Discover Alzano Lombardo: Churches, Art and Trails along the Serio

Alzano Lombardo combines sacred art, industrial history and trails along the Serio. The Basilica di San Martino, Parco Montecchio, the Ciclovia delle Rogge and several hiking connections give your stay different focal points – from architectural impressions to active exploration. When choosing a hotel in Alzano Lombardo, you can therefore first consider whether culture, cycling or mountain trails should be the focus of your trip.

Churches, Art and Industrial History

The Basilica di San Martino was built according to a design by the architect Gerolamo Quadrio. Work began in 1659 and continued throughout the following century. Inside, it is divided into three naves; the central vault is decorated with stucco work from the Sala workshop. Paintings by Pier Paolo Raggi depicting miracles of Saint Martin hang in the central bays. There are also twelve frescoes by Giuseppe Pozzi depicting scenes of martyrdom. The Basilica and its three sacristies, as well as the Museo d’Arte Sacra San Martino, also preserve works by, among others, Tintoretto, Palma il Vecchio, Palma il Giovane, Piazzetta, Cignaroli, Fantoni and Caniana.

In Olera, the parish church of San Bartolomeo preserves a 15th-century polyptych by Cima da Conegliano. The village has three churches; the oldest is dedicated to the SS. Trinità e tutti i Santi and is also known as the Chiesa dei morti. A study centre on Blessed Fra Tommaso da Olera collects paintings and sculptures about the friar there. The Museo d’Arte Sacra San Martino is housed in the former Palazzo Pelliccioli, an elegant 17th-century building. The Santa Maria della Pace complex dates from 1520 and bears witness to the presence of the Franciscans in the Bergamo area.

The former Cementificio Italcementi is a rare, almost intact example of a workshop for producing natural cement. The complex was built and modified by the Pesenti brothers between 1833 and 1966; the kilns were decommissioned in 1966. The Cementificio can only be viewed from the outside or on certain occasions. Tours are available by prior reservation through Gruppo Tironi.

Further sacred destinations offer their own distinctive highlights: the Chiesa della Trasfigurazione in Brumano preserves an old Serassi organ and its original sandstone portal. It is also a stop on the Cammino delle Sorelle, which connects Bergamo with Brescia. The Chiesa di San Bernardo has a single-nave interior with three wooden altars and works of art dating from 1600 onwards. In Nese, the 14th-century Chiesa della Santissima Trinità adjoins a medieval farmhouse that originally served as a hostel for travellers; its apse preserves 18th-century paintings depicting the Holy Trinity, Saint Gratus and the death of Saint Joseph.

Cycle Paths and Hiking along the Serio

The Ciclovia delle Rogge runs through Alzano Centro and Alzano Sopra along the Roggia Seriola. Flowers, historical photographs, art installations and murals shape its route. In addition, the foot and cycle path along the Serio River runs below the built-up area of Alzano and along the boundary with the municipality of Villa di Serio. Following the Serio route, you can reach Bergamo and the municipalities along the way; a branch leads to Gorle and Seriate. In the opposite direction, the route extends to Clusone and the upper Val Seriana.

For hiking, Route 540A reaches a maximum elevation of around 900 metres and has an elevation gain of approximately 375 metres. Along it, you cross Trail 533; those who continue to the left can reach Canto Alto via Trail 507. Il percorso del Lupo is approximately 9.8 kilometres long, takes about 3 hours and 40 minutes according to the CAI signs, and has an elevation gain of around 640 metres. Brumano can only be reached on foot: via a road open exclusively to authorised vehicles, via a mule track or via hiking trails.

Park and Local Meeting Places

Parco Montecchio is the most important public park in the municipality of Alzano. It contains more than 40 tree species, with almost 400 specimens in total. The park includes tennis courts, a bocce court, the headquarters of the Alzano CAI subsection, the municipal library and a municipal auditorium. In this way, the site brings together nature, exercise, local culture and public facilities in a compact space.

Further destinations for planning your trip: Canonica D'adda, Leffe, Fiumenero, Osio Sotto, Colognola, Bianzano, Seriate, Sotto Il Monte Giovanni Xxiii.

For the higher-level travel overview: Bergamo.