Dossena

Dossena is the first settlement to have been established in the Brembana Valley, the center of a rural area known since Roman times; it owes its name to the mountain “ridge” (dosso) against which the original settlement was built.

The village developed as a result of the exploitation of the local mines. It is believed that the extraction of lead (from galena) and zinc (from blende and calamine) dates back to the Bronze Age and continued under the Etruscans. Upon learning of the mining industry operating in these mountains, the Romans connected the various mining sites by building roads.&

The mines of Dossena were the subject of a study by Leonardo da Vinci, who, commissioned by the governor of Milan, came here to compile a topographic map of the Brembana Valley. Mining, the area’s main economic source, lasted for centuries until it was permanently shut down in the second half of the last century.

Thanks to the restoration and safety work carried out by many volunteers, it is now possible to explore this millennia-old historical and natural heritage. Visitors can enter the tunnels, discover the mining chambers, see shafts, ventilation shafts, and access tunnels, and learn about the ancient tools and instruments used in the mines.

The Mining Museum has also been set up in the village. This themed tour can conclude with a taste of “Ol Minadur,” the local cheese that is aged right inside the quarries.

Once back out in the sunlight, you can venture into the mountains along one of the four trails of the Via Mercatorum, which have been restored and refurbished by the CAI and the municipal administration with the goal of revitalizing the area for tourism.

The “panoramic trail” and the “ridge trail” lead from Dossena to Mount Vaccareggio; one descends into Val Parina and the other reaches the mines. A unique experience, immersed in unspoiled landscapes, to reconnect with one’s homeland.

In the village, the imposing Arcipresbiteriale—the parish church dedicated to St. John the Baptist—is well worth a visit. Inside, there is an impressive collection of paintings, furnishings, and vestments from Venice. The most valuable paintings on display are by Paolo Veronese and depict images of the patron saint.