Holiday apartment in San Paolo: Strone, churches and MA DE BÙ?!

San Paolo offers two particularly tangible ways to experience the area: the landscape along the Strone River and a series of sacred sites with clearly documented histories.

Natural landscape along the Strone River

The Strone River rises in the hamlet of Scarpizzolo in San Paolo. Over its 18-kilometre course, it passes through San Paolo, Verolavecchia, Verolanuova and Pontevico, before flowing into the Oglio River there. The river course extends beyond San Paolo. The 18 kilometres provide a clearly defined geographical framework for getting your bearings around San Paolo.

The area around the Strone is recognised as a “Parco locale di Interesse Sovracomunale”. The park covers 735 hectares, 70 of which are in San Paolo. The local landscape is therefore part of a dedicated park within a significantly larger natural area.

Churches and sacred history

The Parrocchiale di San Paolo was consecrated on September 20, 1978. Older historical references can be found at the Santuario della Madonna della Rosa, also known as the Madonnina: it was built on the initiative of the Maggi family in 1525 and reconstructed in 1926 on the remains of an earlier building. The Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta houses a Last Supper signed by Antonio Gandino and dated 1593.

The Chiesetta di Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore was built by Don Camisani in 1911. The Chiesetta di San Giovanni Battista bears the nickname San Giovannino, stands in open countryside near a disused brickworks, and was built at the beginning of the 20th century. The two chapels thus add their own construction dates and locations to San Paolo’s sacred history.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria Nascente was rebuilt in 1518 and replaced by a new building in the mid-19th century. In San Paolo, it is a worthwhile destination to visit. Several centuries lie between the two construction phases. The Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta was built at the beginning of the 18th century to a design by the Bergamasque architect Bernardino Fedrighini. Cascina Laghetto also dates back to the 18th century and adds another historical highlight. At Santa Maria Assunta, the Last Supper dated 1593 and the design from the early 18th century thus meet in the same building. For those interested in culture, specific names take centre stage: Antonio Gandino for the Last Supper, Bernardino Fedrighini for the design, and Don Camisani for the Chiesetta built in 1911.

Active exploration and planning your own day

The cycling and walking path “MA DE BÙ?!” for rediscovering San Paolo was inaugurated on January 26, 2025. In addition to the river and churches, the path provides an expressly cycling- and walking-oriented way to rediscover San Paolo. The inauguration date falls after the churches’ construction periods and adds its own chronological accent.

More places to include in your plans

If you would like to compare San Paolo with other destinations, also discover Castel Venzago, Orzinuovi, Idro, Bassanega, Angolo Terme, Marcheno, Capo di Ponte and Rudiano.

For the overarching travel overview: Brescia.