- Religious Tourism
- Art & Culture
Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII
It is located in the area called Isola Bergamasca and is now a destination for pilgrimages linked to the figure of Angelo GIuseppe Roncalli
Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII is situated in an area known as Isola Bergamasca, an area whose shape resembles an upside down triangle, where the base to the north consists of the Monte Canto and the two sides are represented by the rivers Brembo and Adda.
Sotto il Monte is today a place of pilgrimage associated with the figure of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, who was born in the village in 1881 and on 28 October 1958 became Pope John XXIII, also known as the "Good Pope" (Papa buono).
Most of the places of interest in Sotto il Monte relate to the places where Pope John XXIII was born and spent his life.
Cascina Palazzo, with simple rooms reached by a wooden staircase, was his birthplace, and Ca' Maitino, a fifteenth century villa and the Pope's holiday destination, is now a museum that houses many relics belonging to Pope John XXIII, including the bed on which he died and the altar of the private chapel.
A place of strong involvement is the Oboedentia et pax crypt, dedicated to the memory of the Pope where pilgrims are invited to reflect and pray. On the walls inside, pilgrims can read words taken from his thoughts and prayers.
The crypt is located beneath the parish church consecrated by Pope John XXIII in 1929 and the Cappella di Maria Regina della pace, which contains a precious altar from the Old St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican and a polychrome inlay depicting Pope John XXIII.
One element that characterises the area of Sotto il Monte is the Abbazia Rettoria di Sant'Egidio. The abbey was built in the hamlet of Fontanella in Romanesque style in the tenth century and the current tabernacle was used to as a bread oven for the poor of a village of Val Imagna.
In Sotto il Monte, as well as visiting its historical and religious attractions, you can relax and recharge your batteries in a natural environment with walks and cycling trips on Monte Canto. The mountain is dotted with numerous itineraries that depart from the surrounding villages and wind through chestnut woods and vineyards.
