Dossena
Dossena, a historical gem in Lombardy
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about a magical place, located between the Serina valley and the Brembana valley, that I had the fortune to visit: Dossena! This Bergamo municipality, which has about 881 inhabitants, is a historical gem of Lombardy.
History
Antiquity
Dossena has an ancient history that dates back to the Bronze Age, when iron, calamine and galena mines were discovered, making the place the first stable settlement in the Brembana valley. The mines were also exploited in Etruscan and Roman times, as evidenced by the mining galleries found and the references by Pliny the Elder.
Middle Ages
The first written documents that mention Dossena date back to 920, but the village experienced a period of relative splendor in the Middle Ages thanks to the presence of the Via Mercatorum, which ensured intense trade with large amounts of goods and traders passing through. The presence of the "pieve" with a head of 23 churches located in the surrounding villages demonstrates the importance of the settlement.
In this quiet village, the great Leonardo da Vinci also stayed, who was interested in studying the mines and improving their capabilities.
Paglio-Pignolino Mines
Since 2017, the municipality of Dossena has made the famous Paglio-Pignolino mines visitable, which represent an important economic pillar of the village in the 1900s for fluorite extraction. The visit is guided by local experts who passionately tell the history of the mines and illustrate the extraction techniques.
Migrants, artists, Tasso family and Arlecchino's Roads
Since 2015, Dossena has been part of the "Migrants, artists, Tasso family and Arlecchino's Roads" project, born from the agreement with the municipalities of Camerata Cornello, and San Giovanni Bianco to enhance the artistic, architectural, historical and environmental assets of the territory and promote cultural events.
The project takes inspiration from the figure of Arlecchino, who is one of the most famous characters in the Commedia dell'Arte and the Venice Carnival, and from the Tasso family, who were a family of merchants who traveled the Via Mercatorum with their horses.
Conclusions
In conclusion, Dossena is a place of peace and tranquility where the past merges masterfully with the present. A visit to the Paglio-Pignolino mines represents a unique experience to get to know the history of the village up close and discover its economic importance. The initiative "Migrants, artists, Tasso family and Arlecchino's Roads" offers, instead, the opportunity to participate in cultural events and enjoy the splendor of the historical buildings in the territory.
If you are looking for a day trip in the wonderful Lombardy, Dossena is definitely a destination not to be missed!
