CONTI MORONI

The Moroni Family

The first historical references to the Moroni family date back to the 13th century when, originating from the Val Seriana, they settled in Bergamo. They built a palace in Corsarola, in the San Pancrazio district, where their family crest can still be seen above a portal. At the beginning of the 1600s, by now in a strong economic position, Francesco Moroni purchased land in Porta Penta, now Via Porta Dipinta. He began the construction of Palazzo Moroni, where he invited the painter from Cremona, Gian Giacomo Barbelli, to fresco the staircase. Allegories and cartouches were incorporated into the frescoes, with family mottos still visible today, highlighting the family's growing importance. The palace is now considered the most important Baroque palace in Bergamo and has recently been entrusted to the FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano), which transformed it into a cultural tourism destination, displaying the numerous rooms enriched with treasures collected by the family over the centuries.

In parallel, in the 1600s, Francesco began expanding the family house in Stezzano, which had originally been built by the Moroni. This house, no longer adequate for the family's growing importance and the size of their agricultural estate, was enlarged. At the time, the countryside was covered with mulberry trees, and the breeding of silkworms supported the palaces that were direct extensions of the agricultural land, growing and being beautified as the land expanded. Later, in the early 1800s, the building was modernized in the Empire style by architect Giacomo Bianconi at the request of Pietro Moroni, the Podestà of Bergamo. The Villa in Stezzano remains property of the Moroni family, and its 40,000 square meters of parkland have become an important venue for private and corporate events.

Over the centuries, members of the Moroni family have played significant roles in the history of Bergamo and Lombardy, founding important cultural and social institutions in the city and surrounding region. They have stood out in various fields, including politics, art, literature, and business.

The Moroni family also owned several agricultural estates in the Bergamo and Milanese regions. Among the family's economic activities, wine production has always played a central role and is now concentrated in the historic Valmarina estate, located in the Municipality of Bergamo and surrounding a medieval monastery dating back to the Middle Ages. Valmarina represents both a historical legacy and a continuous commitment to restoring vineyards of millennia-old tradition. These vineyards open directly onto the city of Bergamo, offering a unique balance between nature and urban life while ensuring ecological sustainability.