Berbenno di Valtellina, Frazione Foppa, Italia
Buongiorno, today we will celebrate Mattia’s birthday with lunch at Mariagiulia and Alfio’s in Foppa which is a “frazione” of Berbenno. Berbenno is divided into five frazioni. Foppa, Regoledo, Polaggia, San Pietro, e Berbenno. Frazione is similar to neighborhood. It is also kind-of like Los Angeles, in that Foppa, Regoledo, Polaggia and San Pietro were all once villages in their own right. Each had its own church, monastery, or convent. Berbenno has the largest church and was probably the most senior or oldest.
We were lazy today. Didn’t go down to breakfast until 9:30. After breakfast we went to Mass at Chiesa parrocchiale della Beata Vergine Assunta. The church of Santa Maria Assunta is the parish church of Berbenno di Valtellina, in the province of Sondrio and diocese of Como; it is part of the vicariate of Berbenno di Valtellina.
The first church of Berbenno dedicated to the Madonna was devastated by Milanese troops at the beginning of the 12th century and rebuilt in a place protected by the castle of Roccascissa. One of the most notable figures linked to Berbenno is Benigno De’Medici, who became a saint and chose Maroggia, a fraction of Berbenno, as his residence. Among the historical remains, “Roccascissa” and a tower stand out, signaling the strategic importance of Berbenno in the past. The small ancient church of San Pietro and Paolo, on the valley floor below Berbenno, was erected at a crucial crossing point on the Adda river.
The church in Berbenno was completely rebuilt between 1595 and 1620 and consecrated on 1 July 1624. In 1722 the construction of the bell tower began, but it was interrupted in 1724 due to the death of the parish priest; the works were resumed only in 1745 and ended in 1764. In 1766 the parish was transferred from the ancient parish of San Pietro to this small church. The current parish church was built at the behest of the then parish priest Don Antonio Parravicini between 1780 and 1791, based on a design by Girolamo Galetti of San Fedele Intelvi. The choir was instead designed by another man, Giulio Noli of Castiglione. The consecration was imparted on 26 June 1831 by the bishop of Como Giambattista Castelnuovo. The bell tower was restored in 2009 and, in 2017, the church also underwent renovation work.
We went to the 10:30 mass. Yes, it was all in Italian but a Catholic Mass is a Catholic Mass. See the church all cleaned up was great. Last time I was in the church the smoke from all the candles made it a very dark place. Now it is much nicer.
After church we walked back to Le Corti Dei Sassi. We picked up our birthday cards from Mattia and headed up the hill to Mariagiulia and Alfio’s house for the festa. We arrive just after it had gone mezzogiorno. Alessandro, Mattia’s younger brother was there. Mattia, Alessandra, Giacomo and Filippo, of course. Mattia was BBQing in the backyard.
Alessandra’s parents, her father Patrizio and her mother Patrizia, and you through Harry & Mary was good, were there. Her brother, Matteo and his wife Yvonne, and their child, name unknown, about 14 months. Remo, Mattia grandfather was also there. So, with the three of us, there were 13.
Patrizia had made a dish from potatoes, green beans and cheese, maybe other things. It was mashed potatoes, or looked like it, but didn’t taste anything like mashed potatoes. Mattia had cooked several different meats, including meat from a deer that Alfio and Alessandro had gotten hunting. It was a great family event.
Four generations of Pinalli. Alessandro (33), Mattia (40), Remo (92), Giacomo (4) and Alfio (67).
After lunch we walked back to Le Conti and took the obligatory after lunch nap. We got up about 5 and went down to the breakfast room, sat in front of the fire and played cards with Damilia until 9. We finished two open games, and Mary won both. The first one she won by 15 points. The second one was almost as close.
Then it was bedtime.
Buonanotte e ciao, Enrico e Maria e Damilia.
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