The ancient heart of this village situated on a plateau 365 metres above sea level dates back to the Middle Ages, as demonstrated by the two towers that dominate the town. It has a wealth of history, where faith has left profound imprints that can be seen still today.
The village of Berzo San Fermo is located on a plateau, and at its entrance you can see the parish church of Saints Fermo and Rustico. The old village centre comprises two ancient medieval towers and stands somewhat detached, uphill from the church. In the same way, there is also a marked separation with the Canton di Sopra district. In this part of the village, there are some interesting rustic buildings, a beautiful 17th-century mansion named “Palazzo Terzi” and the church of San Giovanni Battista.
A visit to Berzo San Fermo continues on the northern edge of the small plateau, location of the church of Saint Stephen, for which the earliest written records date back to the early 14th century, in a list of churches and their representatives attending the Bergamo synod in 1304.
Of particular interest inside the church is a fresco painted on the apse behind the altar, which can be dated to between the 17th and 18th centuries and depicts the protomartyr Stephen about to be stoned to death.
Another significant monument in Berzo San Fermo is the parish church, dedicated to Saints Fermo and Rustico. A chapel was built at the place where, according to tradition, the relics of the martyrs lay, and in 1314 the new church was built on the same site. Inside there are some valuable works by Gian Paolo Cavagna, Gianbettino Cignaroli, Francesco Lorenzi and Federico Ferrario. The fine sacristy is by the Fantoni school of sculptors and architects.
In the area covered by the village, which historically had an agricultural vocation, there are still several farms raising livestock and making typical local products. Today these activities are enjoying new life in the traditional appointment of the “Km0 Farmers’ Market”, held every fourth Sunday of the month at the sports centre.
Visiting
To visit the town, you can download the updated map, a hard copy of which can be requested at the town hall, which indicates all the paths that enable you to see the best of the area and the hills surrounding the Berzo plateau.
