Discover Verolavecchia: Churches, History and a Cycling Tour

Verolavecchia between church art and rural history

Verolavecchia offers several specific ways to explore the area during your visit: church art, municipal and medieval architectural history, evidence of rural work, and a cycling tour with specific route data. The range includes sacred spaces and historical events as well as water regulation, food storage and former craft techniques.

Churches and municipal history

The Torre civica of Verolavecchia served as the municipality’s bell tower until 1907; today, only the hands of its clock are visible. The church of San Rocco houses the painting “Madonna con Bambino, l’Angelo custode, e i santi Antonio da Padova, Luigi IX, e Bernardino da Siena” by Francesco Maffei. Construction work on the new parish church of Santi Pietro e Paolo in Verolavecchia began in 1753. San Rocco was built from 1514 onwards following a vow made by the people of Verolavecchia after the plague of 1512–13; there may already have been a small wayside shrine chapel in 1512.

The former Dominican monastery in Scorzarolo was founded in 1483 and remained fully operational until the Napoleonic confiscations in 1797. Today, only a few traces of it remain. The Castello di Monticelli also already existed in the 10th century.

Traces of rural everyday life

At the “pestadóra da ris”, the six openings in the stone blocks served as containers into which the rice was poured for hulling. Today, only the stone foundations of the “pestadóra da ris” remain; it is not certain whether this was its original position. The basins of La moja del lino were supplied with water from the nearby river or ditch; inlet and outlet sluices regulated the water.

La ghiacciaia is a brick structure approximately four metres below ground, with a circular floor plan and an ogival covering. As a historical “refrigerator”, it was filled with snow or ice in winter to keep food cool during the summer.

A cycling tour to Monticelli d’Oglio

The Quinzano d'Oglio–Regona cycling tour is 28.2 kilometres long, classified as moderate to easy, and suitable for riding with a city bike. It leads to Monticelli d’Oglio, a hamlet of Verolavecchia. The route therefore complements the historical themes with an active way to explore the town and its surroundings according to your own travel interests.

Madonna delle Cave and the Easter festival

The Madonna delle Cave chapel is located in the countryside between Verolavecchia and Verolanuova, in the Scorzarolo area. It was originally dedicated to San Firmo and was probably built by the Dominicans living in Scorzarolo. The Madonna delle Cave festival takes place every year at Easter and includes a mass as well as stalls selling sweets and toys.

Further destinations for orientation

Further destinations for orientation: Vobarno, Lozio, Leno, Bagolino, Travagliato, Vallio Terme, Ceto, Cecina.

For the overview of the higher-level destination: Brescia.