The Parish Church of St Bartholomew the Apostle in Almenno San Bartolomeo is the village’s main religious building and serves as an important historical, artistic and spiritual landmark for the entire community.

Its origins date back to the 15th century, in a context deeply shaped by the history of the Lemine region, a vast medieval area situated between the rivers Brembo and Adda. Following the destruction of Lemine Inferiore in 1443 and under Venetian rule, the area underwent a period of development that led to the emergence of a new settlement and, in 1520, to the establishment of the parish by papal bull of Pope Leo X.

The original building was extended during the sixteenth century to accommodate population growth, but by the end of the eighteenth century it had been completely rebuilt to a design by Girolamo Salvatore Luchini. The work was completed in 1820, whilst the consecration took place in 1861, performed by Bishop Pietro Luigi Speranza. Further alterations, up until the early twentieth century, completed the church’s current appearance.

The elegant and harmonious façade is punctuated by pilasters with Ionic capitals and divided into two orders. At the centre is a grand Baroque portal in Sarnico stone, surmounted by a tympanum, whilst at the top a large window illuminates the interior. The façade is completed by a triangular tympanum which lends the building a sense of height and solemnity.

The interior features a single nave divided into four bays, enriched by side altars and chapels. Of particular note is the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, covered by a dome with a lantern and decorated with 19th-century frescoes. The raised chancel, preceded by a triumphal arch, leads to the apse-backed choir where important paintings are preserved.

The church’s artistic heritage is of great value: among the most significant works are a ‘Madonna Enthroned’ by Bartolomeo Vivarini, a canvas by Giovan Battista Moroni, and paintings by artists such as Francesco Coghetti and Giovanni Carnovali. The vault is decorated with frescoes by Antonio Morali, whilst the dome features the ‘Glory of Saint Bartholomew’ by Vincenzo Angelo Orelli.

The organ, built in 1818 by the Serassi family, is also of considerable interest, bearing witness to the musical tradition of Lombardy.

Rich in history and works of art, the Church of San Bartolomeo tells the story of centuries of faith, culture and change, and remains to this day the religious and cultural heart of Almenno San Bartolomeo.