The statue of Santi Colombano is located on top of the Penice mountain pass, in a great position surrounded by relaxing and enjoyable paths, loved by many bikers.
The tours of the area
The most famous one is the Tre passi Tour, between the regions Liguria, Lombardia (Val Staffora) and Emilia Romagna (Val Trebbia).
The three passes, Brallo, Penice and Giovà give the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful tour, which can be done in a day, surrounded by silent lovely views and many little villages, where you can find traditional stores and typical food.
The location of the statue of Saint Colombano on the Penice pass
The Penice pass is located at 1.149 meters above the sea level. It’s standing in a big rectangular square with a restaurant-bar to the entrance of the space and to the bottom there is the big statue of the Irish monk, Saint Colombano.
The statue of the Saint is on top of a structure which is similar to a globe, on the bottom a plaque with the name of the Saint, it was unveiled on the 23rd Novemeber 2002, same date of the celebration of Saint Colombano in Bobbio.
This celebration remembers all the activities made by Colombano, all the churches and monasteries founded by him all over Europe. Pope Benedetto XVI titled him “an European saint”. Saint Colombano is therefore the Saint patron of Europe. He’s also Bobbio city and motor bikers patron.
Why is he the motor bikers Patron?
Colombano was named motor bikers patron on the 23rd November 2002, because the monk used to travel constantly with the aim of meeting new people and evangelize them. Obviously not by Motorcycle! But he had a strong willing attitude, regardless of bad weather or lonely journey.
To remember this, the Federazione Motociclistica Italiana and the Amici di San Colombano decided to place the statue in this exact place.
Text
PERCHE’ IL VIANDANTE RICORDI CHE 1384 ANNI FA
VISSE E MORI’ IN QUESTE TERRE A LUI DONATE DALLA
LONGOBARDA E CRISTIANA TEODOLINDA REGINA
SAN COLOMBANO D’IRLANDA
CRISTIANO APOSTOLO D’EUROPA – MONTE PENICE 1998
