There are 27 painted villages in Lombardy: hamlets whose walls narrate the most significant moments in local history and tradition.
One such municipality is Calcio, a village with a history dating back thousands of years that lies on the banks of the Oglio River a short distance from Bergamo.
The historical and cultural value of the paintings that adorn the houses, palaces, and monuments and the strategic location of Calcio, a short distance from the cities of Bergamo, Brescia, Milan, and Crema, make it an ideal destination for a visit to discover Lombardy’s history and traditions.
For nearly 30 years, Calcio has been collecting giant murals, paintings and artistic mosaics that have transformed the village streets into an open-air gallery.
A cultural itinerary that consists of 47 stories by different artists telling the story of Calcio, its nature and village traditions.
Various themes are represented: from the agricultural and pastoral life typical of the Po Valley, to the arrival of the railroad, from the first oil illuminations to religious traditions. The simplicity, religiosity, hard work and industriousness of the local people can be found in the paintings.
Recurring is the theme of the agricultural world visible, for example, “In the Meadow,” a work by students of the Birmingham Fine Arts Department.
Also interesting is the theme of the industriousness of the people of Calcio, present for example in “Allegory of Work,” by Floriano Bodini.
Several paintings evoke key episodes in the history of the Calcian community, including “Regina della Scala, Signora di Calcio,” by Giovanni Repossi.
Lush nature and water are also widely represented themes.
In “The Oglio River in Calcio,” Angelo Boni depicts the splendor of lush vegetation intact and the river clear.
Calcium is undoubtedly a place to discover; in addition to the painted walls you can visit the Church of San Vittore and two imposing castles: the Silvestri Castle, which stands on the ruins of a Roman villa from the second century AD, and the Oldofredi Castle, one of the oldest residences of the feudal “condòmini” lords.
More information:
http://bassabergamascaorientale.it/punti-di-interesse/chiese/chiesa-san-vittore/