Lombardy, A Land of Faith

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LOMBARDY 5

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CLUSONE

THE VALLEY OF THE CATHEDRALS WHAT TO SEE: 1) San Martino’s Cathedral – Alzano Lombardo 2) Assumption Cathedral – Gandino 3) Assumption Cathedral – Clusone

Province of Bergamo

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TYPE OF ITINERARY

Please visit the site: www.visitlombardy.it and click on “Religious Tours”. There you will find more detailed information on all the itineraries on this map.

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DURATION

FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.turismo.regione.lombardia.it

LECCO

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MONZA BRIANZA

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BRESCIA

PONTIDA

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Province of Bergamo

WHAT TO SEE: 1) Monastery - Pontida 2) Saint Egidio Abbey Fontanella di Sotto il Monte 3) Birthplace of Pope John XXIII and other sites Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII

PAVIA

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Gandino stands in a wide valley which still contains several examples of medieval and Renaissance architecture. The Assumption Cathedral has works by the Fantoni Workshop, Hillepront, Pitocchetto, Cantarini and Caniana. Next to it, there is the museum with sections on textile archaeology, sacred art and Nativity scenes. Numerous tapestries, vestments, fabrics, laces, statues, monstrances, furnishings, chalices and accessories would not be out of place in a cathedral, considering their importance and quantity.

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THE CATHEDRAL OF CLUSONE, A TREASURE TROVE OF PAINTING

LOMBARDY

ALZANO LOMBARDO

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CERVENO

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BRESCIA, THE PROVINCE OF POPE PAUL VI

Province of Brescia

LIMONE SUL GARDA

LOMBARDY, A LAND OF FAITH

TIGNALE

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TYPE OF

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ITINERARY WHAT TO SEE: 1) Via Crucis - Cerveno KM 215 2) Saint Peter’s Monastery in Lamosa Provaglio d’Iseo DURATION 4,15 h 3) Olivetana Abbey - Rodengo Saiano 4) Birthplace of Pope Paul VI - Concesio DIFFICULTY OF THE ITINERARY 5) Paul VI’s Collection - Concesio 6) Diocesan Museum -Brescia 7) Old and New Cathedral - Brescia 8) Santa Giulia Museum, San Salvatore Church Brescia 9) Saint Peter Church in Mavino - Sirmione 10) Benedictine Abbey of Maguzzano - Lonato 11) Parish Church of Sant’Andrea Toscolano Maderno 12) Sanctuary of Montecastello - Tignale 13) Saint Peter Church in Oliveto visitlombardy.it Limone sul Garda

This itinerary, ideally taking two days, touches some of the most interesting places in the province of Brescia from the religious point of view. The Via Crucis of Cerveno in Valle Camonica is a succession of “tableaux vivants” with a rare dramatic force, 198 life-size wood and stucco polychromatic statues. In Franciacorta, Saint Peter’s monastery, in Provaglio d’Iseo, dates back to the 11th century. The Olivetana abbey of Rodengo Saiano in Franciacorta, founded by the Cluny monks before 1050, is certainly one of the most majestic and richest religious sites in northern Italy, from the artistic point of view. The next stopping place is Concesio, the birthplace of Giovanni Battista Montini (1897-1978), who became Pope Paul VI in 1963. It is possible to visit the Pope’s home which houses the collection of seven thousand paintings, drawings, prints, medals and sculptures of the 20th century that belonged to him. In Brescia, the Diocesan Museum and the many churches, including in particular the New Cathedral and the Old Cathedral (Rotonda) are well worth visiting. The nearby Santa Giulia Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, housed in

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FONTANELLA

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ITINERARIES GB

RODENGO SAIANO

PROVAGLIO D’ISEO

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SOTTO IL MONTE GIOVANNI XXIII

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Near Desenzano, an important harbour on the lake in Roman times, the Benedictine Abbey of Maguzzano in Lonato, deserves a visit. It was built near a 5th century Roman road.

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Province of Lecco

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In Toscolano Maderno there is the Parish Church of Sant’Andrea, one of the most interesting examples of the 12th century Brescian Romanesque style.

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Santa Maria del Lavello Monastery - Calolziocorte Santa Maria della Vite Ex Convent - Olginate Sanctuary of San Girolamo Emiliani - Vercurago Santa Margherita Church (Parish Church of Monte Marenzo) - Torre de’ Busi 5) San Lorenzo Vecchio Church – Calolziocorte

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Olivetana Abbey

TurismoBG_Mappa-sentieri religiosi-ENG.indd 1

OLGINATE

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Paul VI’s Collection

Via Crucis

Saint Peter’s Monastery in Lamosa

TYPE OF ITINERARY

Santa Maria del Lavello Monastery

For more detailed information, please visit the site: www.viedellafede.lecco.it

ALTITUDE

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In Olginate, there is the old medieval convent with the adjoining 15th century Santa Maria della Vite Church. Going on to Calolziocorte, there is the Sanctuary and the Convent of Santa Maria del Lavello, one of the most important religious monuments in the Valley of San Martino. In addition to the old medieval structure of the building, the complex has also recently revealed the remains of what was probably the ancient miraculous font which drew numerous pilgrims to the convent for a long time.

San Tomè Church

Cornabusa Sanctuary

Almenno 274 m Sant’Omobono Terme: 450 m Valsecca: 640 m

KM

DURATION DIFFICULTY OF THE ITINERARY

In Chiuso, the St John the Baptist Church, known as the “Blessed Serafino Church”, holds the remains of Don Serafino Morazzone, parish priest of the church at the end of the 18th century, beatified in 2011, hence the name of the church.

TORRE DE BUSI

SIRMIONE

WHAT TO SEE: 1) San Tomè Church - Almenno San Bartolomeo 2) Madonna del Castello Sanctuary Almenno San Salvatore 3) Saint George Church - Almenno San Salvatore 4) Saint Nicholas Church - Almenno San Salvatore 5) Cornabusa Sanctuary - Sant’Omobono Terme 6) Holy Crucifix – Valsecca

In the heart of the land where the novel The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni was set, in the courtyard of honour surrounded by arcades at the Villa Manzoni, it is possible to admire the Assumption Chapel in a typically neo-classical style, with a fine altar piece by G. Preda. Going down towards the Adda River, in Pescarenico there is the Saints Materno and Lucia Church, the old church of the Convent of the Capuchin Friars and of Father Cristoforo, the character narrated by Manzoni.

BRESCIA

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ON THE PATH OF ST. JOHN XXIII

The Saint Nicolò Cathedral stands on the lake shore, is easy to reach on foot from the station of Lecco and is only a few steps away from the Palazzo delle Paure. It is dedicated to the patron saint of sailors and was already standing in 1252. Today it has a neo-classic structure due to its enlargement by the architect Giuseppe Bovara.

CONCESIO

LONATO

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Lastly, the Saint Peter Church in Oliveto, Limone, is one of the oldest Romanesque churches in this area.

New and Old Cathedral

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WHAT TO SEE: 1) Palazzo delle Paure - Lecco 2) Saint Nicolò Cathedral - Lecco 3) Saints Materno and Lucia Church - Lecco 4) St. John the Baptist Church - Lecco 5) Santa Marta Church - Lecco 6) Chapel of the Madonna - Lecco

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ALMENNO SAN SALVATORE

ALMENNO SAN BARTOLOMEO

FROM LECCO TO CALOLZIOCORTE ALONG THE ADDA

LECCO

The itinerary passes through Tignale to visit the Sanctuary of Montecastello; its privileged position offers visitors unique and spectacular panoramic views, taking in the high peaks of Monte Baldo and extending as far as the peninsula of Sirmione.

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The memory of St. John XXIII is preserved in his birthplace. You can start the itinerary from the House of the pilgrim; from there you can reach the house of his birth, then the Brusicco Church, Cà Maitino, the Parish Church, the Garden of Peace and complete the tour in the evocative Crypt. The Madonna delle Caneve Sanctuary is to be found nearby, nestling in the greenery.

Monastery of Pontida

a former monastic complex, comprises the San Salvatore Church, one of the most important examples of religious architecture from the early Middle Ages still standing today. From Brescia the itinerary leads to Lake Garda, on the traces of the Romanesque style, starting in Sirmione, one of the symbolic places of the lake, where there is the Saint Peter Church in Mavino, which was built in the Middle Ages and still has interesting frescoes in its interior.

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SOTTO IL MONTE GIOVANNI XXIII

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Sanctuary of Montecastello

DIFFICULTY OF THE ITINERARY

It was founded in 1080 by Alberto da Prezzate and by the pious Teoperga, who is buried in the small courtyard next to the church. In 1575 the priory became part of the possessions of St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice. The abbey church is a fine example of the Romanesque architecture to be found in the area around Bergamo. The building with three naves culminates in three secondary apses with some decoration on the external walls, while inside there are traces of frescoes from the 15th and 16th centuries, although the identity of the figures depicted in them are uncertain.

CALOLZIOCORTE

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SANT’OMOBONO TERME

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SAINT EGIDIO ABBEY

Saint Egidio Abbey

VERCURAGO

TOSCOLANO MADERNO

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After a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in 1076, a nobleman from Bergamo, Alberto da Prezzate decided to give his wealth to the Cluny Abbey to build a monastery and hospice for pilgrims in Pontida. Alberto became the prior of Pontida and then also founded the Monastery of Fontanella; he died in the odour of sanctity in 1095. Under the altar, two fragments of his sepulchre can be admired, an exquisite example of Romanesque sculpture. The church was rebuilt in gothic style in the early 14th century but the monastery was destroyed in 1373 by Bernabò Visconti. It was completely rebuilt in Renaissance style during the 16th century. In 1798, Napoleon closed it and the monks did not return until 1910, thanks to Bishop Radini Tedeschi, whose secretary was Don Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli.

Clusone is town with a long and noble artistic history. Its Cathedral can be considered almost as an art gallery for its precious canvases: Cifrondi, Ricci, Diziani, Carpinoni and Cignaroli are some of the artists whose works can be found in it, together with important sculptures. Next to it, there is the Oratorio dei Disciplini, with its façade decorated by frescos depicting the Dance of Death, a unique synthesis of the themes of Death in Europe. The Cathedral Museum completes the site with its collection as well as being a venue for temporary exhibitions.

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Province of Bergamo

MONASTERY OF PONTIDA

Assumption Cathedral Clusone

THE CATHEDRAL OF GANDINO, A TREASURE TROVE OF THE APPLIED ARTS

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Pontida 320 m Fontanella 450 m Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII 291 m

visitlombardy.it

4h

Alzano Lombardo stands at the entrance to the Seriana Valley. The San Martino’s Cathedral is decorated with baroque stucco work and paintings by Palma il Giovane, Piazzetta and Cignaroli. Next to the church stands a group of three sacristies, where carved and inlaid wood takes pride of place: the interiors, crafted by the Fantoni and Caniana workshops, are an example of rare skill. Sacred art from the Cathedral is on display in the Museum.

MILAN

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VALSECCA

This easy itinerary goes through the woods along paths on Monte Canto. Two fascinating Benedictine abbeys, surrounded by the silence of nature, can be found along the route.

THE CATHEDRAL OF ALZANO LOMBARDO, A TREASURE TROVE OF SCULPTURE

GANDINO

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The Garden of Peace Saint John XXIII

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1h

TYPE OF ITINERARY ALTITUDE

Assumption Cathedral Gandino

Alzano 304 m Gandino 552 m Clusone 648 m

DIFFICULTY OF THE ITINERARY

BERGAMO

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THE PATH OF SILENCE

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This is an itinerary of great cultural interest along the paths of the faith. It also reveals an area rich in history and traditions in a valley with lush green meadows and uncontaminated woods. The journey starts in the heart of Lemine, the ancient name of this area inhabited by Romans and Longobards which contains some real gems: the Madonna del Castello Sanctuary, a monumental complex of three churches from different periods (the crypt of the 7th-8th centuries, the late 9th century San Salvatore Church and the 16th century sanctuary); the picturesque Romanesque Rotonda of San Tomè with its unmistakable silhouette in the centre of an area of great environmental interest; Saint George, an unexpected treasure trove of frescoes of rare beauty, the 16th century church

Crucifix of Valsecca

of Santa Maria della Consolazione, better known as Saint Nicholas and, as a final surprise, the small Saint Catherine Convent Church. The walk continues to the Cornabusa Sanctuary, a natural grotto set in the mountain overhanging the Imagna Valley. The deeply-rooted story of faith linked to this sanctuary, which still draws large numbers of pilgrims today, started around 1400, during the violent struggles between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines. You can still feel its original function as a place of refuge in the enchanting peacefulness characterizing this corner imbued with memories. Going up towards Valsecca, you come to a small church which houses a wooden Crucifix, the sign of strong and deeply-rooted popular devotion. 21/11/14 12:55


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