Fino del Monte
Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII: a municipality in the province of Bergamo
Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII, or simply Sotto il Monte until 1963, is an Italian municipality located in the province of Bergamo, in Lombardy. With a population of 4436 inhabitants, the municipality is situated at the northern end of the Bergamo island, delimited by the slopes of Monte Canto.
Physical geography
The climate in Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII is temperate and humid, with cold and snowy winters and mild and rainy summers. The municipal territory is characterized by a hilly landscape, with small streams crossing the area.
History
From medieval origins to modern age
The first settlements on the territory of Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII date back to the 9th century, when the entire province of Bergamo was under the domain of the Franks. These territories, located on sunny slopes of Monte Canto, were feuded to the bishop of Bergamo and given into management to the Benedictine monks who settled there.
The rectory abbey of Sant'Egidio in Fontanella, founded by Alberto da Prezzate, characterized the life of the village, with its main building, the tower of San Giovanni, situated on the top of the mountain. The village that developed at the foot of the tower was identified as "Sotto il monte dei frati" and later reduced to "Sotto il Monte".
During the Middle Ages, no significant clashes occurred between the Guelf and Ghibelline factions that raged in the rest of the province and in neighboring municipalities. The tower of San Giovanni was never used for defensive or war purposes.
Modern age
During the succeeding centuries, poverty was the characteristic element of the inhabitants of Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII. The inhabitants were devoted to living with field work, barely managing to satisfy the minimum subsistence requirements.
After the mid-20th century, the village began to develop due to the birth of a phenomenon of industrialization. In addition, a Catholic priest originally from the village, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, became famous worldwide. After scaling the steps of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, on October 28, 1958 he was elected Pope with the name of Pope John XXIII.
After the death of the pontiff on June 3, 1963, the village took on the current official name of "Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII" in his honor.
Conclusions
The municipality of Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII has a long history dating back to the Middle Ages. For centuries, the poverty of the inhabitants and the lack of significant events characterized this village. It was only after the mid-20th century that Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII began to develop, thanks to industrialization and the figure of Pope John XXIII, originally from the city. Today, the municipality is known worldwide for its connection with the pontiff, and its natural beauty makes it an ideal tourist destination for hill and hiking lovers.
