Sotto Il Monte Giovanni XXIII: Frescoes and Via Giovannea

Sotto Il Monte Giovanni XXIII combines religious history, art and paths through a distinctive landscape. A holiday apartment in Sotto Il Monte Giovanni XXIII is particularly suitable for travel plans that combine cultural discoveries and places of contemplation with hiking routes.

Discover art and memorial sites

Among the important destinations is the Abbazia di S. Egidio, founded in 1080 by the Bergamasque nobleman Alberto da Prezzate. In the apse vault, you can admire Renaissance frescoes; at the centre, Christ Pantocrator is depicted in a mandorla. The Chiesa di Santa Maria in Brusicco dates from 1450. Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was baptised there on 25 November 1881.

In the Canève district stands the Santuario della Madonna delle Caneve, built in 1727. Above the altar is an old fresco that was rediscovered only in recent years. The Casa Natale is also dedicated to the memory of Pope Roncalli and is currently a museum run by the PIME fathers. Camaitino is considered Pope Roncalli’s first home; the complex also houses a Casa delle Memorie dedicated to Pope John XXIII.

Pilgrimage sites and paths with their own atmosphere

The PIME Seminary is currently a place for retreats and prayer for groups from Italy and abroad. The Casa del Pellegrino has a large reception hall and two video rooms where a short introductory film about the pilgrimage can be shown. Its secretariat helps organise visiting routes and prepares customised offers for parishes, tour operators and groups.

The Giardino della Pace offers a place for contemplation, lingering and preparation for the encounter with the Obedentia et Pax crypt and the statue of Saint John XXIII, which welcomes pilgrims. A circular path through the garden leads to the new entrance to the crypt. The site of the Torre di San Giovanni was occupied by a fortification in 964, which was later converted into a bell tower. The square tower is 17 metres high and is considered a remarkable example of Romanesque art.

Hiking, pilgrimage and the right holiday apartment

The Via Giovannea is marked with red-and-white trail signs bearing the designation JXXIII and a depiction of the Pope. The route from Sotto il Monte via Celana to San Gregorio was recently restored and repaired for hikers and pilgrims. On Monte Canto, hiking and cycling routes lead through chestnut forests and vineyards.

This allows you to set different priorities when choosing your holiday apartment: cultural visits around the churches and memorial sites, quiet stops in the Giardino della Pace, or active days on the Via Giovannea and Monte Canto. The combination of these themes makes the area appealing to travellers who want to vary their days between history, spirituality and activity.

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To the higher-level travel overview: Bergamo.