Holiday apartment in Piazza Brembana: trails, art and the Brembo

Piazza Brembana combines historic townscapes, art and trails along the Brembo River.

Historic trails and a walk through the town

A walk through the historic centre follows Via F.lli Calvi and Via San Bernardo, passing the former premises of the Pretura and the Canossian convent. The route also includes the still-preserved Chiesetta di San Bernardo with its oratory. The Strada Priula offers another insight into the town’s historic structure: it passed the parish church on its way to Piazza Brembana. The Contrade Orenghi and Pissamora are part of its surviving collection of old buildings.

Church art and the legacy of the Calvi family

The parish church of San Martino was rebuilt in the second half of the 19th century in the Neo-Gothic style, based on a design by the architect Preda from Ponte S. Pietro. It houses a polyptych of Saint Martin from 1503 by Lattanzio da Rimini. The church of San Bernardo preserves works by Carlo Ceresa, Palma il Giovane and Andrea Vicentino. These include a painting by Carlo Ceresa dating from around 1660 and the high-altarpiece by Palma il Giovane. Its single-nave interior is divided into three bays.

The Ecomuseo Fratelli Calvi is designed as an open-air museum trail in Piazza Brembana. Iron steles display photographs, documents, letters and captions about the Calvi brothers and their family. Casa Calvi also contains a municipal hall belonging to the Ecomuseo; documents, pictures, letters of condolence and historical material about the Calvi brothers and their mother have been collected there.

From the historic railway station to the Brembo

The history of transport is also part of the townscape. The first passenger trains reached Piazza Brembana railway station on 31 July 1926; passenger services were discontinued on 17 March 1966.

On the Brembo River lies Zona Fondi, an equipped green area intended for relaxation and recreation. The ruins of an old mill and the Cappelletta dei Morti dei Fondi can be seen there. Its frescoes recall the burial of the dead during recurring plague epidemics.

Hiking and cycling around Piazza Brembana

Sentiero 128 starts in Piazza Brembana and, after crossing a characteristic bridge with a tower at the end, leads to the Cappelletta dei Fondi. Another itinerary starts in Piazza Brembana and Lenna and follows the quiet course of the Brembo River through woods and clearings to Fondra.

There is also a clearly measured route for a cycling tour. The Zogno–Piazza Brembana cycle path is 21 km long, has a total elevation gain of 240 m and gradients of no more than 5 percent.

More places for planning your trip

Mozzo, Selvino, Palosco, Romano Di Lombardia, Selino Basso, Scanzorosciate, Ambria-spino and Grumello Del Monte.

To the higher-level travel overview: Bergamo.