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The Rotunda of San Tomè — Almenno San Bartolomeo
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Religious places 📍 Almenno San Bartolomeo, Italy 290 views

The Rotunda of San Tomè

The roundabout of San Tomè, or just San Tomè as it is more generally known, is located in the territory of the municipality of Almenno San Bartolomeo.In ancient times, near the roundabout of San Tomè in Almenno San Bartolomeo passed the route of the military road of Rezia. The or...

The Rotunda of San Tomè — Almenno San Bartolomeo, Italy.

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Almenno San Bartolomeo
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Religious places
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About The Rotunda of San Tomè

The Rotunda of San Tomè - Almenno San Bartolomeo | Secret World Trip Planner

The roundabout of San Tomè, or just San Tomè as it is more generally known, is located in the territory of the municipality of Almenno San Bartolomeo.In ancient times, near the roundabout of San Tomè in Almenno San Bartolomeo passed the route of the military road of Rezia. The origins of the church are not historically certain. It seems that in the V-VI century a religious aedicule was built, and later, in the IX century, the first church with a circular plan. It was abandoned in 975, when the feudal court of Almenno was donated by the counts of Lecco to the Bishop of Bergamo. In 1150 the Bishop decided to rebuild the church, and in 1180 the presbytery and the apse were completed. He also had a female monastery built, which was inhabited for two centuries before going into crisis and being suppressed in 1407. Its goods were forfeited by the bishop and then assigned to a sharecropper. In the 16th century the church was entrusted to the custody of hermits; in 1536, it was sold to the parish of Almenno S. Salvatore. For over four centuries it was 'disputed' between the two parishes of Almenno S. Salvatore and S. Bartolomeo. In 1906 it was definitively entrusted to Almenno S. Bartolomeo.it is located in a defiladed zone, in the middle of the fields, maybe because it rises on an ancient necropolis, near the Brembo river. Its shape should be traced back to the medieval use of copying the rotunda of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the place where it is thought Christ was buried. The church is built of rough stone and is divided into three parts - nave, lantern and tiburium. Inside, the little light coming from the tiny windows increases the sense of recollection. The capitals are remarkable, each one different from the other, with vegetable decorations and allegorical stories. Next to San Tomè there was a small monastery, later transformed into a farmhouse. A skilful restoration has allowed it to be recovered and it now houses a study centre - the Antenna Europea del Romanico (European Antenna of the Romanesque) - where conferences, exhibitions and events are held.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Rotunda of San Tomè is located in the municipality of Almenno San Bartolomeo in the Bergamo region of Italy. It sits in a secluded area among fields near the Brembo river, which adds to its peaceful and contemplative atmosphere for visitors.
San Tomè features a distinctive circular rotunda design that mimics the medieval tradition of copying the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The church is built of rough stone and divided into three parts—nave, lantern, and tiburium—with remarkable capitals featuring unique vegetable decorations and allegorical stories.
A female monastery was built at San Tomè in the 12th century following the church's reconstruction by the Bishop of Bergamo in 1150. The monastery was inhabited for about two centuries before going into decline and being officially suppressed in 1407, after which its goods were forfeited and assigned to a sharecropper.
San Tomè was abandoned in 975 when the feudal court of Almenno was donated to the Bishop of Bergamo, though it was rebuilt in 1150. The church was then disputed between the parishes of Almenno S. Salvatore and S. Bartolomeo for over four centuries until it was definitively assigned to Almenno S. Bartolomeo in 1906.
Inside San Tomè, visitors will find beautifully crafted capitals with unique vegetable decorations and allegorical stories on each one. The minimal light from tiny windows creates an intimate and contemplative atmosphere that enhances the sense of spiritual recollection, making it a truly meditative experience.

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