Between the valleys of the territory of Brescia stands Bienno, an ancient village rich in history and tradition. Every year, this town comes alive with a special festival, the Annual Market Exhibition. Let’s enter the heart of the Bienno Market Exhibition.
mostramercatobienno
We are among the valleys and peaks of the Valle Camonica: there, Bienno offers an immersive experience in the heart of the local culture between crafts, art and traditions.
The Mostra Mercato di Bienno is an event in which the village recovers its origins and is transformed into a large open-air shop and gallery. In addition, the ancient crafts from forging to sawmill, from mill to forge are revived as a testimony of the craftsmanship of products.
Where is Bienno located?
Bienno is an ancient village that has managed to cross the centuries keeping intact its medieval charm, with cobbled streets and perfectly preserved ancient houses.
It is located almost seventy kilometers from Brescia and is nestled in the Val Grigna, surrounded by unspoilt nature and the majesty of the Bergamo Pre-Alps.
Bienno, the medieval village
Its name “Bienno” comes from the Latin word “biennun” that indicated the channels through which the ancient populations made the waters of the Grigna pass up to the large water hammers able to make mills and sawmills live and to produce energy for the various forges. It is no coincidence that the village has passed to the attention of the chronicle as one of the most important centers of wrought iron processing.
Born on a Roman urban settlement, it was in the Middle Ages that its stone architecture and medieval alleys reached their maximum expression. Just walk through the streets of the village to find yourself immersed in buildings dating back to the medieval period (along with stone alleys and hidden courtyards) and the traces of some of the oldest forges in the territory.
Among the evidence of a past still “alive” not to be missed if you visit Bienno there are the Historical Mill, Palazzo Francesconi Rabajoli, Palazzo Simoni Fè, Fucina Museum – Museo Etnografico Del Ferro, Avanzini tower and Morandini tower.
The journey to discover Bienno can not miss the visit to the church of Santa Maria Annunciata with exposed stone pillars and a rose window in Gothic style of the facade stands between the palaces and narrow streets of the historic center.
The tradition of the village also transpires from the artistic tests made of various metals and scattered along the historic center: the works of art speak of the history of the country and catch the eye of tourists.
The Bienno Annual Market Exhibition
The event Mostra Mercato di Bienno has its roots in past centuries and is one of the most anticipated events of the year.
The Exhibition Market takes you back in time, when fairs and markets were the main places of encounter and exchange between local communities.
The event transforms the village into a workshop and an open-air gallery, celebrating the local crafts and cultural traditions that are handed down from generation to generation.
Mostra Mercato Bienno
The event Mostra Mercato di Bienno has its roots in past centuries and is one of the most anticipated events of the year.
The Exhibition Market takes you back in time, when fairs and markets were the main places of encounter and exchange between local communities.
The event transforms the village into a workshop and an open-air gallery, celebrating the local crafts and cultural traditions that are handed down from generation to generation.
During the event, the cobbled streets of the medieval village come alive with the creations of artisans, from the works of art of painters and sculptors to the original jewelry passing through the trials of ancient crafts. All strictly handmade with passion.
The Bienno Market Exhibition is an opportunity to celebrate the local culture through jugglers and dance performances and musical performances.
How long is the Bienno Market Exhibition? The event is among the most anticipated of the year and lasts a week, this year will be from 19 to 27 August.
Gastronomy at the Bienno Market Exhibition
The Bienno Market Exhibition leaves ample space for the typical products of the territory, transporting visitors among the culinary delights of the province.
The food stands offer a variety of local delicacies, from artisan cheeses to tasty sausages, to traditional desserts that delight the palate of those who flock to the exhibition of Art and Arts of national and international mold.
Visitors can taste the authentic flavors of Brescia cuisine and discover the link between food and the culture of the region.
Among the most beloved dishes of Brescia cuisine there are casoncelli, a delicious stuffed pasta prepared by hand characterized by a unique flavor and an inviting presentation.
Polenta taragna is another culinary masterpiece not to be missed because of its rustic and enveloping taste due to the use of buckwheat flour and corn flour, enriched with local cheeses such as taleggio and bitto.
For meat lovers, there is the Brescian skewer prepared with pieces of meat skewered on a skewer and cooked slowly. It is a riot of irresistible flavors thanks to the aromas and spices used in marinating.
The sweetness of the village is expressed through spongada, a kind of sweet focaccia prepared with eggs, flour, butter, milk, sugar and yeast.
How to get to Bienno
To reach the village by car just take the A4 motorway with exit Bergamo and/ or Seriate, take the SS 42 towards Lovere – Passo del Tonale from Milan or Bergamo; take the A4 motorway with exit Brescia center and/ or Brescia west, continue along the SS 510 Sebina Orientale towards Lake Iseo – Passo del Tonale if you arrive from Verona or Brescia; take the SS 38 to Teglio and take the SS 39 Passo dell’Aprica if you arrive from Sondrio or Valtellina; take the SS 42 Passo del Tonale from Trento. Follow the signs to reach the Bienno Exhibition Market.
Mostra Mercato Bienno
Not just cars. You can get to Bienno by train taking the line Brescia – Iseo-Edolo direction Edolo and get off at the station of Cogno or Breno or by bus from Brescia, Milan and Bergamo.
Copertina: mostramercatobienno
