Clusone

Clusone stands in a dominant position on a large, sunny high plain at an ideal altitude of 648 metres, surrounded by the Orobic pre-alps and the Selva pine forest. It is a true town of art and artists that embodies numerous testimonies to its history and its notable artistic patrimony. Visitors who walk through the town’s attractive centre, which is built on four successive levels, will be faced with continual surprises: its most important and best known monuments and buildings, such as the municipal building with its celebrated Fanzago planetary clock, the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta complex which houses the internationally famous Danza Macabra frescoes. Then there are small buildings with 4th century frescoes, stone portals, porticos, walls with 15th century decorations, cloisters of monasteries, picturesque little squares, hallways, courtyards and fountains. On the outer and inner walls and in religious buildings one can admire numerous frescoes that have made Clusone known as the painted town.

Mentioning the renowned Fanzago planetary clock raises another element that characterises Clusone: time. From that point of view, a visit to the Marinoni Barca building is a must as it is the centre of the Museum of Art and Time, which is well known throughout Europe for its significant collection of tower clock mechanisms dating from the 14th to the 20th century; and visitors should not overlook the considerable collection of paintings and sculptures by Clusone artists who later became famous, such as Carpinoni, Cifrondi, Nazzari, Querena, Trussardi Volpi and others. Clusone also stands for uncontaminated alpine nature: in fact, taking the equipped paths visitors can immerse themselves in woods, pine forests and pastures taking excursions, horse riding or mountain biking.

There is a multiplicity of routes to take: from the town, one can walk up to S. Lucio at about 1,000 metres to enjoy an unequalled view of the entire upper Valle Seriana and the Dolomite-like Mount Presolana, which become even more impressive moving on to Pizzo Formico at 1,650 metres. Or one could select more demanding routes, taking advantage of the nearby Orobic path that crosses all the mountains of the same name, from Refuge Laghi Gimelli to Refuge Albani. In addition, Clusone is a well positioned starting point for the alpine ski runs of Mount Pora, the Passo della Presolana and Colere, all of them just a few minutes away as are various other ski stations. Then there is the Nordic ski ring at which world cup competitions have been held; and Lake d’Iseo is just as easy to reach at about 15 kilometres away.

On 10 July 2008, Clusone received the Bandiera Arancione (Orange Flag) awarded by the Touring Club Italiano.

 

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