Attractions and Places To See around Broni - Top 20

The patronage of this shrine, dedicated to the Madonna, refers to the town of Loreto. This is one of the great and important Marian pilgrimage sites in Europe, along with Lourdes in the French Pyrenees and Fatima in Portugal. Unlike the other two places mentioned, however, Loreto is not known for apparitions of the Mother of God. Here, pilgrims can find something very tangible: Mary's childhood home in Nazareth (Israel). Her parents—not mentioned by name in the biblical writings of the New Testament—are mentioned in apocryphal traditions: Saint Anne and Saint Joachim are thus the grandparents of Jesus Christ (their common feast day in the calendar of saints is July 26). Crusaders likely dismantled the venerated building in Nazareth and brought it to Europe when the era of the Christian kingdoms in the Holy Land came to an end towards the end of the 13th century. But this very sober assumption is countered by a much more interesting legend: According to this, four angels carried out the translation and flew the house over the Mediterranean.

Unfortunately, this church of St. James on the Via Francigena was closed.

The Chiesuolo della Madonna di Loreto was built in three successive phases: The rural aedicule from the 15th century with an image of the Virgin of Loreto. The ancient oratory in brick from the 17th century, also dedicated to the Madonna di Loreto. The current church, dating from 1781. Architecture: The church has a single nave with a protiro (covered entrance) and is built of exposed brickwork. Inside there are frescoes and an altarpiece with the Madonna di Loreto. Significance: The Chiesuolo is also called ‘Il Chiesuolo’ and is dedicated to the Madonna of Loreto. It is an important historical testimony and a place of devotion. https://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/architetture/schede/PV240-01108/

The Via Francigena passes through the municipality of Linarolo, which belonged to the Order of the Knights Templar. The passage of pilgrims is confirmed by the existence, in the past, of a hospital for the Romans, mentioned by the Duke of Milan Gian Galeazzo Visconti in his Itinerary for pilgrims on the way to Rome, dated 1400. The woods and the proximity of the river were the ideal setting for nature walks and the re-enactment of an evocative history. The city is located in an area that was very popular in the Middle Ages, where the Strada Regina passed, via San Leonardo and Ospedaletto. The road connected Piacenza with Pavia along the Po and was the continuation of the Via Emilia (Rimini-Piacenza).

Montalto Pavese stands in a dominant position on the first hills above Casteggio, the beautiful castle (one of the best preserved in the region) with its Italian garden and its wine production.

In the countryside between Belgioioso and the river Po, near the hamlet of San Giacomo della Cerreta stands the small church of San Giacomo, a destination for pilgrims because it is located on the ancient route of the Via Francigena, to which its name refers to another of the destinations of medieval pilgrims: Santiago de Compostella in Spain. In the past, near San Giacomo della Cerreta, there was the small settlement of Porcaria, whose name refers to the breeding of pigs, documented from the twelfth century and disappeared in the fourteenth century. The church is of Lombard art from the first half of the fifteenth century, it has a single room, entirely painted with votive paintings related to pilgrimages. In addition to the Madonna, Saint Roch and Saint James are repeatedly depicted, both in the guise of pilgrims, carrying a stick and a saddlebag. In the images of St. James, the characteristic shell that pilgrims collected at Cape Finisterre, on the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean, has been added as a sign and reminder of the journey made.

The Via Francigena runs through the municipality of Linarolo, which belonged to the Order of the Knights Templar. The passage of pilgrims is confirmed by the existence, in the past, of a hospital for the Romans, mentioned by the Duke of Milan Gian Galeazzo Visconti in his Itinerary for pilgrims on their way to Rome, dated 1400. The forests and the proximity of the river provided the ideal setting for nature walks and reenacting an evocative history. The town is located in an area that was very popular in the Middle Ages, where the Strada Regina passed, via San Leonardo and Ospedaletto. The road connected Piacenza with Pavia along the Po and was the continuation of the Via Emilia (Rimini-Piacenza). Wikipedia

Village above Casteggio with two excellent restaurants and panoramic square