Cologno al Serio
A trip to Cologno al Serio: discovering the history of Bergamo
Cologno al Serio is a small town in Bergamo that encompasses historical and archaeological treasures of great importance for the Lombardy region. With its three hamlets and just over 11,000 inhabitants, this village has been inhabited since prehistoric times and has witnessed the passage of numerous civilizations and peoples.
Antiquity
The first human settlements in this area date back about 4000 years ago, as demonstrated by the archaeological finds on the territory of Cologno al Serio. There are indeed archaeological sites of great value here, including skeletons, tools, and copper coins dating back to the Bronze Age.
Subsequently, different peoples settled in this part of Lombardy: first the Ligurians, then the Cenomani Gauls, and finally the Romans. This civilization gave an urban organization to the village, which began to assume increasing importance. A military road, also used for commercial transport, connected Bergamo to Piacenza, increasing the possibilities of exchange for the inhabitants.
The Middle Ages
In the sixth century, the Lombards arrived, of whom another important find has been found on the communal territory of Cologno al Serio: it is a clay tablet (now preserved in the Archaeological Museum of Bergamo) with the names of six inhabitants of the time engraved.
The first written document mentioning the name of the village dates back to 843 when a certain ''Sthephanus de Colonias'' is mentioned in a deed. In these years, the village grew in importance also thanks to the presence of an ancient Roman road, renamed ''Francesca Road'', refurbished by the Franks and also used for the transport of the remains of Ludovic II the Younger, son of Lothair I, from Brescia to Milan.
The following development of feudalism, favored by the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, marked a new era for the village of Cologno al Serio. Initially assigned by Otto III to ''Ulrich'', the village then witnessed a period of profound political and social instability caused by bloody clashes between Guelphs and Ghibellines. Thus, the village began to equip itself with numerous fortifications, including a castle with a moat, to defend the territory which, at the center of the contenders' ambitions, was sacked towards the end of the 12th century by Frederick Barbarossa and twice by the Milanese.
The Renaissance
In the Renaissance period, the Colleoni family took possession of the village and became one of the main landowners. Bartolomeo Colleoni, in particular, contributed to the construction of the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Fontana, one of the most famous and frequented churches in the surroundings of Bergamo, located a short distance from the hamlet of Castel Liteggio.
The territory and the hamlets
Cologno al Serio is located in the Bergamo lowlands and is about 10 kilometers south of the capital, connected to it by the 591 Cremasca state road. The communal territory is very varied: there are countryside, woods, and hills, which form a very suggestive landscape.
The village has three hamlets of great historical and tourist interest. Castel Liteggio, for example, owes its name to the presence of a Lombard tower and a fifteenth-century castle, where events and festivals of appeal are periodically held. Muratella, on the other hand, is a hamlet characterized by the presence of a Romanesque church dedicated to Santa Maria del Giglio. Finally, Fornasette is a small hamlet where ancient stone buildings and suggestive internal courtyards can be admired.
Traditions and folklore
Cologno al Serio is a village that preserves its traditions and folklore intact. Among the most important events, we remember the San Giuseppe Fair, held every year on March 19, and the Glisìt Festival, a celebration that celebrates the agri-food heritage of the Serio territory.
What to see
Those who visit Cologno al Serio cannot miss the parish church of San Colombano, which preserves works of great artistic value such as frescoes and wooden statues. The Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Fontana and the castle of Castel Liteggio are other must-see stops for those who love history and art.
Conclusions
In conclusion, Cologno al Serio is a village that, despite its modest dimensions, encompasses a great history and a cultural heritage of inestimable value. Visiting this village means immersing yourself in a unique and all-to-be-discovered atmosphere, amidst suggestive landscapes, ancient traditions, and historical treasures that deserve to be enhanced and known.
