Arlate: Romanesque Art and Routes in the Adda Valley

Arlate combines sacred architectural history with historic paths and routes in the Adda Valley. At its center is the former Cluniac monastery of Arlate with an adjoining chapel, which is now dedicated to Santi Gottardo e Colombano. For you, the site offers a focused cultural element of a trip to Italy if you would like to consider monastic history, Romanesque art, and paths through the surrounding landscape together.

Romanesque Art, Fresco, and Monastic History

The Church of Santi Gottardo e Colombano is also the Romanesque church of Santi Colombano e Gottardo, to which the itinerary of Parco Adda Nord leads. It was built in the 11th century. In its central apse, part of a late Romanesque fresco depicting Christ Pantocrator has been preserved; it is dated to the 13th century. These two dates make the church particularly interesting for you if you are interested in the development of sacred art and medieval architectural history. Two medieval periods are found side by side in the building: its construction in the 11th century and the fresco section from the 13th century.

The Monastero di San Colombano di Arlate in Calco is one of the ten Lombard sites that make up the Itinerario cluniacense lombardo. Another route, “Da Montevecchia a Imbersago,” descends through the Adda Valley near Arlate. The itinerary of Parco Adda Nord begins at the ferry in Imbersago, which was designed based on drawings by Leonardo da Vinci. In this context, Imbersago appears both as the destination of the route from Montevecchia and as the starting point of the Parco Adda Nord itinerary at the ferry.

Routes for Hiking and Cycling

The eighth stage of the Cammino di San Colombano leads from Calco (Arlate) to Vaprio d’Adda and is 23.3 km long. It follows the Adda cycle path along the right bank of the river toward Vaprio d’Adda. If you plan your trip around longer distances, proximity to the river, and cultural stops, this stage provides a clearly defined point of reference for your selection. The 23.3 km establish a fixed framework for planning the day; the section follows the right bank of the Adda toward Vaprio d’Adda.

The route “Natura e arte tra Villa d’Adda, Imbersago, Merate e Calco” also ends in Calco, at Villa Calchi and the Church of Santi Colombano e Gottardo in Arlate. Villa Calchi is an aristocratic residence with frescoes influenced by Leonardo’s style.

The Salita del Monte as a Historic Path

The Salita del Monte is an old, steep connecting road between Arlate and the villages of Cassina and Sartirana, as well as the scattered districts of Calco Superiore: Caviggiolo, Grugnana, Roncaccio, and Vescogna. The Salita del Monte and the Grugnana plain were the scene of clashes between Austrian-Russian and French troops in April 1799. The clashes are dated to April 1799 and are therefore clearly distinguished from the older road.

More Places for Your Trip to Italy

More destinations for planning your trip: Cremeno, Colico, Vestreno, Merate, Calolziocorte, Fiumelatte, Malgrate, Piantedo.

To the higher-level travel overview: Lecco.