Located in a unique landscape, in the small mountain village of Bàresi, this rural stone building dates back to the 17th century. It still houses a walnut press, a grain mill, and remnants of an old bread oven. For centuries, dozens of valley
communities relied on these facilities to produce essential goods: flour, bread, and oil for food and lighting.
A place steeped in ancient trades and traditions, the mill holds historical, ethnographic, and anthropological significance (the area bears traces of settlements dating back to the Bronze Age). Because of this, it has been protected by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage.
FAI (Italian Environmental Fund) launched a project to restore the building and its mechanisms, preserving the invaluable historical memory it contains. The management of the mill has since been entrusted to the local community.
The Mezzeno Huts are a small and charming location in upper Val Brembana, above the village of Roncobello. This enchanting mountain oasis is home to a local delicacy: formai de Mut. This cheese, with its unique flavor rooted in
traditional cheesemaking, is produced in mountain dairies by alpine herders who spend the summer in these pristine mountains with their animals.
Roncobello’s parish church, dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, stands majestically at the entrance to the village square.
It was built in the mid-18th century atop an older chapel and still retains a southern side portico with historical elements. Interestingly, the bell tower dates back to 1745 and was built before the current church.
The main altar is of notable value, adorned with an old tribune from 1704 made of carved, polychrome, and gilded wood. It features columns, statuettes, pilasters, and cherub heads. Among the most significant paintings are Madonna with Saints by Orazio Dionisi, Madonna with Child by Carlo Ceresa, and Madonna of the Rosary by Domenico Carpinoni.
To admire this small architectural gem, just stop at the church of Bordogna and walk a few steps to the right of the churchyard. According to historical sources, the chapel was built with donations from numerous faithful during a time
when the plague was affecting the area. They wished to honor Saint Roch, the protector against the plague. The chapel was built in 1526 by a certain Master Luca and was solemnly inaugurated on August 16, Saint Roch’s feast
day. Inside, three walls are decorated with frescoes. On the left is the Madonna and Child, flanked by Saint Lucy and Saint Roch. The central fresco depicts the Madonna and Child surrounded by Saints Sebastian, Roch, Anthony the Abbot, and Pantaleon. On the right wall, the Madonna and Child are shown being crowned by angels.
At about 1,200 meters above sea level lies the Porta delle Cornacchie, a striking rocky ridge made up of eleven massive reddish porphyry boulders, each between 2.5 and 3 meters high. These stones are aligned along the edge of a cliff, and it’s believed that two of them fell into the void, creating a sort of gateway in the original “wall.” It’s from this gap that the name “Porta delle Cornacchie” (Gate of the Crows) is thought to derive.
The boulders are arranged in an almost regular pattern and share a surprising feature: a clean cut separates them, as if they were intentionally split. Even more intriguing is that the entire formation rests on a sandstone base, a rock
completely different from the porphyry blocks, raising further questions about their origin. These oddities have led to several theories, including one that suggests this may not be a natural formation at all, but rather a man-made
structure. Back in 1963, some historians proposed that it might be a megalithic structure, possibly built by an ancient local civilization for defensive or ritual purposes.
In the locality of Forcella, there’s a hill known in local toponymy as “Il Castello” (The Castle). At its base stands the ancient church of Saint John the Baptist, next to which begins the mule track called “Le Scale,” leading to Fondra. Until
the mid-19th century, this was the only access to the Fondra Valley for those coming from the lower part of the valley.
Excavations have uncovered perimeter walls with a square layout and considerable size. On the southeast side, the remains of a massive tower have emerged, with one side about seven meters long, containing what was once an
entrance gate.
Documents suggest the castle was built in phases, starting in the 12th century with a simple and small structure, which gradually expanded by the 14th century into a more complex layout, as reflected in the recent findings. The structure is
attributed to the Fondra-Bordogna family, who once ruled over Valsecca and the Fondra Valley; many of the family’s coats of arms are still preserved in Bordogna and Fondra.
The Val Fondra waterfall is a breathtaking sight, with a drop of about 500 meters, making it the tallest in Italy. However, its dramatic water flow is only released at certain times of the year, depending on the needs of the Enel power plant in
Moio de’ Calvi, which controls public access.
This artificial waterfall makes an impressive plunge: it starts at 1,000 meters above sea level in Baresi, Roncobello, and drops to 600 meters, where it joins the Brembo River.
Thanks to its height, it’s a record-breaking natural feature that can be appreciated up close—so close, in fact, that the water flows right alongside the provincial road between Valnegra and Fondra. A truly unique opportunity to experience
the beauty of the Brembana Valley.