Via Porticata di Averara

The Via porticata of Averara constitutes a section of the ancient Via Mercatorum, the most important of the ancient roads of the Brembana Valley as it allowed the connection of the city of Bergamo with the communities of the Grisons and with central Europe, before the construction of the Via Priula.
This splendid porticoed street along which severe 15th-century buildings stand, rises in the Fontana district, once the center of the village's administrative life, the place of residence of the Venetian vicar and the most important families. Averara was the capital of the municipality of the same name, which included the villages of Olmo, Mezzoldo, Cassiglio and Ornica in addition to the villages of Cusio and Santa Brigida. This explains the superior level of representation of the housing and road structures of this area, also emphasized by the presence, on the inner side of the pillars of the portico, of the coats of arms of the Baschenis, Bottagisi, Guerinoni, Migazi, Sonzogni and other families who had an active part in the history of the Averara Valley.
Other frescoes, such as the beautiful figure of St. Anthony, decorate the interior walls, while on the exterior facade is the coat of arms of the Marieni family, who also played a significant role in the history of Averara. Carlo Marieni was interested in literature and science and frequented the most prominent cultural figures of his time, including the poet Ugo Foscolo. Giuseppe Marieni a Napoleonic officer, was in 1808 general commander of the square in Verona, then took part in the Russian campaign and during the retreat managed to save the remnants of the Napoleonic army by throwing a bridge over the Beresina, before dying of typhus in 1813 in Köpnick.
Outside the arcaded street there was once a large circular fountain, documented by a 17th-century painting preserved in the parish church, which gave the district its name.
Can be visited daily, free tour (see Altobrembo guides, volume I itinerary 3). Included in the itineraries : The Land of the Baschenis.Guided tours by appointment.