Bienno: the village of industrial tradition

In Val Grigna, part of Val Camonica, lies a medieval village where you can truly take a step back in time: Bienno. Let’s discover this small town in the province of Brescia, Lombardy!

Bienno: a time window onto the Middle Ages

Located about 70 km from Brescia, Bienno was included among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy in 2008 and also received the Orange Flag recognition from the Touring Club. It is no surprise that this village is often described as an open-air museum: it boasts a long history.

Already in the Bronze Age, the first settlements appeared here, and later the valley was inhabited by the Camuni, from whom it takes its name. A testimony of this is the Preda dell’Altare, a boulder on top of Colle del Cerreto, engraved with rock carvings dating back thousands of years.

Later, Bienno, like the rest of the valley, experienced significant development in Roman times, thanks to the abundant iron resources in the surrounding mountains.

With the arrival of the Benedictines in the 10th century, mills were introduced, and Bienno transformed into the medieval village we see today. The mills used the waters of the nearby Grigna stream to power waterwheels and hammers for forging iron. An artificial canal, the “Vaso Re”, was built, making ironworking the dominant activity in Bienno. Even today, walking along the canal route, visitors can experience the industrial history of the village.

Places of interest in Bienno

Crafts and Antiques Market: Held during the last week of August, artisans from all over Europe present their works in the historic center. For the occasion, the historic mill of Bienno and the Forge Museum are put back into operation.

The Mill of Bienno: Today a museum, it allows visitors to discover how the mill worked. Outside, you can see the water setting the wheel in motion, activating the drive shaft and the wooden pulley. Inside, the upper and lower millstones grind the grain. There is also a small shop selling local flour and other products.

The Forge Museum: Once home to two forges owned by the Morandini “Stefani” family, it now showcases the history of ironworking. Visitors can see tools, finished products, and exhibits on metal and wood processing.

Church of Santa Maria Annunziata: Located in the central square, it preserves works from the 15th and 16th centuries by artists such as Giovanni Pietro da Cemmo and Girolamo di Romano. The single nave is decorated with frescoes of saints, while the main altarpiece depicts the Annunciation, painted by the Fiamminghino in 1632.

The “Village of the Seven Towers”: Bienno was once defended by seven square towers and a city wall. Four remain today: Torre Avanzini, Torre Rizzieri, Torre Mendeni, and Torre Bontempi.

Parish Church of Saints Faustino and Giovita: Located in the upper part of the town, it features marble statues of the two saints in the exterior niches. Inside, the single nave is richly decorated, with ceiling panels painted by the Fiamminghino and an altarpiece by Giovan Battista Pittoni depicting the saints’ martyrdom.

How to reach Bienno

• By car: Take the SS42 towards Lake Iseo/Brescia if coming from Alta Val Camonica, or towards Edolo/Passo del Tonale if coming from the lake or the city.
• By train: The nearest station is in Esine (4.5 km from Bienno), served by the Brescia–Iseo–Edolo line.

For more information, visit the official website of Bienno.

Photo credit: Bienno.info