Valgoglio
Valgoglio: an Alpine village with untouched nature
Valgoglio is a charming Alpine village located in the province of Bergamo, in Lombardy. With a population of 586 inhabitants, the village is known for its beautiful surrounding nature, which remains virtually untouched. Valgoglio, called Algòi or Valgòi in Bergamo dialect, consists of the valley of the Goglio stream, a tributary of the Serio River, located west of the Val Seriana. The village is located at an altitude of 645 meters, making it an ideal place for those seeking the peace and tranquility of the mountains.
The origin of the name Valgoglio
The name of the village comes from the valley in which it is located, which in turn takes its name from the stream that runs through it. The Goglio, which flows into the Serio River at Gromo downstream from Valgoglio, takes its name from the Bergamo dialect term "goi", which means a watercourse with deep gorges and ravines.
The history of Valgoglio
Valgoglio has a history rich in events related to the Val Seriana and the nearby municipality of Gromo. In 774, Charlemagne donated the territories of the Upper Val Seriana to the monasteries of Martino di Tours and Saint Denis De Paris. In the following period, many families from Bergamo settled in the area to exploit its mines. In Valgoglio lived the Della Crotta family. Only in 1026, the Bishop of Bergamo regained possession of it, in exchange for other lands, reserving the right to revenue from the extraction and processing of silver and iron, which were certainly present in the valley. This led to a long period of contrasts between ecclesiastical and feudal power.
The presence of mines has provided a livelihood for the population of Valgoglio since the Middle Ages. At that time, much of the armor and shields were produced with iron extracted from the area. In addition, the coins of the Palazzo Pacchiani Rivola, a locality of Gromo, were minted with Gromo silver. The area was also rich in gold, but in insufficiently significant quantities.
An event that radically changed the economy of the village was the Rovina del Goglio, a flood that destroyed the factories present in the Colarete fraction and radically changed the economic structure of Valgoglio in 1666. After this event, the village's population decided to devote itself to pastoralism.
Recently, modest amounts of uranium have been found in a disused mine in the Novazza fraction. Some have speculated about the opening of a new mine for the extraction of this mineral, but most of the inhabitants of the surrounding villages have expressed their dissent.
The economy of Valgoglio
Valgoglio lives thanks to the exploitation of the resources offered by nature, such as tourism, hydroelectric industry and pastoralism. However, these resources do not guarantee everyone a job. Many inhabitants of Valgoglio are forced to commute daily to the city of Bergamo to work in industries and commercial activities in the lower Val Seriana.
In general, the population of Valgoglio is very attached to its territory and mountain life. The village offers numerous opportunities for those who want to enjoy the peace of the mountains, from hikes to mountain lakes to walks in coniferous forests, to the roar of deer during autumn.
Conclusions
Valgoglio is a charming place for those seeking the peace of the mountains and the untouched nature. With a history linked to mines and the struggle between ecclesiastical and feudal power, the village still reaps the rewards of the resources offered by nature today. However, it is heavily dependent on the economic activities of the lower Val Seriana. For mountain and outdoor enthusiasts, Valgoglio is a place that is not easily forgotten.
