Castel Mella: Baroque, Nature and Local Tradition

Castel Mella combines traces of Lombard history with Lombard Baroque, religious festivals, traditional crafts and green recreational areas. When planning your trip, you can therefore get to know the town from several perspectives: through churches and historic buildings, along waterways and cycle paths, or through local cuisine and festivals.

Churches, Chapels and Local History

Castel Mella was founded by the Lombards in the 6th century. A Lombard grave containing a grave good, a sword, was discovered there. The Chiesa Parrocchiale dei SS. Siro e Lucia was built between 1708 and 1747 in the Lombard Baroque style. Its apse contains an altarpiece by Paolo da Caylina the Younger; the three domes and the walls are covered with a fresco cycle by Giovanni Antonio Cappello.

The Santuario della Madonnina del Boschetto in Onzato stands at a site regarded as sacred from Celtic times through the Roman period and into the Christian era. The present church was also built between 1730 and 1737 in the Lombard Baroque style. In Colorne, the Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista commemorates a chapel dating from 1599.

Festivals, Crafts and Rustic Cuisine

The Festa della Madonna del Boschetto is celebrated every year on September 8 on the occasion of the Nativity of Mary. The festival includes liturgical celebrations, games and market stalls. Another annual event is the Sagra del Loertis in Castel Mella. The focus is Loertis, meaning wild hops; typical dishes and local products are offered as well.

The Museo del Falegname “Cav. Pietro Ferrari” contains more than 2,000 woodworking tools and machines and has no architectural barriers. La Macina – locally La Màsnä – also tells of the area’s craft and agricultural past: it was formerly the Molino di Onzato and comprised a two-wheel mill as well as an oil mill. La Macina, also known as La Masna, is also associated with a historic osteria known for dishes from the rural tradition.

Water, Trees and Cycle Paths

The Parco del Fontanone is a 5,940 m² recreational area on the banks of the Roggia Fontanone. The water of the Roggia springs from numerous Fontanili springs. The park is part of the “Via dei Fontanili” cycle network, combining nature observation with regional cycling experiences. Another green area is the Bosco Urbano dell'Oppolo: it covers 16,030 m² and consists of 300 native trees from local nurseries.

The Bosco Urbano dell'Oppolo is also wheelchair accessible and has adjacent parking areas. This information may be just as important for your planning as local mobility: near the Chiesa Parrocchiale dei SS. Siro e Lucia, there are stops for bus route 17 on Via Umberto I and Via Lombardia. When choosing a hotel, you can thus weigh up the cultural, natural or culinary priorities of your trip.

More Destinations

More destinations: Fornaci, Provaglio D'iseo, Puegnago Del Garda, Pregasio, San Colombano, Gavardo, Solarolo, Ghedi

To the higher-level travel overview: Brescia.