Skip menu

Parish house – Sotto il Monte

Overview

In the footsteps of the Good Pope

"Always dear, my home in Sotto il Monte," wrote Pope John XXIII in a letter to the mayor of his hometown. In this comune in the province of Bergamo, now called Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII in honour of the pope who was born there in 1881, you can stroll through the streets of what has been described as a great open-air sanctuary, a town steeped in a sacred atmosphere at every turn. It is a vast museum, where you can retrace moments from the life of the Good Pope in every corner.

While visiting Sotto il Monte, we recommend stopping at the parish church, a true reference point for all worshippers who travel from all over Italy and the world. The 20th-century church, consecrated by Roncalli, then bishop, in 1929, is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. Next to the main building stands the bell tower, built from an ancient tower dating to the Middle Ages and used for defensive purposes to spot approaching enemies.

You can descend into the crypt to admire the crucifix that the Pope kept in his bedroom and the casts of his face and hand made immediately after his death by Bergamo-born sculptor Giacomo Manzù. 

Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII, 6, 24040 Casirate D'adda BG, Italia

Related articles

UNESCO
The industrial village Crespi d'Adda

The industrial village Crespi d'Adda

Relax and wellness
Wellness in Lombardy: 7 destinations for total detoxification

Wellness in Lombardy: 7 destinations for total detoxification

Mountain
7 unmissable places in the Bergamo Alps

The 7 unmissable locations in the Bergamo Orobie Alps

Nature
discovering the alps of Bergamo

8 things to do to experience the beauty of the Bergamo Alps

Tours and experiences
Sebino Express Historic Train

Sebino Express Historic Train

UNESCO
Valcamonica: history spanning over 8,000 years

Valcamonica: history spanning over 8,000 years

Food and wine
authentic flavors brembana valley

The authentic flavours of Bergamo cuisine in Val Brembana

Cultural cities
Bergamo

Bergamo, medieval heart, contemporary soul

Cultural cities
View of the city of Bergamo

Bergamo and Brescia Capital of Culture 2023: 13 experiences not to be missed if you are in the city for work

Cycling tourism
Cycling in Lombardy: 10 family itineraries

Cycling in Lombardy: 10 family itineraries

UNESCO
Santa Maria delle Grazie and Leonardo's Last Supper, for a touch of the true Renaissance

Santa Maria delle Grazie and Leonardo's Last Supper, for a touch of the true Renaissance

Leisure
Le Cornelle wildlife park: the animal kingdom in 12 hectares

Le Cornelle wildlife park: the animal kingdom in 12 hectares

Cycling tourism
Cyclist on a mountain path in Italy

By bike near Bergamo: 7 routes suitable for everyone

Cycling tourism
sunsets lombardy bicycle

Burning sunsets, castles and rock-cut gorges. A painting? No, Lombardy to be toured by bicycle

Food and wine
Gastronomy in Lombardy: a multitude of souls for a riot of flavours

Gastronomy in Lombardy: a multitude of souls for a riot of flavours

Cycling tourism
Bike and bubbles: discovering the nature of Lombardy

Bike and bubbles: discovering the nature of Lombardy

Leisure
Lombardy, the Valtelline: Fly Emotion’s panoramic Aerofune

Lombardy, the Valtelline: Fly Emotion’s panoramic Aerofune

Historical sites
Olympic Theatre, Sabbioneta

Sabbioneta, a Renaissance masterpiece, and the dream of an enlightened prince

UNESCO
Rhaetian Railway, the engineering masterpiece crossing part of the Alps

Rhaetian Railway, the engineering masterpiece crossing part of the Alps

Sport
the 5 best snowshoeing in lombardy

The 5 best snowshoe hikes in Lombardy

Ops! An error occurred while sharing your content. Please accept profiling cookies to share the page.