Bobbio Monastery’s Priory and Church: A Historical Overview

It is not known exactly when the Priory of San Colombano was established, nor the year in which the Bobbio monastery, founded in the early 600s by the Irish monk San Colombano, first came into possession of land assets in the Garda area. The earliest document mentioning the «curtis bobbiese» of Garda, which developed as a station for collecting revenues from the various holdings that the Bobbio monastery owned along the lake’s shores, dates back to the year 862 and is a diploma issued by Louis II.

Over the centuries, the small church, linked to the events of the priory, was used by the monks. Later, it was incorporated into the possessions of the Camaldolese of Monte San Giorgio (October 29, 1732), and underwent a complete renovation.

History and function of the small church

San Colombano continued to serve as a place of worship until the early 19th century, when, following Napoleon’s decree on the suppression of monasteries, it was confiscated along with all the property of the Eremo. Nonetheless, the church remained open to the faithful, even though no services were held there.

Throughout the 19th century, it was purchased by the noble Morando, and then passed from owner to owner. In more recent times, after appropriate restorations, it reopened for worship during the «Rogazioni» festivals, before falling into the current period of neglect.