HISTORIC CENTRE

History, culture and shopping

The walk, for who loves to do some shopping, has a medieval semicircular structure with the back turned towards the mountain. Some remains of castles of Counts Martinengo are still visible.

The historic centre is well-known with the name of  “Contrada“. Going along “via Lantieri” (in a multicoloured setting of shops) you can still note some architectonic proofs of the old village: portals, narrow streets, passages under arcades, old houses with solid walls.

Here, in a narrow street you can see the Municipal Museom  “G. Bellini”. The picture-gallery is housed in the oldest part of “Palazzo Gervasoni”, a XV century building standing on the highest point of the old town center of Sarnico.

The municipal Museum of Art and Territory “Gianni Bellini” originates from the donation of approximately 150 works, most of them paintings ranging from the 16th to the 18th century; collected during his lifetime and then donated to the Community of Sarnico by the great connoisseur and art lover, don Giovanni Bellini.

It’s advisable to follow the running of the Contrada to arrive at the top of historic centre: the SS.Redentore square, where there is the parish church of the eighteenth century.

The parish church is in baroque style and it’s dedicated to Saint Martin of tours. The stately front, executed in 1777, is planned on two floors and it’s made rich by series of statues and by the recently bronze portal (work of Meli).

Inside it’s possible to admire works of particular artistic interest. They are:

- the picture that represents “Saint Martin Bishop with the emperor Valentiniano”. It’s set in the apse behind the altar (work of Cappella);

- the “paliotto” in white marble of the high altar (work of Andrea Fantoni);

- the picture “The Virgin Mary and Saints” of Cavagna (put in the third chapel from left);

- the statue in golden wood of  “The Virgin Mary with child” (work of Andrea Fantoni).

The church of Saint Rocco rises next to the parish church. It was built in 1705 to enlarge a votive chapel in 1630. Going on you can enter again in the lanes of the historic centre, that keep characteristic places.

In one of these lanes, via San Paolo, you can arrive at the fifteenth century church of Saint Paul (for the visit apply to the keeper in the house beside). Inside you can admire beautiful pictures of XV century (for example the picture behind the altar, that represents the “Madonna addolorata e santi”).

“The tower of the clock” rises in the little square. It was raised in 1850 on the base (still visible) of a perimetric tower of the castle. Going on towards “via Santo Stefano”, you can go towards the lake for a restorative pause.

SOMMARUGA AND THE MODERN STYLE

Walks and architecture

Sarnico is also the centre of architectonic models, which are considered important examples of modern style in Lombardy (all works of Giuseppe Sommaruga).

Starting from the nursery school in S.S.Redentore square, you can go up towards the main road and see where the cemetery front rises (inside it’s possible to admire the Mausoleum of Faccanoni’s family).

Going on towards Predore (3 Km.), next to shipyards Riva, you can see Villa Surre. Going back towards the centre of Sarnico in “via Veneto”, on the coast, there is Villa Faccanoni. The route concludes in XX Settembre square with Villa Passeri.

In proximity to Villa Faccanoni, on the lake it’s possible to visit the characteristic church “Stella Maris” (1935) that is for years the starting point of the traditional summer procession of enlightened boats.

OUTSKIRTS

Walks and culture

Going along “via Manzoni”, which run along Fiume Oglio (effluent of the lake) and, after that you pass the “Cappelletta dei morti della peste” dated 1630, you arrive at the hamlet “Fosio”.

A little church dedicated to the Virgin Mary opens a conurbation. Then you can arrive at the dam built in 1933 across a group of old houses and a seventeenth century mill.

Going back on the main road that leads to Bergamo, northward the built-up area you can see the seventeenth century villa (today it’s property of Cancelli family), an interesting office on three floors, where now there is a refined and elegant piano-bar. Going up towards the hill, you can visit the little church of S.S.Nazario and Rocco.

Over the torrent Guerra there is the Rocchetta, a stately and sumptuous palace of the eighteenth century of property Buelli. It’s built on the ruins of an old medieval fortification (today it’s the wine concern “Valcalepio”).

THE PARISH

The parish of Sarnico (1727-1743), which is in S.S.Redentore square, is dedicated to Saint Martin Bishop and it has Maria Assunta as patron. But the celebration of the feast is the San Mauro’s day (the 15th January).

The parish has a cinema; playgrounds: football, tennis, volleyball, bowls; cultural-spiritual-recreative and touristy associations; scouts groups.

The parish of Sarnico writes a monthly gazette since 1968: “Il Porto”.

In the territory there are other little churches of artistic interest:

San Rocco (1705) S.S.Redentore square

San Paolo (XV) San Paolo square

San Nazario (XI-XII) Hamlet Castione

Santa Teresina (1929) Hamlet Fosio

Stella Maris (1935) via Predore

Chiesetta degli Alpini via Alpini