Along the panoramic route that climbs from the Longuelo neighbourhood to Borgo Canale, between Bergamo’s two marvellous basins, that of Astino and the Conca d'Oro, you will come across the small Church of San Martino della Pigrizia along the way.
Contrary to what one might think, San Martino has nothing to do with laziness, pigrizia meaning laziness, far from it! The name of this place derives from a purely geographical issue: the part of land on the side of the Astino Valley, unlike that of the Conca d'Oro, is by nature less exposed to the sun's rays and for this reason the crops in this area proceed more slowly. Over time, the locals began to assign "La Pigrizia" as a nickname for this portion of land, precisely underlining its 'lazy' character.
The church, which has arrived to the present day from the 9th century not without various alterations, has a main entrance in bronze on which the two patron saints are sculpted: San Martino and Madonna della Purità and a small upper lunette which completes the arched opening of the facade. Laterally, a small stone staircase leads to the secondary entrance door. It too is in bronze and depicts the history of the small church. The interior consists of a single rectangular nave divided into three bays by two masonry arches, onto which the two pitches of the exposed roof unload. The presbytery consists of a very simple chapel covered by a barrel vault with some artworks in the centre representing the Madonna and Child with Saints Martino, Giovan Battista, Carlo and Antonio of Padua.
The San Martino staircase
Not far from the church, in the direction of the Upper Town, is the San Martino staircase which connects Via Borgo Canale and Via San Martino della Pigrizia. It is a short stretch initially made up of stairs which after a few metres becomes a slope on a cobblestone pavement leading up to the gates of Upper Bergamo. Going up, you will also come across the enchanting Scorlazzino and Scorlazzone staircase which lead up to the San Vigilio Castle, offering you a unique panoramic route.
Along the panoramic route that climbs from the Longuelo neighbourhood to Borgo Canale, between Bergamo’s two marvellous basins, that of Astino and the Conca d'Oro, you will come across the small Church of San Martino della Pigrizia along the way.
Contrary to what one might think, San Martino has nothing to do with laziness, pigrizia meaning laziness, far from it! The name of this place derives from a purely geographical issue: the part of land on the side of the Astino Valley, unlike that of the Conca d'Oro, is by nature less exposed to the sun's rays and for this reason the crops in this area proceed more slowly. Over time, the locals began to assign "La Pigrizia" as a nickname for this portion of land, precisely underlining its 'lazy' character.
The church, which has arrived to the present day from the 9th century not without various alterations, has a main entrance in bronze on which the two patron saints are sculpted: San Martino and Madonna della Purità and a small upper lunette which completes the arched opening of the facade. Laterally, a small stone staircase leads to the secondary entrance door. It too is in bronze and depicts the history of the small church. The interior consists of a single rectangular nave divided into three bays by two masonry arches, onto which the two pitches of the exposed roof unload. The presbytery consists of a very simple chapel covered by a barrel vault with some artworks in the centre representing the Madonna and Child with Saints Martino, Giovan Battista, Carlo and Antonio of Padua.
The San Martino staircase
Not far from the church, in the direction of the Upper Town, is the San Martino staircase which connects Via Borgo Canale and Via San Martino della Pigrizia. It is a short stretch initially made up of stairs which after a few metres becomes a slope on a cobblestone pavement leading up to the gates of Upper Bergamo. Going up, you will also come across the enchanting Scorlazzino and Scorlazzone staircase which lead up to the San Vigilio Castle, offering you a unique panoramic route.
