Tradition has it that Sant’Alessandro, Bergamo’s patron saint, was beheaded in the exact place where the imposing column stands. The monument was put back together in 1618 using stone fragments of Roman buildings and represents the only remain of the cathedral dedicated to the Saint in the IV Century, later destroyed.
The current church (featuring the column on the churchyard) dates back to 1447, but was only completed in the early XVIII Century. The tower bell, instead, was finished in the XX Century.
On the inside there is one single nave with four chapels on each side: if you’re not superstitious, go visit the chapel dedicated to the “Patrocinio” Blessed Virgin, built over the old cemetery.
Besides, numerous works of art are guarded inside the chapels and the sacristies, including the wonderful painting by Lorenzo Lotto “Dead Christ Mourned”, a rare example of tempera on canvas (1520-1521).
Tradition has it that Sant’Alessandro, Bergamo’s patron saint, was beheaded in the exact place where the imposing column stands. The monument was put back together in 1618 using stone fragments of Roman buildings and represents the only remain of the cathedral dedicated to the Saint in the IV Century, later destroyed.
The current church (featuring the column on the churchyard) dates back to 1447, but was only completed in the early XVIII Century. The tower bell, instead, was finished in the XX Century.
On the inside there is one single nave with four chapels on each side: if you’re not superstitious, go visit the chapel dedicated to the “Patrocinio” Blessed Virgin, built over the old cemetery.
Besides, numerous works of art are guarded inside the chapels and the sacristies, including the wonderful painting by Lorenzo Lotto “Dead Christ Mourned”, a rare example of tempera on canvas (1520-1521).
