Coccaglio

The oldest part of the town arose on the site of a Roman castrum, where a castle was built in the Middle Ages to defend the border between Brescia and Bergamo. Today, the town is mainly located at the foot of Monte Orfano, from which you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the Convento dell’Annunciata. Beside this, Coccaglio has a traditional agricultural economy and has experienced significant industrial development in recent decades.

WHAT TO SEE

The ancient Roman castrum and the medieval castle – Of the Roman castrum (1st century BC) and the ancient medieval castle, only the base of the main tower and fragments of the city walls, including the drawbridge, have survived. These remnants can be admired while strolling through the alleys and medieval houses of the old town, all within the historic perimeter walls. Adjacent to the tower stands the 14th-century Church of San Giovanni Battista.
Parish Church of San Giovanni – The evocative Parish Church of San Giovanni Battista, located next to thetower, was built in the 11th century on the remains of an older chapel. It played a fundamental role in the organisation of Christianity in northern Italy, as the ad- ministrative center of the Roman village (pagus).
Piazzo Luca Marenzio – The square, overlooked by the Parish Church of Santa Maria Nascente (1700), is dedicated to Luca Marenzio, a madrigal composer originally from Coccaglio. In 1953, on the fourth centenary of his birth, a column was dedicated to him in the centre of the square, surmounted by a lyre with the inscription “The sweetest swan in Italy”
San Giovanni Battista Auditorium – San Giovanni Battista Auditorium is located in the historic centre, in Via Castello 14. It is a small space but with excellent acoustics, where performances, exhibitions, public meetings, and film screenings are organised.
Historic residences and mansions – Among the most remarkable stately homes in Coccaglio are the 18th-century Palazzo Chizzola, now Porro Schiaffinati; the 17th-century Villa Calini, formerly Duranti, reached via a staircase with an elegant balustrade; and the Art Nouveau Palazzo Almici Frugoni, which today houses the Municipal Library of Coccaglio. The ground-floor rooms are particularly noteworthy, adorned with glossy stucco — a traditional Venetian technique — created by the Rubagotti family, originally from the town

HIGHLIGHTS

Museum of Oriental Art – Mazzocchi Collection – The collection’s creator is the esteemed entrepreneur Pompeo Mazzocchi. Since he was a silkworm breeder, he had the opportunity to collect several precious artifacts and artistic works during his countless trips to the Land of the Rising Sun. Among these, “5 treasures” stand out: we leave it up to you to discover them. The museum is open to the public. Paid admission by reservation. For further information, it is recommended to contact the Mazzocchi Foundation directly.

WALKS AND EXCURSIONS

Geological Park “Alberto Speciale” – Recently created by the Gruppo Speleo Montorfano, this park is a unique example in the Province of Brescia: it displays 18 lithotypes of the most representative geological formations of the area. Thanks to information boards and QR codes placed on the rocks, you can travel through the geological history of Franciacorta. The park is open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. with free admission from Parco degli Alpini, Via delle Calcine 32. Guided tours with speleologists are available by reservation. The area is also accessible to people with disabilities; the parking space is located in front of the entrance.
Monte Orfano – It offers interesting hikes starting from the valley and connecting the town to Cologne and Rovato with panoramic routes, some of which are circular. More challenging trails can also be undertaken, such as the Sentiero via Piè di Monte and the Sentiero delle Croci, which leads to the summit and the Coccaglio cross. The effort will be rewarded by the immense view over the Po Valley and Lake Iseo.

INFO SHOPPING

The weekly market takes place every Wednesday from 07:30 to 12:30 in Piazza Europa. The farmers market is held on Thursdays from 08:00 to 12:30 in Piazza Luca Marenzio.

HOW TO GET THERE

By train – The town is easily reachable by train from Brescia or Bergamo on Trenord’s line. Info and timetables: Trenord
By bus – Coccaglio is served by the ARRIVA bus company with several lines from Brescia or Chiari and Palazzolo sull’Oglio and from Rovato or Iseo and Chiari, which also stop in town but only during the school term. Info and timetables: Arriva Italia

WINERY VISITS AND TASTINGS

Winemaking plays a crucial role in Coccaglio, so much so that the municipal coat of arms features three wine amphorae, or jugs, which originally recall the wine of Monte Orfano. The wineries can be visited by reservation: