The best MTB trails around Gazzaniga

📜 Origins: the chapel of San Defendente (late 15th – early 16th century) The church was built between the late 15th and early 16th centuries as a small chapel dedicated to San Defendente, also called the Oratory of S. Deffendo. It was tiny: 3 × 3 meters, with a cross vault. This ancient chapel is still visible today in the first half of the current sacristy. 🎨 The frescoes of 1520 The internal frescoes, still present, were created around 1520 by the painters Marinoni from Desenzano al Serio. They depict: - Christ Pantocrator - The four Doctors of the Church (Augustine, Ambrose, Gregory the Great, Jerome) - A Deposition from the Cross with the Madonna, San Defendente, Saint Anthony Abbot, and Saint Roch. It was precisely this scene of the Cross that gave the oratory the name “Santa Croce” over the centuries.

The church is dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta and is classified as a subsidiary church of the Diocese of Bergamo. The building has a two-tiered facade, marked by pilasters and niches painted with figures of saints (Maria SS., St. Joseph, St. Roch, St. Paul, St. Peter, St. Anthony Abbot). The interior has a single nave, with three bays and side chapels dedicated to the Madonna del Rosario and the Crucifix.

The church is dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta and is classified as a subsidiary church of the Diocese of Bergamo. The building has a two-tier facade

Ganda is a hamlet in the municipality of Aviatico, in the province of Bergamo, located at about 1060 m altitude on a small plateau between Monte Ganda and Monte Rena, below Monte Poieto. The position is extremely panoramic: it overlooks the middle Seriana Valley, the Gandino Valley and, on clear days, even the plain. The SP41 road reaches it, which climbs from Gazzaniga, passes through Orezzo and crests at Col de la Muruna, before arriving at Amora and then at Aviatico. 🧭 Territory and environment The territory of Ganda includes: the Rovaro valley, a narrow gorge between Monte Ganda and Monte Rena; numerous seasonal streams that activate after heavy rains; ancient mule tracks that connected Ganda to Orezzo, Amora, Petello, Merà and the upper localities of Albino. 🕰️ Essential History The documented history is sparse, but the sources agree on some key points: Ancient Origins After the fall of the Roman Empire, groups of people took refuge at high altitudes to escape incursions and looting in the valley floors. Ganda was born this way: as a settlement of escape and survival. Etymology According to the historian Zambetti, the name would derive from the Celtic "gant", "pile of fallen rocks", linked to an ancient landslide of Cornagera that would have covered the area. Middle Ages and Tribulina Around the year 1000, some inhabitants of Aviatico took refuge here due to the "terror of the year 1000". On the highest point (1071 m) they built a small shrine used for prayer and burials. 1378: the best-known episode Barnabò Visconti, at war with the lords of Comenduno, sent troops to destroy the fortified village. Some inhabitants fled towards the Ganda small shrine, which became a refuge and the nucleus of the village.

The Passo di Ganda is a pass in the Orobie Prealps located above Gazzaniga, between the hamlets of Orezzo and Aviatico, at an altitude of about 1060 m. It is known above all for the cycling climb, also made famous by the Giro di Lombardia.

Beautiful climb with very little traffic

On nice days you can also see citylive and Monviso

Beautiful frame dedicated to Felicie Gimondi and view of the Bergamo plain with the Milan plain in the background