Taleggio Valley is accessed primarily from San Giovanni Bianco, or from Sedrina, passing through the Brembilla Valley. The point of entry from San Giovanni Bianco is particularly striking: the road is narrow, carved into the mountain; in certain stretches, the solid rock practically transforms itself into a tunnel; the adjacent precipice falls into the wild and foamy Enna torrent. Ice is commonplace in the winter, with frozen waterfalls, ice patches and icicles. There is also a succession of curves, bridges and cliffs. The valley is an oasis of quiet and greenery, a starting point for beautiful walks, ideal for those who seek peace, tranquillity and relaxation in the mountains. It is also famous for the cheese that takes its

name from Taleggio and which can still be found today, despite the fact that stock-farming is not practiced as much in the mountains as it was in the past. We climb up the road from San Giovanni Bianco, and after approximately eleven kilometres, we come to four small hamlets: Olda, Pizzino, Sottochiesa and Peghera, which form the municipality of Taleggio (700 inhabitants). Olda is the most important of these localities. A visit should be paid to the Sanctuary of San Bartolomeo, where, in olden times, a necropolis existed for the noblemen of the Averara and Cassiglio Valleys. It can be reached via the footpaths that lead to the Baciamorti (Kiss of the Dead) Pass, the border between the Taleggio and Upper Brembana Valleys and the Stabina Valley. At Peghera, the parish church houses the most interesting work of art in the valley: a polyptych by Palma il Vecchio in seven sections, which dates back to the 16th century. Perched on a hillock at an altitude of 900 m, Pizzino towers above the other hamlets and is, in all probability, the oldest of these settlements: it lies on what was once the border between the Republic of Venice and the Duchy of Milan. The parish church was originally constructed in the 11th century, but was rebuilt at a later date. Taleggio’s town hall is located in the hamlet of Sottochiesa, whose parish church contains an altar piece by Andrea Vicentino (1589). In Sottochiesa we ﬁnd the “Fidelitas Taleggi” Column, which was erected in 1609 by the Venetian Republic to seal the oath of loyalty sworn to it by the people of the valley. It is also possible to admire a tower, dating back to the 13th century, which was part of a defence system. Recommended excursions include a twenty minute walk from Pizzino to Fraggio, a beautiful old agricultural village, which is now completely abandoned. Fraggio represents a splendid example of rural town planning and mountain 27

FRAGGIO, THE THREE BEECHES

architecture. The simple houses had high, narrow and rather steep roofs, constructed from the heavy local stone. Among the many interesting and fascinating excursions is the one from the Ponte del Becco (Bridge of the Beak), which, before reaching Sottochiesa, at an altitude of 593 m, leads via a long and changing footpath to the peak of Monte Cancervo, at an altitude of 1,835 m. This mountain covers a vast area, where peaks and rocks alternate with stretches of apparently ďŹ&#x201A;at ground. It is still inhabited by a wealth of fauna, including roe deer, chamois and many other species that are found in the Orobie Prealps. Next to the Cancervo stands Monte Venturosa, at 1,999 m. From Pizzino, it is possible to reach the Baciamorti (Kiss of the Dead) Pass, the route once taken by the cadavers of Cassiglio. From Pizzino, you can also climb to Monte Aralalta (2,006 m), the Cesare Battisti Refuge (1,685 m) and to Monte Sodadura (2,010 m). The second town in the Taleggio Valley is Vedeseta (805 m - pop. 323), where you can admire tower houses 28

that bear witness to a bellicose past. Vedeseta belonged to the Ghibelline faction, and there were often clashes with the Guelfs from the neighbouring town of Taleggio. The municipality is home to the Sanctuary of San Bartolomeo, built in around 1200. The church is immersed in nature and is the destination for various excursions, such as the traditional Easter Monday walk where a typical meal of eggs, chicory and salami is eaten on the grass opposite the ediďŹ ce. From Vedeseta, you can reach the Culmine San Pietro (1,260 m) and the subsequent descent into Valsassina. Another destination is the Zuc di Valbona (1,546 m); you can also climb towards the beautiful sources of the Enna torrent and tackle the demanding ascent to the Resegone. From the Forcella di Bura (Bura Col) at 884 m, we descend into the Brembilla Valley, where we come to Gerosa (760 m - pop. 430), a village whose economy was based on stock-farming and which has today opened itself to tourism in virtue of its delightful position and natural environment. The parish church was built

TALEGGIO AND BREMBILLA VALLEYS in the 18th century to a design by the Caniana family. Walks include those to the Castello della Regina (Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Castle, 1,424 m), Monte Sornadello (1,580 m), the Zucco di Pralongone (1,503 m) and to the Madonna della Foppa Sanctuary. Another walk leads to the tiny village of Blello, the smallest municipality in the Province of Bergamo with 107 inhabitants. It lies at an altitude of 900 m, close to the border with the Imagna Valley. Blello has been described as a piece of paradise, a place where the frenetic rush of society seems decades away. An untouched corner. The parish church is a small sacred building, typical of the modest religious architecture found in mountain regions. It stands on the hillock known as Monte Faggio, so called because a great beech tree (faggio) once grew there. It can be reached in around half an hour. Brembilla (417 m - pop. 4,000) has a rather different story. It is a large town where craft and industry have developed considerably. In 1443, Brembilla was subjected to a diaspora: the senate of the Venetian Republic decided that all the local people were to leave their hometown for having supported the Visconti family against the Serenissima. All citizens, young,

BREMBILLA, ROMAN BRIDGE

old and children alike, were given three days to leave. Most of them went to Milan, the territory of the Visconti. In fact, Brembilla is still one of the most common surnames in the Milan area. A visit should be paid to the hamlets of Santâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Antonio Abbandonato and Catremerio, scarcely populated localities with characteristic dwellings and mountain architecture.

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SOTTO IL MONTE GIOVANNI XXIII

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MONASTEROLO del Castello

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SCHILPARIO

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VALBONDIONE

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CUSIO

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Brescia VERO NA

he gateways to the Imagna Valley are the old and interesting towns of Almenno and Clanezzo. Almenno San Salvatore and San Bartolomeo are situated on gentle, terraced hills at an altitude of around 350 m. Clanezzo lies lower down, at the exact conﬂuence of the Imagna torrent and the River Brembo, in a landscape of medieval legend, with cliffs, escarpments and forests creeping over it; with the centuries-old castle (now a restaurant) and the towers, fortiﬁcations that were used to guard the bridges, where it was once necessary to pay a toll; with frescoes depicting armed warriors in armour. One of the bridges was built at the beginning of the last millennium, at the behest of Attone Leuco. For many decades, the locality was the the-

atre of bloody clashes between Guelfs and Ghibellines. At Clanezzo, mention should be made of the characteristic footbridge, made from wood and iron ropes, that connects the two banks of the Brembo. A visit should also be paid to the old drop forge on the course of the Imagna, which seems like a house belonging to the devil. In Almenno San Salvatore, a visit is recommended to the Madonna del Castello church, which consists of three distinct buildings: the crypt, the old church and the Renaissance church. The crypt may date back to the Longobard era, a period in which Almenno must have been an extremely important town. Testimonies of the Romanesque period can also be found in the beautiful Church of San Giorgio, with frescoes depicting six centuries of history and the oldest wall paintings in the Province of Bergamo. A visit should also be paid to the Convent of San Nicola (now a restaurant), which was built in the 15th century. At Almenno San Bartolomeo, a visit is recommended to the Rotunda of San Tomè, a Romanesque construction with a circular plan, built in the 12th century. The parish church houses works by Gian Battista Moroni, Pietro Ricci, Bartolomeo Vivarini and Cristoforo Caselli. Above Almenno we ﬁnd the town of Roncola, which lies on a plateau of Monte Albenza at an altitude of 900 m. Roncola is one of the most highly developed summer resorts in the Province of Bergamo. Above Roncola is the summit of the Albenza (approximately 1,350 m) and the Valcava Pass (1,250 m), with the tiny hamlet of the same name, which is now practically unpopulated. It offers a magniﬁcent view of the entire Po Valley. We return to the Imagna Valley, and after Strozza and Capizzone we come to a road on the left that climbs up to Costa Imagna (1,014 m - pop. 635), a well-developed tourist resort that still preserves examples of the characteristic constructions known as stal, a dwelling linked to a stall and a 33

hayloft with a large internal courtyard. From Costa, excursions are possible to the Valcava Pass, Monte Tesoro, the Albenza, the Pertus and to the Cornabusa Cave, a sanctuary dedicated to the Madonna. We descend once more and go past Bedulita. On the right, a road leads up to Berbenno (750 m - pop. 2,474), one of the most highly populated towns in the valley. Interesting archaeological finds have been unearthed in the area, particularly in the Bus del Cunì cave: these include human remains, jewelry made from animal teeth and stone daggers from the beginning of the Bronze Age, approximately five thousand years ago. The area is also extremely rich in fossils. At Berbenno, on top of a hill at an altitude of one thousand metres, we find the oldest church in the Imagna Valley; built in the 14th century, it is dedicated to Saint Peter and houses a canvas by Andrea Previtali, a native of this town. We descend again on the valley road, passing Ponte Giurino and Selino Basso; we then take the fork that leads to Corna Imagna, Locatello and Fuipiano (1,019 m - pop. 233), the last

CLANEZZO BRIDGE

town in the valley. Fuipiano once stood on the border between the Duchy of Milan and the Republic of Venice. The hamlet of Arnosto is extremely important; here, it is still possible to admire the original local rustic buildings that are related to the constructions found in the Taleggio Valley. The Venetian small barrack stood in Arnosto and it is possible to visit the little church, which dates back to 1605. The present parish church of Fuipiano (built in 1739) houses numerous works of art by Giacomo Francia, Francesco Quarenghi and the Tiepolo school. There are also some extremely valuable locally made statuettes from the 15th century. Corna Imagna (750 m - pop. 984) has numerous hamlets, with paintings and “santelle” (painted shrines) on the walls, which cover centuries of history. Here, we can again see the characteristic roofs constructed from the heavy local stone. Locatello (557 m - pop. 800). An interesting number of 15th- and 16thcentury frescoes are preserved in the village, which are of great historical as well as artistic value. On the other fork of the valley we find Rota Imagna (700 m - pop. 883), with its two parts, Rota Fuori and Rota Dentro. Extremely important archaeological finds, dating back to the Bronze Age, were unearthed in the Tomba dei Polacchi (literally “the Tomb of the Poles”). These finds are currently preserved in the Museum of Bergamo. Giacomo Quarenghi, the celebrated architect and painter, was born in Rota Fuori in 1744. A typical excursion from Rota Imagna is the climb to the Resegone, the mountain that overlooks the Lake Lecco. Another walk leads to the Grotta dei Polacchi (Cave of the Poles), the Sant’Omobono springs, the Pertus and to the Cornabusa Sanctuary. Beyond Rota Imagna, at the head of the valley, stands Brumano (913 m - pop. 99), on the slopes of the Resegone; immersed in nature, this little village has preserved its archaic characteristics, the essence of the past that concords perfectly with the

IMAGNA VALLEY nature of the mountain. Walks are possible to the Resegone, to the Pallio Pass (1,362 m), descending to Morterone in the Boazzo Valley, to the Costa del Pallio (1,480 m) and to Monte Serrada (1,875 m). Another branch of the Imagna Valley is the one that leads to Valsecca, in a vast basin (630 m - pop. 410). Valsecca is home to the old Venetian gendarmerie. The parish church dates back to the end of the 15th century and contains works by Ceresa and Quarenghi. Next to it is the Cappella del Crocifisso (Chapel of the Crucifix), which houses a 17thcentury crucifix by Fra’ Giovanni da Reggio. It is a place of prayer that has great significance for the people of the valley. The feast is celebrated every five years, in the month of July. The road continues, linking up with the road that descends from Costa Imagna, before arriving at Sant’Omobono Terme, the most important town in the area (450 m - pop. 3,505). Sant’Omobono encompasses the hamlets of Cepino, Mazzoleni, Selino Basso and Selino Alto. It is renowned for its springs, including the main source, known as “della Bet-

CORNABUSA SANCTUARY

tola”. The spa resort’s star shone particularly brightly in the second half of the 19th century. Skin and liver diseases were treated primarily. Today, the spa resort is a cutting-edge complex. At Sant’Omobono we also ﬁnd the valley’s most well-loved sanctuary, which is also renowned outside the province: the Cornabusa Sanctuary, situated inside a cave and dedicated to the Madonna who supports the body of Christ. It was built gradually over the course of the centuries, with work starting in the 1500s. Numerous miracles have been attributed to the Madonna of the Sanctuary.

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SERIANA VALLEY

SELVINO

Val Camonica

Valtellin a Passo S. Marco ORNICA

SAN SIMONE

LIZZOLA

BRANZI

VALT ORTA

GROMO VALCANALE

OLMO AL BREMBO

ALMENNO S. Salvatore

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ALZANO L. VILLA D'ALME'

GAVERINA Terme

BERGAMO

SOTTO IL MONTE GIOVANNI XXIII

Endine

MONASTEROLO del Castello

TRESCORE BALNEARIO

AZZONE

COLERE ARDESIO

RONCOBELLO

SCHILPARIO

VILMINORE SPIAZZI

Passo del Vivione

VALBONDIONE

CARONA

PIAZZA TORRE

CUSIO

FOPPOLO

SARNICO

Passo della Presolana

Val Camonica

MONTE PORA

Lago d'Iseo Monte Isola

DALMINE Malpaga

MILANO

MARTINENGO TREVIGLIO MILANO

Lodi Crema

CARAVAGGI O

ROMANO di Lombardia

Rovato

Brescia VERO NA

he Seriana Valley traditionally offers two great possibilities for tourists: holidays in the mountains and holidays in the hills. Mountain holidays can be taken in the Upper Seriana Valley, where the towns and villages lie at moderate heights above sea level, i.e. around one thousand metres, and where walks and excursions swiftly lead to places that are located at considerable altitudes: the Upper Seriana Valley is home to some of the Orobie Alpsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; most daunting peaks, which exceed heights of three thousand metres. The Lower and Middle Seriana Valley offers gentler landscapes, yet the climate is cool and pleasant, making summer tourism in the area an extremely healthful experience. Several locali-

ties in the Lower and Middle Seriana Valley boast an established tourist tradition. These include Monte di Nese, Lonno, the Lujo Valley and the prestigious Selvino, which stands on a thousand-metre-high plateau next to Aviatico. We are still on the outskirts of Bergamo: the city is no more than twenty kilometres away from these localities, which can be reached from the bottom of the valley in just a few minutes. The lower valley offers a delightful landscape and still proffers various places of interest. The terrain is hilly and completely covered in woodland; a green and pleasant landscape, partly utilised by man for agricultural purposes, where several slopes are terraced and cultivated with vines and fruit trees. The entrance to the lower valley from the plain is natural, wide and extremely easy to negotiate, unlike the narrow and enclosed Brembana Valley. The sentinels of the valley are two remarkable peaks: the 1,146-metre-high Canto Alto, with its steep and rocky summit, which is surmounted by a towering cross, and Monte Misma, a gently sloping mountain shaped like a panettone cake, which reaches an altitude of 1,160 metres. Both are extremely pleasant destinations for excursions and offer unforgettable views over the Alps, the valley bottom and the city. The Canto Alto dominates both valleys, while from the Misma the panorama encompasses the plain, the Orobie chain and, in the opposite direction, the Endine lake and Lake Iseo, two small, blue pearls on the provinceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landscape. The green hills of the lower Seriana Valley are composed of sandstone, marly limestone and clayey materials. Economic development, based on small and medium-sized industry and a ďŹ&#x201A;ourishing handicrafts sector, has brought wealth and prosperity to this part of the valley, where, as a consequence, many interesting artistic works can 39

also be found. We begin by speaking of Alzano Lombardo (304 m - pop. 11,000), a municipality that lies just six kilometres from Bergamo, but which, nevertheless, boasts a highly characteristic, centuries-old town centre. Alzano is home to numerous works of art, and is located at the bottom of a delightful basin that stretches uphill towards Monte di Nese, a tiny hamlet that sits at an altitude of 800 metres amidst the greenery of the pre-alpine hills. Monte di Nese offers an enviable climate in the summer, as well as the possibility of quiet and pleasant

walks through the forests and meadows. It also beneďŹ ts from another important advantage: it is only ďŹ ve kilometres from Alzano and twelve kilometres from the centre of Bergamo! It is therefore no surprise that its number of inhabitants doubles during the summer months. The basin that lies above Alzano Lombardo is also home to several other beautiful little localities, including the Buche di Nese, deep pools of sky-blue water formed by the Anesa torrent, and the tiny hamlets of Burro and Brumano. With regard to Nese, mention should be made of the magniďŹ -

BASILICA OF SAN MARTINO

SERIANA VALLEY cent parish church, which contains numerous works of art by Palma il Giovane, Giampaolo Cavagna and Carlo Ceresa, as well as paintings by Antonio Cifrondi. More interesting still is the hamlet of Olera, a veritable gem that lies in the basin, where it is dominated by the summit of the Canto Alto. The village has preserved many of its medieval characteristics: narrow lanes, dark entranceways, vaults and centuries-old stones. Mention should also be made of the parish church, which contains a polyptych attributed to Cima da Conegliano. At the bottom of the basin, Alzano Lombardo is definitely worth a visit. The town lies in an important position from the point of view of communications: until the beginning of the 17th century, it was the starting point of the mule tracks that linked Bergamo and the Seriana Valley to the Brembana Valley, climbing as far as Miragolo and Selvino before descending towards Zogno. In the heart of the old town centre we find the Basilica of San Martino, a church of early medieval origin that was completely renovated in the 17th century, according to a plan by the architect Gerolamo Quadrio. It houses paintings by Palma il Vecchio, Tintoretto, Cavagna and Appiani. Among the important works preserved in the building is a pulpit, the result of a collaboration between the Caniana family of Alzano and the workshop of Andrea Fantoni from Rovetta. It is also necessary to mention the three church sacristies. The first was realised by Grazioso Fantoni and his son Andrea in around 1679. The vault of the second sacristy features a fresco by Cifrondi, while on the side walls we can see the striking wood carvings realised on three wardrobes by Andrea Fantoni and his workshop: in a relatively small space we can admire 31 medals with 116 angels, 57 martyrs, 78 putti and 104 ornamental heads. On the side

CHURCH OF BURRO

walls of the third sacristy we can admire the stalls realised by Giambattista Caniana, with the help of his daughter, Caterina. The pilasters are the work of the Caniana family, and feature fruit, flowers and animals that are characteristic of the Bergamo area. The church offers numerous other elements of interest, including the treasury, a collection of sacred vestments and ﬁnely crafted silver furnishings that date back to between the 15th and 18th centuries. These treasures have an inestimable value. Another interesting example of religious architecture in Alzano is the little church of San Pietro, known as the Sanctuary of the Beata Vergine Addolorata (Sorrowful Blessed Virgin), a gothic-style ediﬁce dating back to the 15th century, with pointed arches and a coffered ceiling. The centuries-old Palazzo Pelandi has a beautiful façade; it was renovated in the 17th century and still preserves some interesting frescoes. Visits should also be made to 41

the house of the Caniana family, to Casa Carlessi, Casa Mottoni Mosca and to the castle known as Il Grumello at Nese, which is now a farm. Travelling towards the Middle Valley, we come to Nembro (309 m - pop. 11,000), to the left of which we find the road that climbs up to Selvino, one of the most important tourist resorts in the Bergamo area; it lies close to both the provincial capital and to Milan, at an altitude of 1,000 metres and at the beginning of a pleasant plateau. But a separate section will be dedicated to this area. Further on, we arrive at Albino, a town characterised by the presence of numerous hamlets, several of which are of considerable interest. Mention should be made of the Lujo Valley, with the little villages of Fiobbio, Vallalta, Abbazia and Casale that lead to the Colle Gallo pass at 763 m, which links the Seriana Valley and the Cavallina Valley; beyond the Colle Gallo we find Gaverina Terme (400 m - pop. 1,000), another important local tourist resort. The Lujo Valley is a gently sloping, green area with a rather pastoral atmosphere. Of particular importance is the church of Romanesque origin that is located in the hamlet of Abbazia. Originally a Benedictine Cistercian church, it was founded in 1135 and renovated over the course of the subsequent centuries. Nevertheless, it still maintains its antique aura of profound spiritualism. In the hamlet of Fiobbio, a visit should be paid to the little church of the Trinità (Trinity), which houses 15th-century frescoes. Fiobbio is a charming little village that became rather well-known in recent years due to the beatification of one of its daughters, a young woman named Pierina Morosini, who died in the early 1950s. Above Vallalta we find the renowned Altino Sanctuary, which was built after 1496 to commemorate a miracle that took place there: a charcoal burner’s prayers to 42

SAN PATRIZIO

the Madonna caused water to gush forth from the rock. The Lujo Valley was once well-known in the Bergamo area for the production of biligocc, smoked chestnuts that are traditionally sold for the feast of Sant’Antonio. In fact, the festival known as the “Sagra dei Biligocc” is still held every January in Vallalta. Further up the Valley we come to Cene (268 m - pop. 2,900); in 1973, in an abandoned quarry near the town, fossils were found belonging to the oldest known ﬂying reptile, the pterosaur. The fossils date back two hundred million years and are now preserved in Bergamo’s Museum of Natural Sciences. Cene marks the beginning of the Rossa Valley, an interesting pre-alpine vale, green with forests and pastures, which culminates at a pass known as the Forcellino at 664 m. Further on, we descend towards Bianzano and Ranzanico, the panorama sweeping over the Endine Lake. On Monte Bo (707 m) we ﬁnd the Buco della Volpe (literally “the Fox Hole”), a striking cave that is often visited by potholers. Gazzaniga, Fiorano, Vertova and Colzate are the four central

SERIANA VALLEY towns of the Seriana Valley; beyond them, the Upper Seriana Valley begins. In this area, mention should be made of the splendid natural zone of the Vertova Valley, carved out over the millennia by the Vertova torrent, a crystal-clear waterway that forms, along its course, the magnificent pools known as the Marmitte dei Giganti (Giants’ Pots). The gentle, well-kept path that runs through the valley arrives at an altitude of 1,200 metres on the slopes of Monte Alben (2,020 m), the first real, striking mountain of the Orobie Prealps, with rocks and peaks that are outlined against the sunset when seen from the Upper Seriana Valley, and against the dawn when observed from the Brembana Valley. Vertova is an extremely interesting place from an architectural and historical point of view. It still preserves numerous medieval buildings: the tower house in Piazza Castello, the Paganessi fortified house, the tower in Via Santa Caterina, which is now the post office, and so on. The complex of the ex-convent, Casa Guerini and Casa Donini are all from the Baroque period of the 17th century. Another important place to visit is the historic centre of Semonte, which dates back to the 15th century. In the area, we can also find the ex-Convent with the Church of San Patrizio, perched on a steep crag above the River Serio, with its characteristic arches. A mention should also be made of Orezzo, which lies above Gazzaniga (600 m), in a panoramic position: Orezzo is a holiday destination during the summer months. From the village, it is possible to reach the Selvino Plateau, via a beautiful, narrow road that winds through the pre-alpine hills. In this area, there are also important examples of industrial archaeology, which can be found from Alzano onwards, and which are at times rather striking.

VERTOVA VALLEY WATERFALL

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o the east of Vertova lies a valley of considerable economic, artistic and touristic importance: the Gandino Valley. Renowned for its textile industries since the Middle Ages, the valley has retained this characteristic over the course of the centuries. The valley became famous for the production of panno grosso bergamasco, an extraordinary coarse material that was both warm and extremely hard-wearing, and which was utilised, among other things, to equip the troops of various European countries. In the 20th century, it was the birthplace of several major textile companies that went on to be internationally successful. The industrial capital of the old land of woollen fabrics is Leffe, while Gandino is the richest town in terms of art and history. Other towns in the valley include Peia, 46

GANDINO VALLEY

Cazzano Sant’Andrea and Casnigo. The history of the valley is represented above all by the municipality of Gandino (552 m - pop. 5,550), which preserves documents dating back to the year 830. The old town centre is one of the most striking in the whole province. It has numerous palazzos and churches, as well as several towers. We can see the 15th-century Palazzo del Vicario (Vicar’s Palazzo), now the town hall, with its portico, as well as the cloister of the retirement home, formerly a hospital and convent of the Franciscan Friars. Casa Franchina, Palazzo OngaroFrana and Casa Caccia all date back to the 16th century. Palazzo Giovanelli was built in 1600, while the artistic façade and the gateway were added in 1648: the façade features thirteen large windows with wrought-metal gratings. The Palaz-

zo del Salone della Valle is also from the Baroque period. Other houses and palazzos can be found in the various streets of the town’s historic centre. The Baroque Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, which stands in a small piazza in the centre of the town, is an extremely important building from the point of view of religious art. Work began on the ediﬁce in around 1100, but it was rebuilt in 1420 and ﬁnally transformed in 1649, according to a plan by the architect Gian Maria Bettera from Peia. The façade is made of local stone, the baptistery dates back to 1565, the bronze balustrade is from 1590 and the confessionals are by Giambattista Caniana and the Fantoni family. The external baptistery, the recent work of Luigi Angelini, houses a baptismal font from the year 1500. Also of note is the Basilica Museum, which was inaugurated in 1929, then renovated in the early 1960s. Its collection includes Flemish tapestries, portraits of Gandino’s most distinguished citizens from the 16th century to the present day, old tools for working wool, historical parchments, a velvet antependium from the 15th century and another in gold brocade with the monogram of the Emperor Maximilian (16th century). The Gandino Valley offers pleasant walks from its towns to destinations such as the Conca del Farno (Farno Basin), the Pizzo Formico (Formico Peak), Monte Fogarolo, Monte Pizzetto, the Piana Valley and the Monte Sovere, from where you can descend towards Lake Iseo. A visit should also be paid to the Santuario della Trinità (Sanctuary of the Trinity), which represents a patrimony of exceptional importance due to its architecture and frescoes. The church, from the 15th century, was enlarged a century later and contains frescoes from that period. On the presbytery arch, a painting depicts the Universal Judgement with dramatic and prominent strokes. The last note regarding the valley: the interesting unused industrial buildings, which represent an architectural heritage; an example of a culture and of a manufacturing society that have now been left behind. 47

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ONETA, SANCTUARY

Val Camonica

Valtellin a Passo S. Marco ORNICA

SAN SIMONE

LIZZOLA

BRANZI

VALT ORTA

GROMO VALCANALE

OLMO AL BREMBO

OLTRELENNA SENDA OLTRE IL COLLE ONETA VEDESETA PONTE S. GIOVANNI GORNO NOSSA Lecco Bianco CASTIONE P EGH FUIPIANO SERINA d. Presolana ERA CLUS0NE S. PELLEGRINO ONETA ROTA Terme COLZATE GANDINO Imagna LOVERE GEROSA BRACCA BREMBILLA COSTA ENDINE ZO SELVINO Imagna GN LEFFE VA O LC AVA CENE SEDRINA Lago di ALZANO L. VILLA D'ALME'

GAVERINA Terme

BERGAMO

SOTTO IL MONTE GIOVANNI XXIII

Endine

MONASTEROLO del Castello

TRESCORE BALNEARIO

AZZONE

COLERE ARDESIO

RONCOBELLO

SCHILPARIO

VILMINORE SPIAZZI

TALEGGIO

ALMENNO S. Salvatore

Passo del Vivione

VALBONDIONE

CARONA

PIAZZA TORRE

CUSIO

FOPPOLO

SARNICO

Passo della Presolana

Val Camonica

MONTE PORA

Lago d'Iseo Monte Isola

DALMINE Malpaga

MILANO

MARTINENGO TREVIGLIO MILANO

Lodi Crema

CARAVAGGI O

ROMANO di Lombardia

Rovato

Brescia VERO NA

he Riso Valley opens up at the mouth of the Upper Seriana Valley, climbing away to the left. It is traversed by the Riso torrent, where water always flows abundantly, and faces the east wall of the Alben, with its dramatic, overhanging rocks. The Riso Valley climbs upwards for approximately fifteen kilometres until it reaches the Colle di Zambla, a 1,260 metre-high pass that connects the Upper Seriana Valley and the Serina Valley, which then opens onto the Brembana Valley. The Riso Valley has a green, enchanting landscape, rich in beech and fir woods. In the first part of the valley the landscape is relatively vast and flat; then, after the junction for Chignolo and Gorno, the road starts to climb noticeably,

though the slopes of the mountains remain in the distance, resulting in a wide-open panorama. We pass only two small towns, Gorno (475 m - pop. 2,100) and Oneta (740 m - pop. 800), as well as numerous little hamlets. The valley has a total population of approximately 3,000 inhabitants. The groups of houses are neat and wellkept. Particular mention should be made of the little church square in Oneta, with its scaled-down spaces and Lilliput-esque proportions. Before the discovery of tourism, the valley’s economy depended partly on livestock breeding, partly on emigration, but primarily on hard work in the mines. From Roman times onwards, numerous zinc and lead mines were worked in the Riso Valley. The tunnels still exist to this day, along with the remains of the miners’ shacks, furnaces and mineral washing plants. In this area, it is obviously possible to ﬁnd interesting minerals and fossils, especially near the Alben, and those who love walking may see deer in the woods, or chamois at higher altitudes. There are also hedgehogs, foxes and badgers. To conclude our description of this enchanting and unspoiled valley, we should mention the Madonna del Frassino Sanctuary; situated on a knoll on the slopes of Monte Alben, it was built following the apparition of the Madonna on 2 July, 1501. A magniﬁcent ash tree (“frassino” in Italian) stood at the exact point of the manifestation, and was cut down to make way for the sanctuary. The little church has a nave and two aisles and preserves numerous works of art from the 16th century, including a large polyptych by Gerolamo da Santacroce. Various festivals take place during the course of the year, the most important being the Sagra, which is celebrated on the third Sunday of July. An auction takes place in which devotees bid for the right to carry the statue of the Madonna during the procession. 51

Castione, Clusone, Onore, Valbondione Albani, Alpe Corte, Baita Cernello, Brunone, Coca, Consoli, CurĂ˛, F.lli Calvi, Magnolini, S. Maria in Leten Castione, Clusone, Gromo Clusone

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UPPER SERIANA VALLEY

ARDESIO

Val Camonica

Valtellin a Passo S. Marco ORNICA

SAN SIMONE

LIZZOLA

BRANZI

VALT ORTA

GROMO VALCANALE

OLMO AL BREMBO

ALMENNO S. Salvatore

LENNA

ALZANO L. VILLA D'ALME'

GAVERINA Terme

BERGAMO

SOTTO IL MONTE GIOVANNI XXIII

Endine

MONASTEROLO del Castello

TRESCORE BALNEARIO

AZZONE

COLERE ARDESIO

RONCOBELLO

SCHILPARIO

VILMINORE SPIAZZI

Passo del Vivione

VALBONDIONE

CARONA

PIAZZA TORRE

CUSIO

FOPPOLO

SARNICO

Passo della Presolana

Val Camonica

MONTE PORA

Lago d'Iseo Monte Isola

DALMINE Malpaga

MILANO

MARTINENGO TREVIGLIO MILANO

Lodi Crema

CARAVAGGI O

ROMANO di Lombardia

Rovato

Brescia VERO NA

he Upper Seriana Valley opens out at Ponte Nossa and immediately branches off into two large areas near Ponte Selva: on one side we have the Upper Seriana Valley proper, with Villa d’Ogna, Piario, Oltressenda, Ardesio, Valgoglio, Gromo, Gandellino and Valbondione, the last town, which lies ﬁfty kilometres from Bergamo. On the other side, climbing away to the right, is the Clusone Plateau, and then the Presolana Basin with the Borlezza Valley. Separating these two vast areas is a double ridge of mountains, which culminate in the Presolana massif. With the Upper Seriana Valley we pass from hill holidays to out-and-out mountain tourism. The various towns and hamlets do not lie at particularly high altitudes (i.e. between 600 and 1,200 metres), but the

landscape is dominated by rocks and mountains that reach heights of 3,000 metres. The first part of the upper valley is embodied by the basin of Ponte Nossa, where the landscape can be described as both hilly and mountainous. Premolo, for example, lies in green and hilly surroundings; a pleasant little town of approximately 1,000 inhabitants with numerous small hamlets. A little further on we find Parre, which is set on a small, sun-soaked plateau. Parre (640 m - pop. 2,500) boasts a thriving economy based on handicrafts and industry. It was once an extremely important sheepfarming town, and the practice is still very much alive today. The town’s customs reflect a deep-rooted concept of the past, and many traditional activities still take place. Over the last decade, several interesting discoveries have been made in the locality of Castello: archaeologists have unearthed numerous finds dating back to the Bronze Age and the perimeter walls of an ancient settlement, leading them to surmise that Parre may have been the capital of the ancient Celtic people known as the Orobi. Above Parre, we should mention the small church dedicated to the Trinity, with its distinctive portico. At Ponte Nossa, tourists are advised to visit the Nossana Valley with its characteristic drop forges, whose work is documented in the museum situated next to the course of the torrent. We climb up alongside the River Serio, which flows abundantly at this point and offers scenery of intense beauty, its banks lined with fir trees. On our left, we will see the little town of Piario, which borders the great pinewood of Clusone, and then Villa d’Ogna (Ogna’s little piazza is a veritable gem). Higher up, a splendid little valley opens out before us, framing a handful of old houses belonging to the hamlets of Nasolino and, further on, Valzurio: the two localities form the town of Oltressenda Alta. We then arrive at Ardesio, the most highly populated town in this branch of the valley. The historic centre is extremely inter55

esting, with the Oratory of San Pietro, the Caniana parish church and the “Madonna delle Grazie” Sanctuary, the destination of a devout pilgrimage on the feast day, 22 June. The municipality of Ardesio encompasses by one of the Serio’s side valleys, which is among the most striking in the entire province, its beauty in no way inferior to the austere dolomitic panoramas. This is the Valcanale, carved by the Acqualina torrent, a wide valley surrounded by high mountains of dolomite rock, whose fir-covered slopes rise to the edge of the crags, the dramatic ridges soaring up like a wave of stones above the numerous hamlets that are scattered throughout the area. These tiny localities are well worth a visit: you will discover a unique world with a distinct antique flavour, parts of which are unpopulated and derelict. The most important hamlet is Valcanale itself. Above the ski lifts we find a footpath, which winds along a splendid route and through a forest, as far as a large plateau at 1,450 metres, which leads to the Alpe Corte Refuge. Valcanale marks the beginning of the charming Orobie Prealps Path, an eight-stage, 80 kilometre route that leads to some of the most inaccessible and seductive places in the Orobie Alps. We now return to the bottom of the valley. After Ardesio, the valley narrows and be-

GROMO

comes rather dark, with the Serio running between the rocks. After crossing the Ponte Nuovo bridge, we suddenly come to a vast, wide open space, at the centre of which stands the centuriesold town of Gromo, renowned for its medieval centre, perhaps the most important one of its kind in the Bergamo mountains. This little town (pop. 1,300) definitely deserves a visit. Its little piazza with the Ginami Castle and the Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall), dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries respectively, leaves a lasting impression on visitors. The medieval centre is completed by its high houses and narrow lanes.TheParrocchiale(ParishChurch) is an artistic gem, which in its present form still features Romanesque elements that have been superimposed by subsequent works. Inside, it is possible to admire 15th-century frescoes, the 16th-century baptistery with numerous other frescoes and a wooden altar by the Fantoni family. Several of Gromo’s hamlets are worth a visit, including Ripa Alta, the starting point of the ancient Roman mule track that led to the Portula Pass before descending into the Brembana Valley and, on the opposite side, the hamlet of Boario, a tiny old farming village edged by dense fir woods that climb as far as the pastures of Monte Timogno. Valgoglio (929 m - pop. 600) can be found at a higher altitude than the other towns; it lies in a sunlit position, on a gentle slope amid pastures and woods that descend from Monte Agnone. Valgoglio is the starting point for spectacular excursions to Selva d’Agnone, the Sanguigno Valley, the lakes area (Nero Lake, Aviasco Lake, Succotto Lake...) and the Cernello Refuge, at an altitude of approximately 2,000 metres. Back in the town, a visit should be paid to the parish church, the walls of which are completely covered with frescoes from the 15th and 16th centuries. Also of interest are the hamlets of Novazza and Colarete; in the latter we find the little Church of San Michele, which is also completely frescoed, and

UPPER SERIANA VALLEY which features an extremely beautiful coffered ceiling dating back to the 16th century. The penultimate town in the valley is Gandellino (682 m - pop. 1,100), with the large hamlet of Gromo San Marino. This little town is situated in a lovely part of the valley. It is the starting point for numerous, beautiful walks, which lead, in one direction, to the Sedornia Valley and, in the other, to the little lakes of Cardeto. Beyond Gandellino we ﬁnd the municipality of Valbondione (750 m - pop. 1,700), the last town in the valley. Just before the town we ﬁnd the characteristic hamlet of Fiumenero, the starting point of a footpath that leads to the Brunone Refuge at 2,295 m, before continuing on to the summit of the Pizzo Redorta at 3,038 m. We are now in the heart of the alpine kingdom, with its history, its shepherds and its wild animals, which move among the rocks. From the town of Valbondione, a mule track leads to the beautiful little hamlet of Maslana, a 30 minute walk; and a little further on, several times a year, it is possible to enjoy the spectacle of the Serio waterfall, a 315 metre-high cascade with three majestic drops. Valbondione marks the beginning of several footpaths that lead to striking alpine valleys, where the various outposts are the only evidence of man’s existence: it is possible to reach the Coca Refuge (1,892 m) and the Curò Refuge (1,915 m). From these refuges, it is possible to climb up towards small alpine lakes, valleys and the highest peaks in the Orobie Alps, such as the Pizzo di Coca (3,050 m), the Scais (3,038 m) and the Gleno, with its little glacier. One of Valbondione’s most important hamlets is Lizzola (1,250 m - pop. 300), at the bottom of a large amphitheatre of mountains where important ski lifts can be found. We leave the area known as the Upper Seriana Valley and enter the Clusone plateau. A separate section will be dedicated to this town. Other towns on the plateau include Rovetta (660 m - pop. 2,100), the home of the renowned Fantoni family, sculptors and

ALPE CORTE REFUGE

artists who worked with wood and later with marble; active from the 15th century onwards, their residence was transformed into an extremely interesting house museum. Pleasantly situated amongst the greenery of the plateau, the hamlet of San Lorenzo is an old farming village where livestock breeding is still practised. The municipality of Fino del Monte (700 m - pop. 820) borders with Rovetta and is divided from it by a short bridge. Before climbing any further, we turn right into the Borlezza Valley, in which we find the towns of Songavazzo and Cerete: the valley then descends as far as Sovere and flows into Lake Iseo. In Cerete Alto, it is still possible to admire pieces of centuries-old art, such as the frescoes in the Marinoni Chapel and the Crucifixion in one of the town’s piazzas. In Cerete Basso, a visit should be paid to the old mill, where grain is still ground with stone millstones, which are turned by a large wheel driven by the stream. We are now in the Presolana Basin, with the towns of Castione della Presolana (870 m - pop. 2,800) and Onore (700 m - pop. 700). The Basin climbs up as far as the Presolana Pass, through a vast, green landscape of pastures and forests where the sun shines all day long. It can come as no surprise that this charming place was voted the leading mountain holiday destination in the Province of Bergamo. We shall speak of Castione della Presolana later on. 57

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CAMPELLI DI SCHILPARIO

Val Camonica

Valtellin a Passo S. Marco ORNICA

SAN SIMONE

LIZZOLA

BRANZI

VALT ORTA

GROMO VALCANALE

OLMO AL BREMBO

ALMENNO S. Salvatore

LENNA

ALZANO L. VILLA D'ALME'

GAVERINA Terme

BERGAMO

SOTTO IL MONTE GIOVANNI XXIII

Endine

MONASTEROLO del Castello

TRESCORE BALNEARIO

AZZONE

COLERE ARDESIO

RONCOBELLO

SCHILPARIO

VILMINORE SPIAZZI

Passo del Vivione

VALBONDIONE

CARONA

PIAZZA TORRE

CUSIO

FOPPOLO

SARNICO

Passo della Presolana

Val Camonica

MONTE PORA

Lago d'Iseo Monte Isola

DALMINE Malpaga

MILANO

MARTINENGO TREVIGLIO MILANO

Lodi Crema

CARAVAGGI O

ROMANO di Lombardia

Rovato

Brescia VERO NA

he most striking alpine valley in the Province of Bergamo opens up beyond the Presolana Pass, a landscape of wild, untouched and varied beauty. A vast area, where just four small towns have sprung up over the course of the centuries and which is now home to a total of approximately 4,500 people. For centuries, the economy of these towns was based on mining, historical evidence of which can be seen in the museum at Schilpario. There are dozens of iron ore and barite mines. On one side, the Scalve Valley is dominated by the rocks and dramatic cliffs of the Presolana, while on the other it is

closed in by the dolomitic peaks of the Pizzo Camino (2,491 m), with its needles and pinnacles that are reminiscent of witches castles, and by the Cimon della Bagozza (2,409 m), the Campelli Pass (1,892 m), the Vivione Pass (1,828 m), and by the black walls of Monte Venerocolo (2,590 m) and Monte Gleno (2,882 m). The Scalve Valley can be accessed via two carriageable roads: the one that descends from the Presolana Pass, and the one known as the Via Mala, which climbs up from Boario Terme. A link with the Valcamonica is also guaranteed by the road that runs from Azzone to Borno before descending to the outskirts of Breno. The Vivione Pass is also practicable in the fine weather season. The last town in the valley, at the beginning of the climb that leads to the Vivione Pass, is Schilpario (1,124 m - pop. 1,300), which lies 66 kilometres from Bergamo and is the furthest corner of the province. It boasts a rich history of tourism, being perhaps one of the first towns to systematically accommodate numerous holidaymakers from the beginning of the last century onwards. The nature offered by these localities is beyond compare: peace, quiet, greenery, walks, the possibility of practising sports and a rhythm of life made to measure for humankind are typical of Schilpario and, indeed, of the whole Scalve Valley. The town has an extremely interesting ethnographical museum, which offers a wealth of material. It is set up inside the building that housed the milling machines and the drop forge, which were powered by paddles driven by the water of the Dezzo torrent. Numerous excursions are possible from Schilpario for hiking and mountaineering aficionados (the Vo Valley, the Venerocolo little lakes, the Pizzo Camino, the Cimon della Bagozza, etc.), but also 61

VILMINORE

AZZONE

for mushroom hunters (the valley’s porcini are famous) and for ﬁshing enthusiasts, in the torrents and lakes. During the winter, Schilpario offers one of the best cross-country ski trails in the whole of northern Italy. Throughout the centuries, Vilminore di Scalve (1,019 m - pop. 1,800), has played the role of a small capital in the valley; today, its economy is still based in part on livestock breeding and on cheese production. Mention should be made of Scalve’s Latteria Sociale, a dairy that manufactures a host of mouth-watering products. There are many interesting things to see in Vilminore’s historic centre, particularly the Palazzo Pretorio (Praetorian Palace), a building that dates back to the 14th century. Vilminore offers numerous walks, including a climb to the remains of the Gleno Dam, the scene of the tragedy of 1923, one to the Manina Pass from the hamlet of Nona, and another to the Tagliaferri Refuge (2,320 m). Colere, a summer holiday and winter sports resort, is situated on the slopes of the north wall of the Presolana, in the Middle Scalve Valley, in a setting of striking, austere beauty. In the summer, Colere gives you the opportunity to experience every aspect of the mountain: trekking on traditional trails and on the Orobie path, climbing on the “vie storiche” (historic routes), the oppressive beauty of the Spigolo Nord (North Ridge), exploring the mountain pastures. Colere provides all this and much more, completing its offer with traditional activities such as tennis, football, quiet walks and outings. The recently established Presolana Mining Ecomuseum features fossils and minerals, as well as old tools and machines that were used for mining work. On the other side of the valley, in a sunny location,

SCALVE VALLEY we ďŹ nd Azzone (973 m - pop. 500), the smallest town in the Scalve Valley, with 500 inhabitants divided between the hamlets of Dosso and Dezzo. The presence of the Giovetto Reserve and of the new wood museum, which has been set up in the old FurfĂŹ sawmills, underlines

the importance of the forests and wood in the Azzone area. In all three localities, the holidaymaker can experience the intense atmosphere of the mountain, which stems from the rocks, the stone walls of the houses and from the expressions of the local people.

PRESOLANA

CAVALLINA VALLEY

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Riva di Solto

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Grone, Ranzanico, Trescore

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Grone, Trescore

Costa Volpino, Lovere

Casazza, Endine, Monasterolo, Spinone, Trescore

Riva di Solto, Lovere, Solto Collina

Monasterolo, Spinone

Spring of cold sulphureous mineral water (Tuf valley)

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Berta Fauna Reserve, Valle del Freddo (The Cold Valley)

Casazza, Endine, Grone, Monasterolo, Ranzanico, Spinone Trescore

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Regional Natural Reserves of Valle del freddo (The Cold Valley) and Valpredina

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Trescore Spinone al lago Spinone

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Endine-Iseo Zones, Colli di San Fermo, Basso e Colle Giogo, Lake Iseo

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THE LAKES

LAKE ISEO AND MONTE ISOLA

ourism in the Province of Bergamo is not confined solely to the mountains; holidays may also be taken on the shores of several splendid lakes, vast expanses of fresh water that stretch out between the Orobie Prealps. We begin with the charming Endine Lake in the Cavallina Valley, a delightful stretch of water with an elongated form that is typical of prealpine lakes of glacial origin. Approximately five kilometres long, with a maximum width of 700 metres and a minimum width of 100 metres, it has no important tributary but is fed by torrents from the side valleys. Its effluent is the River Cherio. The end of the Endine Lake marks the beginning of the small but picturesque Gaiano Lake, which is 200 metres long 66

and 100 metres wide. Before the Endine Lake, we ﬁnd the towns of Casazza and Gaverina Terme (500 m – pop. 831). The former is the home of the Museum of Valle Cavallina, which studies the relationship between man and the environment throughout the history of the valley. Gaverina is composed of four hamlets: Fonti, Trate, Gaverina and Piano. In addition to the important springs, the municipality is also home to the 14thcentury Suardi tower, which is located in the hamlet of Piano. Climbing further up we reach the Colle Gallo at 753 metres, then the Lujo Valley and the Seriana Valley. Nearby, we ﬁnd the Colle Gallo Sanctuary with the Madonna dei ciclisti (Madonna of Cyclists) Museum. After Gaverina and

Casazza we come to Spinone, where the Endine Lake begins. At Spinone al Lago there are several lakeside beaches, cane thickets and restaurants, as well as opportunities for boat trips and fishing. In the town a visit should be made to the small church of San Pietro in Vincoli, which dates back to the 11th century. The church was slightly enlarged in around 1420. Of particular interest are the frescoes in the presbytery depicting prophets and sibyls, which draw inspiration from the painting of Lorenzo Lotto. At Spinone we also find the renowned San Carlo Springs, where San Carlo Borromeo is said to have sought refreshment during his visit in 1575. Climbing up the Tuf Valley, we reach a delightful setting that is home to an extremely wellknown spring, which yields cold, sulphureous mineral water. On the opposite side of the lake to Spinone we find Monasterolo del Castello. The Endine Lake has this unique characteristic: wherever you look, you will be rewarded with beautiful views, which encompass natural landscapes, lakeside villages and fortified structures. At Monasterolo, it is impossible not to stop at the medieval castle, which dates back to the 13th century but has been enriched by various 16th and 17th-century additions. In the Parish Church of the Santissimo Salvatore (Most Holy Saviour) we find works by Carpinoni, Sanz and Andrea Fantoni. Climbing up from the left bank, we come to the town of Endine Gaiano (380 m – pop. 2,800). The town offers the beautiful little Church of San Remigio, which houses works by Carpinoni. A route that follows the course of the Ferro Valley (literally “The Iron Valley”) torrent, on the other hand, leads to a peaceful locality with a picnic area and a fitness trail. Mention should also be made of the other towns that overlook the lake: Ranzanico and Bianzano. Both preserve important traces of 67

BOSSICO, MAGNOLINI REFUGE

PREDORE

their long history. The 15th-century Oratory of San Bernardino stands in Ranzanico, while in Bianzano we find the14th-century Suardi Castle. Those who find themselves in the vicinity of the Endine Lake and Lake Iseo should visit the Freddo Valley (literally “The Cold Valley”), a protected area that offers spectacular nature. The valley stretches along the slope that descends towards Riva di Solto at approximately 400 metres above sea level; it is home to high mountain vegetation due to the cold air that emerges from the substratum. Here, it is even possible to find rhododendrons and edelweiss, not to mention some veritable rarities. It should be considered that the ground temperature rarely exceed 4-5 degrees, even during the summer. The area is protected, but guided tours are available. After Endine, we enter the vast basin of the Sebino, where we find Lake Iseo, which is surrounded by towering peaks. The lake is fed by the River Oglio; it boasts a maximum depth of 251 metres, a width of two and a half kilometres and a perimeter of approximately sixty kilometres. At its centre stands the largest lake island in Europe: Monte Isola, a veritable green gem scattered with tiny districts and sober aristocratic villas. Lake Iseo is an extremely important holiday destination, which offers bathing, boating, windsurfing and fishing; there is also the possibility to enjoy walks, and to sample the peace and quiet of the localities that lie between the lake and the green of the mountains. The lake is divided, with shores in the provinces of both Brescia and Bergamo. In the Province of Bergamo, the main towns that overlook the lake are Lovere, Castro, Riva di Solto, Tavernola, Predore and Sarnico. With regard to tourism, particular mention should be made of Lovere, with its numerous palazzos, monuments and churches, and its medieval town centre that stretches down

THE LAKES towards the lake. The Renaissancestyle Basilica of Santa Maria in Valvedra was built in 1473. The interior was partly rebuilt in the Baroque period, and contains works by Moroni, Moretto, Cavagna, and Carpinoni. Also of interest is the old parish church dedicated to Saint George. Mention should also be made of the Torre del Comune (Municipal Tower, 14th century), the Torre Soca (Soca Tower, 13th century), and the church of San Giorgio Martire (St George the Martyr, 14 th century). A visit should be paid to the art gallery in Palazzo Tadini, a driving force behind the town’s cultural activities. The ediﬁce was built at the beginning of the 19th century in neoclassical style by Count Luigi Tadini, who entrusted the design to the architect Sebastiano Salimbeni. It houses works by Jacopo Bellini, Parmigianino, Pitocchetto, Antonio Cifrondi, Tiepolo, and Van Dijck. Inside the museum we ﬁnd a sculpture by Canova, porcelain pieces from Sèvres and Capodimonte, Renaissance bronzes, medieval armour and numerous other interesting objects. At the foot of Monte Cala, it is still possible to see

the remains of a Gallic fortress, which dates back to the 4th century BC. Today, Lovere has a host of restaurants and meeting places, as well as many boating, sailing and windsurﬁng clubs. Located in a unique setting, the Lovere Marina is one of the most modern and well-equipped lakeside nautical facilities in Europe. Situated in an ideal position and sitting on the cutting edge from a functional and technological standpoint, it is the perfect mooring post both for those who wish to enjoy a beautiful and charming lake like the Sebino, and those who wish to visit and discover the wonders of the hinterland and the nearby islands. Its stylistic and architectural beauty, the quality of the materials, the vast natural, recreational and commercial areas and the numerous opportunities for sport make this a modern facility that is suitable for high-level boating and a place where it is possible to enjoy the beauty of the landscape in a sophisticated and relaxing atmosphere. Near to Lovere, at an altitude of 900 metres, the town of Bossico is the ideal place for a visit or a holiday; lying on a beautiful green plateau and un-

MONASTEROLO, CASTLE

TAVERNOLA

THE LAKES

BIANZANO

touched by thoughtless building developments, this peaceful locality offers numerous possibilities for delightful walks and flying visits to the lake. With regard to tourism, other important localities include the holiday towns of Castro, Predore and Sarnico. At Castro it is possible to admire the little port, which is bordered by houses. The road that begins here is rather striking in places; carved into the rock, it follows the western shore of the lake to Tavernola, before continuing to Predore and Sarnico. Above the lake we find several extremely beautiful summer resorts such as Vigolo (600 m), a hill town and Tavernola, where a visit must be paid to the hamlet of Cambianica with the little Romanesque church of Saint Michael, and Predore, where numerous handicraft businesses and boatyards flourish, together with tourist businesses related to the pursuits of bathing and fishing. One of the most important lake resorts in the Province of Bergamo is undoubtedly Sarnico, with its numerous hotels and eating/drinking establishments, beautiful lakeside promenade and shopping centre full of bars, shops and boutiques. The ar-

chitect Sommaruga left his mark on the town during the Art Nouveau period. Sarnico can also boast a wellestablished boat manufacturing industry and various races and speed competitions take place on the lake. The town’s history is lost in the mists of the centuries. It is known that in 1102, the Emperor Henry IV spoke of privileges regarding Sarnico and Iseo. And it was at Sarnico that a steamboat appeared for the ﬁrst time in Italy, in the mid-19 th century. The craft, named the “Arciduca Leopoldo” (Archduke Leopold), was launched in 1841. At the beginning of the last century, the lake was linked to the railway network by a short stretch of track that connected Paratico to Palazzolo, a line that still exists to this day. A ferry boat service was established on the lake, which transported railway carriages to the various towns in the area. A visit should be paid to the little Romanesque church dedicated to the saints Rocco and Nazario, situated just above the hamlet of Castione and dating back to the 12th century (the portico is from the 15th century).

Castle of Marne

Taleggio Valley, Pizzino

Avaro (Miserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) plain - Three Lords Peak group

LOCALITIES

CLUSONE, S. LUCIO

Val Camonica

Valtellin a Passo S. Marco ORNICA

SAN SIMONE

LIZZOLA

BRANZI

VALT ORTA

GROMO VALCANALE

OLMO AL BREMBO

ALMENNO S. Salvatore

LENNA

ALZANO L. VILLA D'ALME'

GAVERINA Terme

BERGAMO

SOTTO IL MONTE GIOVANNI XXIII

Endine

MONASTEROLO del Castello

TRESCORE BALNEARIO

AZZONE

COLERE ARDESIO

RONCOBELLO

SCHILPARIO

VILMINORE SPIAZZI

Passo del Vivione

VALBONDIONE

CARONA

PIAZZA TORRE

CUSIO

FOPPOLO

SARNICO

Passo della Presolana

Val Camonica

MONTE PORA

Lago d'Iseo Monte Isola

DALMINE Malpaga

MILANO

MARTINENGO TREVIGLIO MILANO

Lodi Crema

CARAVAGGI O

ROMANO di Lombardia

Rovato

Brescia VERO NA

CLUSONE The little capital of the Upper Seriana Valley stands at an altitude of 648 metres and has approximately 8,000 inhabitants. The town’s tourism industry was already established by the beginning of the last century. At that time, Clusone was a resort for the elite: the people who could afford to take holidays were few and far between. Clusone, located on a delightful plateau in the heart of the valley, was easy to reach: the 33 kilometre journey from Bergamo took about an hour on the Seriana Valley train. With a coach and horses it took at least three times as long. Clusone’s hotels began to appear during this period. Nowadays, the tourism business is

based primarily on holiday homes, which are either owned or rented. The town offers an enviable climate, a pinewood of exceptional importance, pleasant walks and an extremely interesting historic centre. First of all, we must mention the Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall), which dates back to the year 1000; its façade is decorated with numerous frescoes depicting secular life and several others of a religious nature. Moreover, nearly all the façades in the old town centre must have been frescoed in the past: traces can be seen everywhere. The Palazzo Comunale also features the wonderful Fanzago Astronomical Clock, which since 1583 has shown not only the time, but also the day, the month, the signs of the zodiac and even the seasons and the moons. A work of extraordinary importance. In the medieval style quarter we can see old aristocratic buildings such as Palazzo Marinoni Barca, Palazzo Fogaccia, Carrara Spinelli, etc. A visit should be paid to the little church of the Disciplined, with its important cycle of frescoes dating back to circa 1470, which depict the main evangelical scenes. Above the presbytery we ﬁnd a work of fundamental importance: a richly detailed cruciﬁxion which, due to its dramatic force, represents a true work of art from the 15th century. On the façade we can see a work of international significance: the three-part fresco with the Danza Macabra (Dance Macabre), the Trionfo della Morte (Triumph of Death) and the Destino dei Beati e dei Peccatori (Fate of the Blessed and the Sinful), the work of an unknown artist, which dates back to 1485. Visits should also be paid to the Romanesque Chiesa del Paradiso (Church of Paradise); Sant’Anna, with its frescoed façade; the church of San Defendente, which is rich in 15th and 16th-century paintings, and to the great Basilica from the end of the 17th century, with the 15th-century 75

CLUSONE, DANCE MACABRE (DETAIL)

baptismal font, the altar by Andrea Fantoni and works by Sebastiano Ricci, Cavagna, Cifrondi, Querena and Carpinoni. In the pinewood, a visit should be made to the 17thcentury Cappella dei Morti Vecchi (Chapel of the Old Dead), which was built on the old valley road; the latter is now a mule track that runs through the pinewood to the hamlet of Fiorine, amidst a natural landscape of rare beauty. From Clusone, numerous walks are possible in the lush greenery of the plateau or in the shadowy and fragrant pinewood. Alternatively, you can climb the paths that lead to San Lucio (1,000 metres) or to Pizzo Formico (Formico Peak, 1,637 metres) or to the Fontanino della Mamma (literally “Mother’s Little Fountain”), or to Monte Blum, continuing until you reach the Presolana. CASTIONE DELLA PRESOLANA The most important tourist area in the Seriana Valley and the entire Province of Bergamo. Just consider that as many as 83 percent of the dwellings in Castione della Presolana are used primarily as holiday homes. 76

The Presolana Basin, dominated by the “queen mountain” of the Orobie Alps, is ﬁrst and foremost a natural environment of incomparable beauty, worthy of comparison with the more famous dolomitic panoramas. Pinewoods, modestly-sized mountains, hollows and streams can be found in the Basin, in a vast, pleasant area. The Basin’s attractions are of an essentially naturalistic kind, related to the climate, the landscape and to the walks and excursions. First of all, mention must be made of the Presolana Pass at 1,297 metres, with the area of hotels, the pinewoods and the place known as Salto degli Sposi (Lovers’ Leap), with its view of the Scalve Valley. The Pass is the starting point for walks that lead to the summit of the Presolana and to several other mountain localities, such as the Grotta dei Pagani (Pagans’ Cave), the Rino Olmo Refuge (belonging to the Italian Alpine Club of Clusone) and Monte Visolo. The Presolana Pass marks the end of the traditional Orobie Prealps Path. Other footpaths in the Basin include the one known as the Via del Latte (Milky Way), which passes chalets and huts where cheese is produced, and the one that leads to Monte Varro and to the delightful Tede Valley, Cima di Campo and the Malga Bassa di Pora (a hut). Monte Pora (1,879 metres) is extremely important for winter tourism in the Basin: it is home to some of the most renowned ski lifts in the Province of Bergamo. In the summer, a typical walk is the one that leads to the Magnolini Refuge (1,612 m), situated on the plateau that offers a splendid view of Lake Iseo. In Castione, a visit should be paid to the Parrocchiale (Parish Church), which is home to valuable paintings by Carpinoni and sculptures by the Fantoni family. In Dorga, mention should be made of the Santuario delle Grazie (Sanctuary of Grace) in Lantana, at the foot of Monte Pora, a building that dates

LOCALITIES back to the 15th century, but which features an 11th-century sculpture on its portal, depicting Saint Sylvester. Also of interest are the numerous “santelle” (painted shrines) on the walls of the chalets and farmhouses. SAN PELLEGRINO TERME Touched by the charming and decadent art nouveau style of the early 20th century, San Pellegrino has experienced the extravagances of the most prestigious form of tourism, which even appealed to the royal family. Between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, this little town in the Brembana Valley enjoyed its greatest tourism boom, as can be seen by the buildings and transport systems that were constructed during this period: the stately and striking Grand Hotel, the luxurious casino, the railway and the little stations scattered along the valley, all built with particular architectural precision. San Pellegrino owes its fame to its position amidst the greenery of the valley, which is dominated by modest peaks and offers many pleasant walks, to its water, which is renowned throughout the world, but above all to its spa baths, which are temporarily closed while plans are drawn up for their renovation and re-

S. PELLEGRINO, CASINO

opening. The first written evidence of the existence of the waters dates back to the municipal charters of 1452. The Dissertazioni sull’acqua di San Pellegrino (Treatises on the Water of San Pellegrino) by the doctor Alberto Astori were written in 1740. A century later, the waters of San Pellegrino were recommended for the treatment of lithiasis of the urinary tract, hyperuricaemia, lymphatic diathesis, obesity, diseases of the liver and biliary system and diseases of the digestive system. The first spa baths were built in around 1840. But the most important building works date back to the early 1900s: the Casino, the Grand Hotel, the new Spa Bath and Treatment Building and the hydropinic treatment room. The locality, situated at 358 m above sea level in the Brembana Valley, offers the tourist much more than the spa baths; San Pellegrino boasts hotels, eating/drinking establishments, minigolf, grass skiing, tennis, a swimming pool, clay pigeon shooting... a host of tourist infrastructures. There is even a funicular, though it is temporarily out of service. Built in 1909, it climbs up to the Vetta (Summit), a natural terrace that lies at an altitude of 650 metres, where the “Grotte del Sogno” (Dream Caves) were discovered in 1931. Sadly, the little valley railway, which travelled from Bergamo to Piazza Brembana and had its main station at San Pellegrino, no longer exists: it was not only a means of transport, but also a tourist attraction. During the summer, numerous cultural and entertainment events take place in San Pellegrino: concerts, festivals, exhibitions and so on. Tourists can take advantage of a fitness trail and there are also numerous walks, such as those to Sant’Antonio Abbandonato, the Pizzo Cerro (Cerro Peak), Monte Sornadello, Monte Gioco and Monte Zucco, peaks that range from 1,000 to 1,600 metres above sea level. 77

S. GIOVANNI BIANCO AND CORNELLO DEI TASSO San Giovanni Bianco, with Harlequin’s house and the hamlet of Cornello, is the holiday destination in the valley that is richest in history, olden-day ambience and testimonies of former times. San Giovanni Bianco lies at 450 metres above sea level at the conﬂuence of the Enna torrent and the River Brembo, at the junction between the Taleggio and Brembana Valleys. The town straddles the river and evidence of its antiquity can be seen in both its layout (narrow lanes, houses leaning one against the other, unexpected and irregular open spaces) and its architecture (stone houses, portals, porticoes with cross vaults, bridges). In San Giovanni Bianco, mention should be made of Piazza Zignone, with the monument to the soldier Vistallo Zignone who, in 1495, presented the town with a thorn from the crown of Christ. The thorn had been presented to Zignone by the Venetian Republic, as an acknowledgement of his heroic actions during the battle against Charles VIII of France. Formerly preserved in a chapel in Paris, the thorn is now housed in the par-

ish church. After visiting the striking piazza, the surrounding lanes should be explored; but, above all, visitors must witness the spectacular sight of the bridges over the Brembo and the porticoed street that stretches on the other side of the river, which was the main road into the valley until 1882. In that year, a new road was built, the present-day one, which was obtained by demolishing a part of the town’s historic centre. The house that supposedly belonged to Harlequin, the native of Bergamo who emigrated to Venice, can be found in the tiny hamlet of Oneta. In reality, it belonged to the famous actor Giovanni Ganassa, of the troupe Compagnia dei Gelosi (Company of Jealous Ones), who regularly played the character. The house has maintained its antique character, a unique blend of rustic and Venetian. A few kilometres after San Giovanni Bianco, we park the car and climb the mule track which, in five minutes, leads us to Cornello dei Tasso, an old fortified village built on a green slope, which appears as it did five centuries ago. You will enjoy an evocative visit. A completely porticoed street, which was once lined with stalls and inns,

BERGAMO, PARK OF THE HILLS

LOCALITIES a delightful little piazza and a little Romanesque church with a leaning bell tower. Cornello dei Tasso was an important stop for the merchants who travelled up the valley with their mule caravans. These places ooze with historical charm. Europe’s ﬁrst postal service was established here by the Tasso family, whose lineage includes the poet Torquato Tasso. SELVINO The Selvino Plateau, after the Presolana Basin, is one of the most highly-developed tourist areas in the Province of Bergamo. The main centre of this thriving tourist industry is undoubtedly Selvino, an old farming village that suddenly enjoyed great success in this sector, thanks to the delicate beauty of its hills, which lie at an altitude of 1,000 metres. There are various tourist infrastructures, including a swimming pool, tennis and bowls courts, two football pitches, numerous restaurants, pizzerias and bars. Selvino and its plateau are located on the hills that act as a watershed between the Seriana Valley and the Brembana Valley. One of the important roads that used to connect Bergamo to the Brembana Valley passed this way, thus favouring the town’s development The tourist trade concerns all the localities in the area, starting with Aviatico (1,100 m – pop. 500), whose economy was based for centuries on sheep farming and livestock breeding. The parish church houses canvases by Giambattista Moroni, Antonio Cifrondi, Enea Talpino and Pietro Gualdi. Various works of art are preserved in the parish churches of the delightful little hamlets of Amora, Ama and Ganda. Numerous walks are possible from Selvino, including one that descends through forests and meadows to the Maresana, before continuing to Bergamo (a charming and gentle pre-alpine route), one that leads to Monte Podona (1,228 metres) and to

Monte di Nese, and another that leads to Monte Rena (1,145 metres), a paradise for hang-gliding and paragliding enthusiasts. From both Aviatico and Selvino it is possible to climb up to Monte Poieto, to the beautiful natural rock gymnasium of the Cornagera. Aviatico also offers beautiful walks to Monte Suchello (1,505 metres) and then to the Alben (2,020 metres); and to Monte Cedrina (1,125 metres), descending in the Vertova Valley. The tiny hamlets are also pleasant places for a holiday, as they provide even greater peace and tranquillity. From Ganda and Amora, a beautiful walk leads to Orezzo. OUTSIDE THE TOURIST CIRCUIT There are many places which, for various reasons, play an important role in the local holiday industry, but which lie outside of the traditional tourist areas. A good example is the Valbrembo Airport, where gliding enthusiasts can observe the ﬂight of these ultralight aircraft or enquire about enrolling on one of the special courses. An interesting visit can also be paid to the Fantasy World-Minitalia Theme Park at Capriate San Gervasio, on the road to Milan, a miniature version of Italy with extremely detailed scale reproductions of its cities and monuments, and with a large park, refreshment bars and entertainment. Mention should also be made of the Parco delle Cornelle, where it is possible to see dozens and dozens of animal species roaming freely in vast areas with modern facilities. Our main recommendation to tourists visiting the lakes or valleys is the Parco dei Colli di Bergamo (Park of the Bergamo Hills), a nature reserve where the greenery lives in perfect harmony with the old human settlements, thus drawing comparisons with the Tuscan hills. The park primarily encompasses the municipality of Bergamo, but also stretches to neighbouring localities: Almè, Sorisole, Mozzo, etc. An oasis 79

TWIN LAKES

of greenery, footpaths and old narrow roads at the foot of the Orobie Prealps. And we should also remember the Fontanile Brancaleone reserve at Caravaggio, right in the middle of the Po Valley, where the channelled springs, a phenomenon that has existed since Roman times, are an extremely striking feature. Situated on the border of the Province of Bergamo, the rock engravings park at Capodiponte (BS) is of international importance. Leisure time can be spent at Aquasplash, not far from Sarnico, a water park with exciting slides and rides. Religious tourism would deserve a chapter of its own. Here, we will mention just Sotto il Monte, the birthplace of Pope John XXIII, for years the destination of a continuous and substantial pilgrimage, and Caravaggio, with the Sanctuary of the Madonna, whose spring, the tangible sign of the miracle that took place back in 1432, provides water for millions of pilgrims. REFUGES Numerous refuges can be found along the paths of the Bergamo mountains. The highest ones are the Brunone 80

Refuge in the Seriana Valley (2,295 m) and the Nani Tagliaferri Refuge in the Scalve Valley (2,328 m). Some of the main refuges are the ones that are found along the route of the Orobie Prealps Path: Alpe Corte (1,410 m), Laghi Gemelli (1,968 m), Fratelli Calvi (2,015 m), Brunone (2,295 m), Coca (1,892 m), Curò (1,915 m), Albani (1,939 m). The Western Orobie Prealps Path, which stretches through the Brembana Valley, passes the following refuges: Gherardi (1,647 m), Cazzaniga (1,889 m), Grassi (1,987 m), Benigni (2,222 m), Cà San Marco (1,830 m), Calvi (2,015 m). The two Orobie paths are an extremely important attraction for mountain lovers. They are divided respectively into eight and seven stages, making it possible to cover only speciﬁc parts of the routes. The traditional Orobie Prealps Path begins in Valcanale, winding for eighty kilometres as far as the Curò Refuge above Valbondione, before continuing to the Albani Refuge and the Presolana. The Western Path sets off from Cassiglio in the Brembana Valley, climbs up to the Gherardi Refuge and then continues to the Calvi Refuge, above Carona.

LOCALITIES SPA RESORT The Province of Bergamo also presents opportunities for spa holidays. In the Brembana Valley, the Bracca spa offers low mineral content-alkaline-lithia waters, which are used in hydropinic treatments for diseases of the digestive system, for disorders involving alterations in the metabolism and for kidney stones. The sulphate-bicarbonate-alkaline waters of the renowned San Pellegrino spa are suitable for hydropinic, inhalation and irrigation treatments. Here, it is possible to enjoy baths, hydromassages and mud baths. Treatments recommended for diseases of the kidneys and the urinary tract, the metabolism, the digestive system, the liver and of the biliary and respiratory systems. At Sant’Omobono we ﬁnd sulphurous waters, which are used in hydropinic, inhalation and irrigation treatments for the digestive system, the liver, the urinary tract and for respiratory and skin diseases. At Trescore Balneario, the spa offers sulphurous-sodiumchlorinated waters that are rich in sulphurated hydrogen. They are used for inhalation treatments and mud baths and are recommended for diseases of the respiratory system. The mud baths of Trescore are used to treat forms of arthritis and rheumatism. The Gaverina spa is characterised by

bicarbonate-alkaline-sulphurous waters, with hydropinic treatment for gastro-intestinal diseases, for biliary and renal disorders and diseases and for the treatment of gout. NATURE RESERVES AND PARKS The Province of Bergamo boasts nature reserves of all shapes and sizes. To begin with, we have the Parco dei Colli di Bergamo (Park of the Bergamo Hills), which is extremely important as it encompasses a vast zone surrounding the city, a hilly area where forests, footpaths, farmhouses and roads built by man up until the beginning of the last century are still intact, coexisting in perfect harmony. The park is traversed by numerous charming footpaths, in a lush natural environment where it is possible to see interesting fauna and flora. Another important area in the province is the Giovetto nature reserve in the Scalve Valley, where a wonderful fir wood is home to the renowned formica rufa ant, a balancing factor in the woodlands due its ability to eliminate various parasites from the trees, including the pine processionary moth. Next, we have the delightful Barbellino-Belviso Reserve, which begins at the Curò Refuge above Valbondione and incorporates an extremely vast area, descending into the Valtellina and covering the provinces of Bergamo, Sondrio and Brescia. A veritable faunal paradise, which is home to thousands of chamois, ibexes, mouflons, red deer, roe deer, eagles, marmots and ermines. In the area of Cenate we must also mention the Valpredina regional nature reserve, a WWF oasis, characterised by the presence of a botanical garden in which Mediterranean vegetation has been artificially introduced, adapting excellently to the favourable climatic conditions. It contains pines, olives, cypresses, arbutuses, camphor trees, pittosporums etc., as well as fauna typical of the prealpine area, including many species 81

TADINI ACADEMY

of passerines, raptors, badgers, beech martens, hedgehogs, squirrels, etc. The Parco delle Orobie Bergamasche (Bergamo Orobie Prealps Park) lies on the Bergamo side of the Orobie mountain chain, which is characterised by peaks that soar to altitudes of between 2,000 and 3,000 metres, and by deep valleys that feed the province’s main rivers. In terms of expanse and variety, the forests are one of the park’s finest features, and as we climb through the various altitude belts towards the snowy and rocky areas, we encounter beech woods, spruce and silver-fir forests, larch woods and high mountain pastures and meadows. There is a considerable presence of characteristic alpine fauna, including some particularly rare species, such as the ptarmigan and the golden eagle. The ibex has recently been reintroduced. We now move on to the Parco Fluviale del Serio (Serio River Park), whose characteristic element is water and where the presence of a rich and varied landscape is a fundamental factor in the presence of numerous ecosystems that give rise to flora and fauna that is suited to specific environmental conditions. In the Municipality of 82

Valbrembo we can also find the Parco Faunistico delle Cornelle (Cornelle Fauna Park), a lush green area that is home to dozens of animal species from throughout the world. Between April and September, the area can be visited every day, from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm, while from October to March it is open from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. The internationally renowned Sentiero dei Fiori (Path of Flowers), in the towns of Oltre il Colle and Zambla, is an itinerary of major scientific and naturalistic importance; set in a striking mountain environment, it is home to plants of prehistoric origin that survived the Ice age. Finally, we must not forget the Freddo Valley nature reserve, which is mentioned elsewhere. MUSEUMS The city of Bergamo offers numerous interesting exhibitions, but there is also a host of museums in the province. Several museums are extremely well known, such as the Accademia Carrara and the city’s other collections, the Tadini Gallery in Lovere, the Gandino Basilica Museum and the African Village in Urgnano; others have a more local character and revolve around specific themes; others still are small collections of art and historical objects that are jealously guarded by various communities. At Almenno San Bartolomeo we find the Tino Sana Carpentry Museum, where it is possible to admire tools, utensils, reconstructions of workshops and of other objects, such as several carriages, a section dedicated to puppets and the Museum of the Bicycle, which tells the story of the top racing cyclist Felice Gimondi. In Ardesio, the Ethnographical Museum presents mining and metalworking tools, implements used by woodcutters and charcoal burners and utensils associated with the cultivation and processing of flax. Also of interest is Calcinate’s Museum of African Art and Culture, which features a life-size reconstruction of an

LOCALITIES African village. There is also the Nativity Scene Museum in Dalmine, the Basilica Museum in Gandino, the Tadini Academy of Fine Arts in Lovere with its rich exhibition of paintings, the Drop Forge Museum at Ponte Nossa, which is set up, as the name suggests, inside an old drop forge that is still operational, and the Fantoni House Museum in Rovetta, where it is possible to see objects, drawings and tools that once belonged to the great family of wood sculptors. At Schilpario we ﬁnd another important ethnographical museum that chronicles life in the valley. At Sotto il Monte we can visit the Museum of Pope John XXIII, and at Gandino the Museum of the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta. Zogno is home to the Museum of the Valley, which features collections of an ethnographical nature concerning civilisation and life in the valley, and at San Pellegrino Terme we ﬁnd the Brembana Valley of Natural Sciences. Moreover, throughout the province there are countless other collections of sacred art and monographs that incorporate the masterpieces of Bergamo’s artistic history; hundreds and hundreds of works,

paintings, sculptures, drawings, fabrics, goldwork objects, ceramics and bronzes. A body of inestimable value, which demonstrates the local peoples’ extraordinary appreciation of beauty and its manifestations. Most of the museums in the province have originated from private collections, the fruit of the generous commitment of enthusiastic collectors who were able to reconcile their passion and their interests with the desire to favour the growth of public culture. ART AND FOLKLORE The province of Bergamo has to contend with a chief city that boasts one of the most important artistic patrimonies in the country. At this point, it is impossible not to mention the splendours of Città Alta and the districts of Bergamo. These districts are home to one of the most interesting art galleries in Italy, the Accademia Carrara, a huge collection in which works by Raphael stand next to ones by Moroni, Titian and Canaletto. A quick roundup follows of the remarkable treasures that can be found in the province. In the Seriana Valley, visits should be paid to the parish church of

TINO SANA CARPENTRY MUSEUM

CORPUS DOMINI IN GANDINO

Alzano, with the sacristies by the Fantoni and Caniana families, the historic centre of Gandino, with the church and the museum, and to the Santuario della Trinità (Sanctuary of the Trinity) in Casnigo, which dates back to the 15th century and features cycles of frescoes from the same period. In the Upper Valley we can see the jewels of Clusone, which include the Palazzo del Comune (Town Hall), the Fanzago Astronomical Clock, Palazzo Fogaccia, the fresco of the Dance Macabre and the little church of the Disciplined with the 15 th-century frescoes depicting the life of Christ. At Rovetta, a visit is recommended to the Fantoni House Museum, the celebrated wood sculptors who were active between the 15th and 18th centuries. In the Brembana Valley, we find the little 12th-century temple of San Tomè at Almenno, and the remains of the village of Clanezzo, from the medieval period. San Pellegrino’s numerous artistic testimonies include the Grand Hotel and the Casino, both in early 20 th-century art nouveau style. At San Giovanni Bianco we find Piazza Zignone and the Via Porticata (porticoed street); another example of the latter can be seen in Cornello dei Tasso, a striking village that has remained unchanged since the Middle Ages and which is still not served by a proper carriageable road. At Averara, we find another stretch of the porti84

coed merchant’s road and the old Venetian customs building. In Serina, you are advised to make a quick trip to the historic centre and visit the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. In the lakes area, Lovere preserves numerous testimonies of the past, most notably the Tadini Academy and the beautiful old town centre. Manifestations of folklore, the link between art and popular tradition, can be seen throughout the province of Bergamo. We will mention just some of them. The traditions of religious belief ﬁnd expression in the great processions of Gandino (for Corpus Domini) and Vertova (Good Friday). Secular and profane tradition is represented by the Scassada del Zenerù, that is to say, the banishing of the terrible month of January, which takes place on the streets of various mountain villages, but in particular at Ardesio, on the 31st of that month. Tin buckets, cowbells,

LOCALITIES rattles and anything else that makes a noise are used to banish the frost and celebrate the coming of spring. At Carnival time we can witness the Dossena costume parade, while mid-Lent marks the period of the Rasgamento della Vecchia, when bonﬁres are lit in various towns in the province in order to burn things that are no longer wanted. Various folklore festivals take place in the province of Bergamo. ARCHAEOLOGY First and foremost, a visit must be paid to Bergamo’s well-stocked archaeological museum, located in the historical setting of Piazza Cittadella. In the province, local archaeological ﬁnds dating back to various periods, particularly the Bronze Age, can be found in the Museum of the Valley at Zogno; also featured are objects that were unearthed in caves such as the Busa de l’Andrea, the Busa de

l’Edera and the Busa del Pusù, which can be found between Zogno and Sedrina, not far from the Grotta delle Meraviglie (Cave of Wonders). Other areas of archaeological interest can be found at Parre where, over the last ten years, in the locality of Castello, objects from the Iron Age have been discovered, along with the remains of a village dating back to the same period. Sites of historical interest can also be found at Clanezzo, at the beginning of the Imagna Valley, and at Rota Imagna, in the same valley. At Rota Imagna we ﬁnd the Tomba dei Polacchi (Tomb of the Poles), where ceramic objects and human remains have been unearthed. In the Seriana Valley, interesting ﬁnds were made at Castione della Presolana, in the Grotta della Mandibola (literally “the Mandible Cave) and in the Riparo della Lancia (literally “the Shelter of the Spear”). In the Cavallina Valley, the

CASTLE OF ROMANO DI LOMBARDIA

Buco del Corno (Hole of the Horn) is famous for prehistoric objects and human remains. CASTLES Numerous testimonies remain of a bellicose past, dating from the Middle Ages to the 19th century: castles, strongholds and fortifications can be found in Upper Bergamo and throughout the province. The Bergamo plain is home to the most interesting castles. Solidly built, steeped in history and well preserved, these edifices are a precious and striking reminder of an era that is associated primarily with the name of the great warlord Bartolomeo Colleoni. The renowned castle of Malpaga, a hamlet of Cavernago, dates back to the 15th century and has a moat and a drawbridge. Inside is a large courtyard with an open gallery, while the beautiful halls contain beautiful frescoes dating from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Bartolomeo Colleoni acquired the ruined castle in 1456 and rebuilt it, transforming it into his home. From 1470 onwards, the beautiful fortress at Cavernago was also owned by Colleoni; in the 16th century it then passed into the hands of the Martinengo family, who converted it into an elegant residence. At Urgnano it is possible to visit the Visconti stronghold, the Castello dei Conti Albani (Castle of the Albani Counts), which dates back to 1354. Built on a square plan, it features two towers at the main entrance, a moat and battlements of Ghibelline inspiration. Inside are frescoes from the 17th century. The stronghold that stands at Romano di Lombardia is still in a good state of preservation; it has two internal courtyards and a well, and we can also see the remains of frescoes. The Visconti family fortified it in the 14th century; it was owned by the Sforza family before being taken by Colleoni. It is now the seat of the town library. At Pagazzano we find the Castello Visconteo (Visconti Castle), which may 86

have been built before the year 1000. It was rebuilt by the Visconti family in the second half of the 15th century; five towers were added, three of which still stand. It is still in good condition and is now home to a farm. We must also mention the Visconti Castle of Brignano Gera d’Adda (18th century), a sumptuous country seat with a beautiful courtyard of honour, the Suardi Castle in Bianzano with its frescoes and the Castello dei Conti Calepio (Castle of the Calepio Counts) in the town of the same name; of medieval origin, it was converted into a residence in the 15th century and stands in a striking setting, in a quarter that also boasts a remarkable Carolingian fortress complex, which is located near to the parish church. At Costa di Mezzate, the beautiful Camozzi Vertova Castle is still inhabited and boasts numerous works of art. It was originally built to defend Bergamo against the attacks of Frederick I. In the valleys we can also find Clanezzo Castle, which stands in a delightful natural setting, Ginami Castle in Gromo and the 13thcentury Castle of Monasterolo on the Endine lake. TYPICAL WINE AND FOOD PRODUCTS FROM THE PROVINCE OF BERGAMO The Province of Bergamo, due to the characteristics of the land and the ability of its entrepreneurs, possesses a huge variety of agricultural and food products, which are characterised by their traditional and natural qualities: the fruit of a production system that combines high quality standards with traditional manufacturing processes related to the territory’s rural culture. The practice of buying directly from farms and cooperative stores is becoming increasingly popular. Locally produced foodstuffs offer organoleptic qualities and flavours that are virtually unknown to the general public, given its tendency towards mass consumption.

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Graphic design and layout CRE8, Bergamo Printing Cormar, Bolzano 4212

VALTELLINA PIZZO DEI TRE SIGNORI 2554 m

CORNO STELLA 2620 m SAN SIMONE 1670 m

PASSO DI S. MARCO 1985 m

LAGO DI COMO

MONTE PEGHEROLO 2369 m

MONTE AVARO 1650 m CUSIO

ORNICA

PIAZZATORRE 900 m

PIANI DI ARTAVAGGIO MOGGIO

BARZIO 767 m

CULMINE S. PIETRO 1270 m

PIAZZA BREMBANA 536 m

MOIO DE CALVI VALNEGRA

SPIAZZI

MONTE ARERA 2512 m

RONCOBELLO

VALCANALE 1200 m

GROMO 678 m ARDESIO OLTRESSENDA ALTA

VERCURAGO

VEDESETA PEGHERA 900 m

CALOLZIOCORTE

LAGO DI OLGINATE

STROZZA

PALAZZAGO CAPRINO PONTIDA AMBIVERE

MAPELLO

SOTTO IL MONTE GIOVANNI XXIII TERNO

CALUSCIO SOLZA

CURNO

PRESEZZO

BONATE SOPRA

VIGOLO

COLLI DI S. FERMO 1100 m

SALE MARASINO

SULZANO PREDORE

LAGO D’ISEO

ISEO

CLUSANE

ADRO

CALCINATE

PALAZZOLO

STR

PALOSCO

ROVATO A4

ROVATO

MARTINENGO CORTENUOVA

CIVIDATE AL PIANO

CHIARI

MORENGO

FIU

CASTREZZATO

O G

PAGAZZANO

LI O

CALCIO

ROMANO DI LOMBARDIA

CARAVAGGIO CALVENZANO

SANTUARIO DI CARAVAGGIO

URAGO D’OGLIO

COVO

FORNOVO S. GIOVANNI FARA OLIVANA CON SOLA MOZZANICA

OSPITALETTO

BRESCIA OSPITALETTO

BARIANO

ARZAGO

MONTE ISOLA

ADRARA

ZZA

RIVOLTA D’ADDA

TAVERNOLA BERGAMASCA

ADRARA S. ROCCO

SPIRANO

BRIGNANO

CASIRATE

MARONE

PARZANICA

COLOGNO

LURANO

RIVA DI SOLTO

FONTENO

PALAZZOLO

SOLTO COLLINA

MORNICO

POGNANO

CASTEL ROZZONE

TREVIGLIO

N CA

PISOGNE

TELGATE

GHISALBA

ARCENE

CASSANO D’ADDA

MELZO

DARFO

BOLGARE

BOLTIERE

FARA GERA

URGNANO

CANONICA D’ADDA PONTIROLO NUOVO

L EL

PONTE OGLIO

GRUMELLO

VERDELLO

CISERANO

CAMBIAGO

E PRADALUNGA M

LOVERE

PIANICO

ENDINE

LAGO DI MONTE TORREZZO ENDINE 1378 m

GAVERINA TERME CASAZZA GRONE BORGO

MILANO

AU T O

CENE

CAVERNAGO

CAVENAGO-CAMBIAGO

COMUN NUOVO

ZINGONIA

BREMBATE

A4 R A DA

FIU

CAPRIATE

TREZZO

CAVENAGO

ZANICA

LEVATE

VERDELLINO

COSTA VOLPINO

BOSSICO

SPINONEMONASTEROLO

MALPAGA

MARNE

OSIO DI SOTTO TREZZO SULL’ADDA

GRASSOBBIO

STEZZANO

DALMINE

FILAGO CAPRIATE

AD DA

BOARIO TERME

ROGNO

MONTE MISMA S. MARTINO BERZO 1160 m CENATE VIGANO S. FERMO ALZANO SOPRA VIADANICA VILLA FORESTO TORRE RANICA LUZZANA DI SERIO SPARSO ENTRATICO DE’ ROVERI CENATE TORRE BOLDONE SCANZOROSCIATE SOTTO PEDRENGO SARNICO GORLE GANDOSSO VILLONGO ALBANO TRESCORE SERIATE ZANDOBBIO S. PAOLO BALNEARIO D’ARGON GORLAGO CREDARO PARATICO CARROBBIO BRUSAPORTO ORIO AL SERIO DEGLI ANGELI CASTELLI CHIUDUNO BAGNATICA CALEPIO COSTA DI MONTELLO SERIATE MEZZATE GRUMELLO

AZZANO S. PAOLO

DALMINE

OSIO DI SOPRA

NEMBRO

FI U M

LALLIO

MADONE

BOTTANUCO

BERGAMO

TREVIOLO

BONATE SOTTO

SUISIO

249 m BERGAMO

CHIGNOLO MEDOLAGO D’ISOLA

SORISOLE

ALMENNO ALMÈ S.BARTOLOMEO BARZANA PALADINA BREMBATE VALBREMBO DI SOPRA PONTE S.PIETRO MOZZO

RANZANICO

FIORANO

VERTOVA CAZZANIGA SE

VILLA D’ALMÈ

GANDINO

CAZZANO PEIA SANT’ANDREA BIANZANO CASNIGO LEFFE COLZATE

SELVINO 1050 m

EDOLO

ANGOLO TERME

CASTRO

PONTE NOSSA

ALBINO

CARVICO

MERATE

ZOGNO CANTO ALTO 1146 m

VILLA D’ADDA

COSTA SERINA

AVIATICO

PONTERANICA

PREMOLO

BORNO 900 m

DORGA

CASTIONE FINO DEL MONTE ONORE 870 m ROVETTA PIARIO CLUSONE SONGAVAZZO 647 m CERETE MONTE FARNO SOVERE

PARRE GORNO

ALGUA

CUSANO

BRIVIO

BRACCA

UBIALE CLANEZZO ALMENNO S.SALVATORE

GOLF

ONETA

SEDRINA

RONCOLA

CELANA MONTE MARENZO

ATRUNO

SAN PELLEGRINO TERME

CARENNO

TORRE DE’ BUSI

VALPIANA SERINA 823 m CORNALBA

OLGINATE

MONTE ALBEN 2019 m

MONTE PORA 1500 m

BRATTO

VILLA D’OGNA

ZAMBLA OLTRE IL COLLE 1000 m

S. GIOVANNI BIANCO

FUIPIANO GEROSA LOCATELLO ROTA IMAGNA BLELLO CORNA IMAGNA BERBENNO BREMBILLA VALSECCA S. OMOBONO SANTUARIO CORNABUSA BEDULITA COSTA IMAGNA VALCAVA 1250 m CAPIZZONE

ERVE

DOSSENA

CAMERATA CORNELLO

BRUMANO

LAGO DI GARLATE

COLERE DEZZO DI SCALVE PIZZO 1000 m DELLA PRESOLANA 2521 m PASSO DELLA PRESOLANA 1300 m CANTONIERA DELLA PRESOLANA

LENNA

RESEGONE 1875 m

LECCO

AZZONE

GANDELLINO

TALEGGIO

LAGO DI LECCO

VILMINORE TEVENO

VALGOGLIO

ISOLA DI FONDRA OLMO AL BREMBO

PIZZO CAMINO 2498 m

SCHILPARIO 1134 m

FIUMENERO

PIAZZOLO

CASSIGLIO

VALCAMONICA PASSO DEL VIVIONE 1892 m

VALBONDIONE LIZZOLA 1250 m

BRANZI 844 m

AVERARA PIANI DI BOBBIO 1662 m

BACINO DEL BARBELLINO 1895 m

LAGHI GEMELLI 1953 m

CARONA 1100 m

VALLEVE

SANTA BRIGIDA

MONTE TORENA 2911 m

FOPPOLO 1600 m

MEZZOLDO VALTORTA 935 m

PIZZO DI COCA 3050 m

PIZZO DEL DIAVOLO 2914 m

ISSO

ANTEGNATE PUMENENGO BARBATA

FONTANELLA

TORRE PALLAVICINA

Gandino - Corpus Domini

Urgnano

San Pellegrino Terme

CRE8 (BG) - ÂŠ Provincia di Bergamo

NORD

Bergamo - Lombardy - Italy

Bergamo Milano

Bergamo - Orio al Serio Milano - Linate Milano - Malpensa Brescia - Montichiari