Well worth a visit this September is the picturesque hamlet of Bedolina – home to the church of the Madonna del Buon Consiglio.

The tiny village stretching on the right of Val Bodengo takes its name from the surrounding birch forest (bedógn in local dialect). The adjacent land is fallow – typical of the area – and the place represents – quite simply – a stage on the way up to the higher alpine pastures.The church dates back to its consecration in 1762. Although close to Bodengo itself, it was built in order to provide the small local community with a space in which to meet and pray together. An attractively designed forecourt welcomes all.
The church itself is very simple: a single nave, a small bell tower that dominates the façade and a fresco dating back to the 1940’s above the entrance. If you’re lucky enough to find the door open – on some weekends in autumn Mass is still celebrated – you can appreciate paintings and ornaments donated by emigrants from nearby Gordona who settled in Naples at the end of the 18th c. Many made their fortune in wholesale wine sales. Other paintings were donated by locals.
The place is enchanting: classic autumn hues range through the forest. To visit – obtain a pass from one of the bars in Gordona and head off in the car into Val Bodengo, past the Donadiv restaurant, where a little farther on there’s car parking close to the little village. Enthusiasts of local history might well appreciate a small book recently published to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the church.