The place name "PAR", of Celtic origin, first was translated into Latin and then became "PARRE" throughout the centuries.

According to some thinkers, the name means "high place", according to others "great field".

After the accidental findings in 1883 and the excavations made from 1983 to 1994, the village was considered "an emblematic site of the alpine world" and it is supposed to be PARRA the "oppidum Orobiorum", reminded by Plinio in his "Naturalis Historia", with reference to a Catone's passage.

As a matter of fact, on the river terrace over Ponte Nossa there was a human settlement, since from the end of the Bronze Age, to the late latin age.

The "Villa de Parre", that's to say a rural built-up area, is mentioned in a document of the 928 too.

In the past Parre was a land of farm-workers and shepherds, who constantly moved from Oltrepò Pavese and Piemonte to Valtellina and Val Gandino.

The village has kept intact its characteristic division into two separated centres: Lower Parre ("Par Sota") and Upper Parre (Par Sura).

Then the village widened till the zones "Algher", "Costa Erta", "Campella", "Valzella", that once were designed for agriculture. There are still traces of this tradition in old houses with strong walls of stone, nice loggias, small windows, columns and archs, as Cominelli's house in Parre Sotto (from which Barons Belleboni came, who became Princes Von Paar in Austria), or the houses near S. Cristoforo's Arch and in Via Tiraboschi.

The most relevant artistic treasures can be found in the Parish Church (S. Pietro) and S. Rocco little church.

The Oratories of SS.Trinità on mount "Cusen" (XVI - XVIII century) and of S. Antonio on Monte Alino are enchanting as well, thanks to their environment and their overview.

Useful Info about the Town Council

Public library

Via Roma, 12 - 24020 PARRE (BG) Tel. +39 035/702600
biblioteca@comune.parre.bg.it

Recommended to see

The Parish Church	SS. Trinità Sanctuary

Accomodation

Doctors and medicine shops

• Medecine shop: + 39 035/701184
• Surgery: Dr Seghezzi +39 338/5967403

Market