Bienno, Italian comune
Bienno is a small commune in the province of Brescia in Lombardy, situated in a valley called Val Camonica. The town consists of stone houses with narrow streets and features the Church of Saints Faustino and Giovita from the early 1600s, an iron museum, a functioning water mill, and ruins of old towers and walls.
Bienno appeared in written records from the 9th century and originated as a settlement of blacksmiths and craftspeople. The town once had ten towers and five gates for defense, and housed a castle that later became a monastery run by Benedictine monks.
Bienno takes its name from "Biennum," meaning canal for the water mill, reflecting the town's craft heritage. Visitors can see today how traditional skills like ironworking remain alive through workshops and museums, and how local artisans display their work at the August market.
The town is compact and easy to explore on foot, with most sights located in the old center and connected by narrow streets. Visitors should park cars outside the historic center, as streets are too narrow for traffic, and enjoy the best views over the surrounding mountains and valleys when walking uphill.
A surprising attraction is the Bosco di Quercus, a forest with outdoor art installations by local artists using natural materials like wood and stone. Visitors can walk among creative works that blend into the landscape while experiencing nature in an unexpected way.
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