SOMMARUGA AND THE MODERN STYLE Sarnico is also the centre of architectonic models, which are considered important examples of modern style in Lombardy (all works of Giuseppe Sommaruga). Starting from the nursery school in S.S.Redentore square, you can go up towards the main road and see where the cemetery front rises (inside it’s possible to admire the Mausoleum of Faccanoni’s family).
Going on towards Predore (3 Km.), next to shipyards Riva, you can see Villa Surre. Going back towards the centre of Sarnico in “via Veneto”, on the coast, there is Villa Faccanoni. The route concludes in XX Settembre square with Villa Passeri. In proximity to Villa Faccanoni, on the lake it’s possible to visit the characteristic church “Stella Maris” (1935) that is for years the starting point of the traditional summer procession of enlightened boats.
OUTSKIRTS Going along “via Manzoni”, which run along Fiume Oglio (effluent of the lake) and, after that you pass the “Cappelletta dei morti della peste del 1630”, you arrive at the hamlet “Fosio”.
A little church dedicated to the Virgin Mary opens a conurbation. Then you can arrive at the dam built in 1933 across a group of old houses and a seventeenth century mill. Going back on the main road that leads to Bergamo, northward the built-up area you can see the seventeenth century villa (today it’s property of Cancelli family), an interesting office on three floors, where now there is a refined and elegant piano-bar. Going up towards the hill, you can visit the little church of S.S.Nazario and Rocco. Over the torrent Guerra there is the Rocchetta, a stately and sumptuous palace of the eighteenth century of property Buelli. It’s built on the ruins of an old medieval fortification (today it’s the wine concern “Valcalepio”).
THE PARISH The parish of Sarnico (1727-1743), which is in S.S.Redentore square, is dedicated to Saint Martin Bishop and it has Maria Assunta as patron. But the celebration of the feast is the San Mauro’s day (the 15th January).
The parish has a cinema; playgrounds: football, tennis, volleyball, bowls; cultural-spiritual-recreative and touristy associations; scouts groups.
The parish of Sarnico writes a monthly gazette since 1968: “Il Porto”.
In the territory there are other little churches of artistic interest:
San Rocco (1705) - S.S.Redentore square
San Paolo (XV) - San Paolo square
San Nazario (XI-XII) - Hamlet Castione
Santa Teresina (1929) - Hamlet Fosio
Stella Maris (1935) - via Predore
Chiesetta degli Alpini - via Alpini
ISEO LAKE Iseo lake is really different from the other lakes: simple and picturesque, mild and wild. It’s a romantic lake, loved by poets and painters, set in a beautiful setting of mountains, fed by Fiume Oglio. In the middle of the lake rises Montisola, the bigger island of Europe. North and south of Montisola there are the islets of Loreto and San Paolo. If you want to make an excursion, you can arrive from Iseo lake in a little time at:
- Capodiponte; which is the aim of many students from all the world for its rocky incisions of Neolithic age.
- Boario Terme and Angolo Terme; which are important thermal baths for hydroponics cares.
- Franciacorta; which is an area with many vineyards and producer of wines “D.O.C.”.
- Montecampione; which is famous for sports on the snow.
