Zandobbio
Discover Zandobbio, the pearl of Val Cavallina
Zandobbio is a municipality located in Lombardy, in the province of Bergamo, with a population of around 2666 inhabitants. It is located in a small valley, next to the Val Cavallina, 17 kilometers east of Bergamo, on the left bank of the Cherio River.
Physical geography
Zandobbio’s territory is positioned in a small valley next to the Val Cavallina and reaches up to a hill where the Sanctuary of San Giovanni delle Formiche is located. This area has origins that go back to the Roman Empire thanks to the white dolomite quarries located on its territory, which have been exploited since ancient times.
History
Even during the Roman Empire, the town was well-known due to the white dolomite quarries present on its territory, which had been exploited since ancient times. The dolomite, with a color ranging from white to pink, was used for several works, such as the Angelo Mai Library and the Porta San Giacomo in Bergamo.
Symbols
The emblem and the flag of Zandobbio were granted by the President of the Republic in 1983. The tower represents the feudal history of the town, the column represents the production of pink marbles extracted from the Bergamasque mountains, and the spikes want to remember the dedication to agricultural activity.
Monuments and places of interest
The parish church of San Giorgio, built in the 16th century and restored in the 18th century by Giovan Battista Caniana, is of course made with the precious local marble. The sculptors Bottega di Bartolomeo Manni created the main altar and the two side altars around 1725. The church of San Giorgio in Campis, located on the outskirts of the local cemetery, dates back to approximately the 11th century and still has a Romanesque structure with a bifore bell tower and Byzantine-style frescoes, attributed to a period between the 10th century and the 11th century.
The municipal area also hosts the Church of Sant'Anna in Selva di Zandobbio, built in 1736.
Curiosities
The Middle Ages have left tangible signs in the village of Zandobbio, such as the layout of the town itself, which develops longitudinally and presents remains of fortifications, including a medieval tower located right in the town center.
Conclusions
Zandobbio is a town worth visiting if you want to discover the ancient history of the Val Cavallina marble and the beauty of the Romanesque and Byzantine style of its churches. The agricultural tradition combined with the feudal history of the town make it a place of unique charm.
