Oltre Il Colle: Trails, Land Art and Mining History

Oltre Il Colle combines mountain trails, nature observation and cultural history to create a diverse destination. Between Monte Alben, Monte Arera and the Conca di Oltre il Colle, you will find various ways to experience the landscape actively or with a cultural focus.

Hiking trails ranging from walks to mountain tours

The Conca di Oltre Il Colle has an extensive network of hiking trails for all levels of difficulty. The range extends from easy walks to more demanding mountain tours. The Sentiero dei Fiori in the Bergamo Prealps offers a nature-focused perspective, with rare and spectacular flowers along the route. At Monte Arera, the Sentiero dei Fiori is considered a hike that is not technically demanding from a mountaineering perspective.

Another notable route is Sentiero 244. It circles the slopes of Pizzo Arera and leads back to Capanna 2000. Mountain biking is also possible in the Conca di Oltre Il Colle on the pasture and hiking trails.

Monte Alben and Passo di Zambla

Monte Alben has a via ferrata in a wild and untouched mountain landscape. The “Maurizio” via ferrata on Monte Alben reopened on 8 May 2026 after the safety conditions had been restored and was accessible again. For another active experience, Parco Avventura Monte Alben is located at Passo di Zambla. It is laid out as a high ropes course among the trees.

Nordic walking is also one of the ways to stay active in Oltre Il Colle. With the support of the instructors from Scuola N.W. di Oltre il Colle, visitors can learn about this form of walking. The Conca therefore offers different ways to experience the landscape, without every activity having to involve the same physical or mountaineering demands.

Land Art and churches in the mountain landscape

The Cattedrale Vegetale is a Land Art work by artist Giuliano Mauri. It is located amid nature at the foot of Monte Arera and combines an artistic work with its natural surroundings. The church of Santa Maria Maddalena in Zambla offers another perspective on regional history; it was consecrated on 18 July 1737.

The parish church of Zambla is dedicated to Santa Maria Maddalena; according to the 1666 diocesan summary, it had four altars. Baita Nembrini was previously called Bivacco Nembrini and was inaugurated on 28 August 1976 in memory of mountain guide Carlo Nembrini.

Minerals and mining history

The Museo della miniera e dei minerali displays more than 2,000 minerals and 450 fossils. In Zorzone, the Museo dei minerali di Zorzone recalls Oltre il Colle’s long mining tradition. The Museo dei Minerali a Zorzone is arranged across three floors, with three clearly distinct sections.

Discover more destinations

Other destinations to consider when planning your trip include Torre Boldone, Scanzorosciate, Presezzo, Averara, Borgo Di Terzo, Treviolo, Calcinate and Telgate.

For the higher-level travel overview: Bergamo.