Palosco
Discover Palosco, a Lombardian town full of history and architectural beauty
Located near the confluence of the Cherio and Oglio rivers, Palosco, in the province of Bergamo, is home to about 5665 inhabitants. This small town in Lombardy has an ancient history and a rich architectural heritage, making it a place of great tourist interest. In this article, we will discover together some of its most important monuments and its millenary history.
The history of Palosco
Palosco is an ancient village of Roman origin, as evidenced by the important connection road between the cities of Bergamo and Brescia in the area. However, the decline in the name of the village in Osco could also suggest a Ligurian origin, dating back to about two thousand years ago.
During the Middle Ages, the village was at the center of disputes between the Bergamo and Brescia factions, due to its border positions. For this reason, they equipped themselves with numerous defensive constructions, including the castle (of which only the tower remains today), whose typology can be traced back to the rare model "Turris ante portam". In 1156, in the Battle of Palosco, the communal troops of the Bergamaschi and the episcopal ones of Brescia clashed due to territorial issues and missed investments, with the victory of the Brescian troops. After these bloody events, the medieval period saw other clashes between guelfs and ghibellines, but with the advent of the domination of the Republic of Venice in the fifteenth century, tranquility returned to reign in this border territory between the Bergamo and Brescia.
With the annexation to the Lombard-Venetian Kingdom, the center became a small and quiet agricultural center but, during the twentieth century, industrialization and the construction of the A4 motorway, near its territory, brought the country back to an important role in the area.
The symbols of Palosco
The coat of arms and the banner of Palosco were granted by decree of the President of the Republic on May 2, 1963. The curved red band would represent the border between the provinces of Bergamo and Brescia, while the three inverted hearts would symbolize the Colleoni family. The banner is a split cloth of red and yellow.
The monuments and places of interest
One of the most important monuments of Palosco is the Church of San Lorenzo Martire, dating back to the sixteenth century but significantly expanded two centuries later. Inside, we find important works including the paintings of Gian Paolo Cavagna and Giovan Battista Moroni, as well as sculptures by Calegari and Andrea Fantoni.
Palosco also boasts several other churches, such as the Church of San Giuseppe, the Church of the Madonna della Neve, the Church of San Rocco, and the Church of San Rocco and San Carlo Borromeo. Other interesting monuments to visit are the former convent of the Ursulines and the Civic Tower, which rises in the homonymous square.
But Palosco is not only history and architecture, it is also nature and landscapes. In fact, in the surroundings of the town, there are numerous walks and trails that offer a spectacular view of the Cherio and Oglio rivers and the Val Cavallina, until reaching the natural reserve of the Torbiere del Sebino, which extends between the provinces of Bergamo and Brescia.
Conclusions
Palosco is a town rich in history and architectural beauty, worth visiting. Its border position between the Bergamo and Brescia areas makes it an interesting place from a landscape and naturalistic point of view. The walks and paths that wind their way around the town offer breathtaking panoramas of rivers and valleys. Additionally, the churches and monuments of the historic center are certainly worth an in-depth visit, to discover the millenary history of this ancient village and to admire the works of the great artists who have left their mark on the memory of Palosco.
