What to see in Almenno San Bartolomeo
For the tourist visiting the village of Almenno San Bartolomeo for the first time, he or she will be pleasantly surprised by how many admirable gems there are to see, starting with the small Church of San Tomè located in the vicinity of the village, in the midst of beautiful meadows.
Continuing the visit to the village of Almenno San Bartolomeo, it is possible to admire the 15th-century parish church dedicated to San Bartolomeo di Tremozia, the oldest in the village. It became a parish in 1520 through the papal bull of Leo X.
Not to be missed, in the center of the hamlet, is the 19th-century Villa Veronesi, originally founded as a farmstead and later transformed into a three-story country villa by the family of the same name, circumscribed by a splendid garden of about 3,000 square meters that unmistakably characterizes it. Other important buildings present are Villa Malliana, Villa Albanesi, Villa Quarenghi and Villa Rota.
There is no shortage of museums in Almenno San Bartolomeo, such as the interesting Carpenter's Museum, created in the late 1880s by a local entrepreneur who was involved in luxury furnishings for cruise ships and star hotels, who wanted to narrate woodworking from the 17th century to the 20th century through the reconstruction of workshops of carriage makers, chair makers, inlayers, coopers and luthiers. There are many original objects such as carriages, carts, sleighs, boats and so on.
Finally, we recommend a visit to the Parietti Furnace Museum, an important 19th-century factory, recovered through careful restoration, in which the Parietti family produced roofing tiles and bricks, using material extracted from nearby quarries.
Typical food and wine in Almenno San Bartolomeo
Today it is possible to say that the village is the main gateway to the food specialties of the Imagna Valley, an area characterized by delicacies such as cheeses and cured meats still produced according to ancient customs.
In more detail, the most special mention deserves stracchino, which in this territory is made following traditional procedures so much so that this cheese has become one of the prestigious Slow Food presidia.
Also appreciated are the milder goat cheeses made with goat's milk and, from the mountain pastures, the famous formaggelle made with only milk from cows of the Bruno Alpina species that live in the Valley. Other cheeses that can rightly be mentioned for their undisputed quality are taleggio, quartirolo, ricotta and yogurt obviously made with milk from the Valley's cows.
Sausage lovers cannot but appreciate the local products starting with cured meats continuing with the tasty cotechini prepared in the area and ending with hams and tasty loins.
Gourmets in search of local specialties can taste traditional dishes still present in Almenno San Bartolomeo such as casonsei or casoncelli bergamaschi, a kind of ravioli handcrafted with a filling that can be either lean or beef or pork and that are topped with amaretti, raisins and pears.
The village of Almenno is for all intents and purposes part of the production area of Valcalepio DOC, a dry red wine characterized by a significant aroma reminiscent of sour cherries and ideal as a perfect pairing with local cheeses and cured meats.
The "Valcalepio Wine and Flavors of Bergamo Road" was conceived to raise awareness of these local products. This is an interesting initiative that brings tourists to learn about gastronomic specialties with tastings and visits to local farms where there is the possibility to buy genuine products still made following the ancient dictates of tradition.
