Santa Grata inter vites, Baroque church in Bergamo, Italy.
Santa Grata inter vites is a baroque church in Bergamo featuring a large central dome decorated with frescoes by Francesco Polazzo. The interior combines classical baroque architecture with elaborate wall paintings that blend different artistic periods and styles.
The original building dates to the 8th century but was destroyed in 1529 during mercenary attacks and later rebuilt in the 18th century by architect Achille Alessandri. The reconstruction as a baroque church marked a revival of worship at this location.
The interior walls display skeleton scenes in fresco cycles by Paolo Bonomini, showing skeletons dressed in the clothing of different local professions. This unusual artwork reflects the daily life and social classes of the city in a humorous way.
The church is located at Via Borgo Canale 38, directly across from the San Gottardo Stairway and outside the Sant'Alessandro gate. The location is easy to reach on foot and sits on a recognizable street with clear landmarks nearby.
The name 'inter vites' comes from vineyards that surrounded the church until the 18th century, showing its placement in an agricultural landscape. This historical connection to farming is reflected today in the frescoes that depict the lives of different social groups.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.