Cornalba
Cornalba: a small mountain village with an ancient history
Cornalba is a mountain town located in the province of Bergamo in Lombardy, belonging to the mountain community of Valle Brembana. With its 290 inhabitants, the village is located in the val Serina, a side valley of the val Brembana, about 33 kilometers north of Bergamo.
History
Antiquity
The origins of Cornalba date back to the 1st century BC during the Roman Empire, when the whole valle Serina was brought together under the municipality of Bergamo. According to legend, the name of the town derives from the Latin words ''cornus'', which means ''rock'', and ''albus'', meaning ''white'', referring to the white rock wall overlooking the village. The Latin poet Publius Vergilius Maro was also impressed by the landscape, so much so that he considered the rocky wall a residence of the gods.
The Middle Ages and the modern age
During the Middle Ages, the area was infested by bandits and extortionists, who attacked travelers along the Via Mercatorum, a road that linked the Val Seriana with the Upper Val Brembana. Over the centuries, the territory lost its importance as a trade route due to the construction of the Via Priula, forcing the inhabitants to rely on agriculture and livestock. Only in recent decades has the tourism industry developed, making Cornalba a renowned quiet resort.
During World War II, the village was the scene of a brutal execution by the Fascists, who carried out the massacre of fifteen members of the "Justice and Freedom" brigade, including the brothers Pietro and Luigi Cornetti from Cornalba.
Contemporary age
Today Cornalba is a small, peaceful and picturesque mountain town, known for its natural beauty and peace. The village enjoys administrative autonomy and has maintained the charm of tradition. Among the historical curiosities, it is said that a resident who survived the Battle of Russia died of emotion upon returning to the village. In addition, the procession held every year to remember the lightning that struck the church during a Mass demonstrates the attachment of the people to an ancient tradition.
In summary, Cornalba is a town with an ancient and evocative past, a mountain village just a few steps from Bergamo where nature and tranquility come together in a magical atmosphere.
