Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII, Religious birthplace town in Province of Bergamo, Italy
Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII is a small commune nestled in the Province of Bergamo in northern Italy's Lombardy region. The settlement spreads across gently rolling countryside typical of this part of the peninsula, with a rural character that has shaped its development.
The village was known simply as Sotto il Monte until 1935, when it adopted a new name to honor Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, born here in 1881. Roncalli's path to the papacy and his reformist tenure shaped the town's identity and its importance for pilgrims worldwide.
The town keeps alive the memory of its most famous native through reminders and symbols visible throughout daily life. Residents and visitors engage with this heritage during local religious celebrations and community gatherings.
The town sits close enough to Bergamo for straightforward access via road and bus services, making it easy to reach for day trips or longer stays. Walking around allows you to take in the quiet surroundings and local sites at your own pace without rushing.
The town maintains a formal link with Marktl in Bavaria, the birthplace of Pope Benedict XVI, creating a rare connection between two small European villages born from papal history. This partnership highlights how two rural communities remain linked through their shared distinction in global religious geography.
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