The tour inside the former Convent of the Neveri showcases the Roman ruins, the Lombard remains, and the evolution of the monastic complex over the centuries.
The initiative, part of the “Lombardia Segreta” project, offers a journey through twenty centuries of history, featuring Roman ruins and artifacts from the early Christian, medieval, and monastic eras. The former Convent of the Neveri in Bariano, in the municipality of Bariano, Province of Bergamo, is an archaeological site that was recently uncovered thanks to excavations carried out by Brebemi.
The Archaeological and Monumental Tour
The tour includes an exploration of the ruins of a Roman villa from the Imperial period, featuring walls up to nine meters high, 4th-century frescoes, a Greek marble column, and a floor mosaic. The tour continues through a late Roman and Lombard necropolis—dating from the 4th to the 8th centuries—featuring a transparent floor that allows visitors to view over 120 burials.
Historical Development of the Complex
The site represents a historical tapestry in which different eras overlap: from the Roman villa to the early Christian parish church of Santa Maria d’Averga, to the baptistery of San Giovanni, one of the oldest in Lombardy. After the year 1000, the structure was converted into a Romanesque church and, beginning in 1480, into a Carmelite convent, which remained in operation until the end of the 18th century.
Further Information
The tour also includes a visit to the office, archive, and private collection of a prominent 20th-century Italian winemaker, with the opportunity to view his historic wine cellar through a glass window.
