On the land along the border of the ancient Valeriana road, which since Roman times, took you to the alpine passes; the wood is the main ingredient that dynasties of sculptors used to build monumental scenes around altars

The high Oglio River was reached from the Roman era by way of the Valeriana road, which from Brescia climbed through the Trompia Valley, passed through the Camonica Valley, and then branched off and up to Vezza d’Oglio towards Valtellina.
From PONTE DI LEGNO today, there passes ss 42, which takes you to Tonale Pass (through which travelled the Emperor Frederick Redbeard on his descents to Italy), and ss 300, which takes you to Gavia Pass. These border people were described by a Venetian from the 1600’s as "shrewd, ready, resolute, ferocious and brave and skilled with arms, and able to deal with any danger".
The parish of Ponte di Legno, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was built in 1685 in baroque style with a 16th century bell tower next to it. The main altar is made up of a monumental and compact ensemble, with imposing statues: it is the best synthesis of all the wood sculptures in the valley. It is attributed to the wood carving shop of Domenico and Giovan Battista Ramus; the frontal, however, is attributed to Zotti.
On the way to Gavia, there are three churches of some interest, all of the artwork being of woodcraft. The church of St. John the Baptist in ZOANNO is noteworthy for its 1700’s style bell tower made of visible rocks and frescoed by Corbellini. The Chapel of the Dead is next to it. Further on is the 1600’s parish of the Saints Fabiano and Sebastiano in PRECASAGLIO. Five statues from the Andrea Fantoni (1716) workshop are striking on the baroque tribune of the main altar. The tribune is attributed to Giovan Battista and Pietro Ramus.
Below the town of PEZZO, the small church of St. Apollonia is impressive for its form and location (for information contact the neighbour hotel in the opening season). The typically alpine architecture goes back to a bit after the year 1000, but was later estimated even to be from the XII century. In the apse, there are frescoes from the 16th century.
In TEMU’, the parish of St. Bartolomeo (XVII cent., restructured XIX cent.) contains a woodwork collection. The main altar has a frontal, tabernacle and monumental frame from the workshop of Giovan Battista Zotti; while the frontals of the two side altars are attributed to Piccini: on the left, on the altar of St. Antonio, is the Miracle of the Ostia (sacrificial victim), on the right, the Nativity.
The small church of St. Alexander is between the hamlets LECANU’ and Vione, along a flat, scenic path for a pleasant walk. It has preserved a 13th century bell tower with double lancet windows and small windows.
The inhabitants of VIONE were jokingly called "doctors" by the other valley families. In 1460, a priest actually established the first school, which lasted until 1705. The ancient origin of the site was made evident by the discovery of the Longobard necropolis. Charlemagne had the Castle of Polagra destroyed, which was said to have six towers, because it was considered a pagan hideout.
The parish of St. Remigio preserves half of the Romanesque apses (XII-XIII cent.) made of alternating white ashlar and grey stone. The building was erected at the end of the 16th century, the interior is striking for its elegant late Gothic style. Some paintings from the 1500-1600’s are preserved here from the Lombard and Venetian schools, some of quality workmanship. The fresco of the abbot St. Anthony (XVI cent.) is on the left wall. The main altar piece (XVII cent.) is a work by Giuseppe Bulgarini. The tabernacle and the deposit storages for relics are by Domenico Ramus. The frontal artist is unknown.
Wood carving works rom the Ramus workshop can also be seen in STADOLINA in the church of St. Giacomo, with a monumental frame by Giovan Battista Ramus (1645), and in CANE in the parish of St. Gregorio Magno.
The powerful and branched out Federici family from the Camonica Valley was always ready to take the opportunity to extend their power and the autonomy of Brescia, lining up with the Ghibellines who supported Redbeard, and thereafter with the Viscontis who contended for the valley against Venice.
In VEZZA D’OGLIO, from the XV to the XVII century, there lived a "tranquillo" branch of this family. The Federici Palace is abandoned today, but on the road to the hill of the parish we note the beautiful portal built in 1563 by Pompeo Federici for the residence which once englobed both a small church and a medieval tower (XIV cent.), visible from a back courtyard: short and squatty, and made of regular granite ashlar, with three windows with Gothic arches.
On a precipice along the ancient Valeriana road, which we cover in a short walk, we see the church of St. Clemente. It is among the oldest in the valley (XII cent, restructured XVI cent), with a drystone bell tower with elegant double lancet windows and a pyramidal cusp. On the edges of the big rocks, there are traces of an old people’s home for pilgrims.

SCULPTED WOOD FROM THE HIGH VALLEY