Bergamo, places to visit?

The beautiful hilltop city

Those who arrive and see Bergamo for the first time can’t help but think that a good portion of its history is found in the beautiful hilltop city. And this is precisely the case: 2,500 years are concentrated up there, and many have passed since the traces of the first inhabitants, who date back to the fifth century BC, were discovered.

An exciting story to which new details are continuously added as new archaeological investigations reveal details of the old city. It is therefore no coincidence that Upper Bergamo offers the visitor the possibility of making an extraordinary excursion combining the beauty of the monuments and locations with the discovery of the past.

Ancient Bergamo: itinerary to discover the treasures of the city

We suggest starting with the funicular, which from Lower Bergamo (the station of departure is in Viale Vittorio Emanuele) takes you to the upper part of the city. A short journey that allows you to observe Bergamo’s development from a particular point of view: the modern city below, which has developed, above all, in recent decades, and the ancient one above, surrounded by the formidable walls that Venice built in the sixteenth century.

The Walls of Bergamo are a UNESCO World Heritage

From July 9, 2017 the Walls of Bergamo are a UNESCO World Heritage as Venetian Works of Defence, between 15^th and 17^th centuries.

On the Venetian walls, the access doors, invite you to discover the treasures of Upper City

Once arrived, upon exiting the station, the visitor is welcomed by a spectacular space that seems to be formed from a theatre set. This is the Mercato delle Scarpe (shoe market), a square that was once a major traffic junction: roads met coming from the east - from Venice (via Porta Dipinta) - and from the west - Milan (via San Giacomo). Due to the presence of these communication routes, it is believed that the square was home to Roman Bergamo’s first market.

Via Gombito, which begins right by the exit of the funicular, is identified by the Decumanus, one of the Roman city’s two main roads (the other is the Cardo) that spanned the entire city from east to west, an urban axis that has remained intact to this day.

From the gardens of the Rocca enjoy beautiful views of the city

In the same square, on the right-hand side, Via Rocca begins with a short climb that leads to the top of a hill - the hill of Santa Eufemia - which is dominated by the Rocca, a fortress with fourteenth century origins that has been modified and updated with defences many times. According to tradition, it was here that the Capitol building stood, a very important building in the structure of a Roman city.

The Decumanus offers the pleasure of a beautiful walk amongst shop windows, bars, restaurants and old buildings from Medieval Bergamo (don’t overlook the adjacent streets!), but here nothing can be seen of the Roman city. In the confined space of the hill, the city was demolished and rebuilt many times and the remains of the first city are underground. Every time a more in-depth dig takes place, traces of Bergamo from Julius Caesar’s or Augustus’ era emerge. It was precisely during one of these excavations that the foundations of huts from the Iron Age were identified: the first sign of a settlement on the hill of Bergamo, 2,500 years ago.

Further ahead stands a huge tower, which seems to have been built to guard what is the heart of Roman Bergamo’s roads, in the spot where the Decumanum crossed the Cardo (north - south), represented today by Via San Lorenzo and Via Mario Lupo. By no coincidence this area is called Gombito, “Compitum” (Latin for crossroads), which refers directly to the Roman place name.

Piazza Vecchia is the heart of the ancient city on the hill

After Piazza Vecchia, our tour continues along the second part of the Decumanus, which corresponds to Via Colleoni. Here, under the fountain of Saint Agatha, on the corner of the street of the same name, the remains of a mosaic belonging to a Roman house were found. Our walk ends at the large complex of the Citadel, which houses the Archaeological Museum. Among the statues, gravestones, urns, altars and objects displayed in its glass cases, it is possible to learn more about older Bergamo. Frescoes that decorated the walls of a house dating back to Roman times can also be found, and with meticulous recovery and restoration work, three rooms have been rebuilt as they were originally: a Medieval tower was erected above and the “domus” was forgotten underground. Almost a little Pompeii.

Taste and enjoy Bergamo with gusto

There are many restaurants in both upper and lower Bergamo which offer delicious local dishes and traditional menus that include Bergamask cured meats and cheese, polenta and desserts, accompanied by beers and wines produced locally.

There is a selection of inns, taverns and traditional restaurants, including starred restaurants with cusine by renowned chefs. There are also many pizzerias, bars, cafes and patisseries where pizza, focaccia, sandwiches, cake can be savoured at any moment in the day. The best way to enjoy these places is to choose a strategic location which, during lunch, dinner or aperitif, allows you to appreciate the city's magnificnt panoramic views.

Text by Pino Capellini

Avion Tourism Magazine

Updated by Lisa Maria River
Photos: Turismo Bergamo for Avion Tourism; Sisterscom.com; Shutterstock
Copyright © Sisterscom.com, Turismo Bergamo

Video: www.comune.bergamo.it

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Bergamo (Upper City)
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Milan Bergamo Airport - Arrivals Area
Via Aeroporto, 13 - 24050 Orio Al Serio (Bg) - Italy

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Where to sleep in Bergamo

Bergamo is a welcoming city and offers different possibilities for accommodation.

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WHERE TO GO in bergamo

Monuments of the Upper Town

PIAZZA VECCHIA

This area, heart of political and administrative life of Bergamo and the surrounding area, began to take shape in the fifteenth century and at the beginning of Venetian domination this central area acquired its Renaissance form and dimensions. A fountain, donated to the city by the Venetian Podestà Alvise Contarini in 1780, stands in the centre of this square. On the east side, a white marble-clad building houses the Angelo Maj Civic Library. On the square lie the Palazzo della Ragione with, on the façade, the lion of St. Mark. Behind the Palazzo, in Piazza Duomo, lie the Cathedral, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Colleoni Chapel, the Baptistery and the Bishop’s Palace.

CIVIC TOWER AND PALAZZO DELLA RAGIONE

The Civic Tower, symbol of the Medieval city, is 52-metre high. Accessed with an ultramodern lift, offers splendid views over the historical centre, towards the Alps and onto Piazza Vecchia.

The Tower is also known as the Campanone (Big Bell) because of the large bell, wich sounds over 100 times at 10.00 p.m. every evening, signal the old curfew when the gates of the city were closed.

Nearby, there is the Palazzo della Ragione where the lion of San Marco stands out on its façade.
www.museodellestorie.bergamo.it

CATHEDRAL

The cathedral is dedicated to the patron of the city Saint Alexander, and offers masterpieces not to be missed such as the Madonna with Child and Saints by the Bergamo painter Giovan Battista Moroni and the canvas depicting the Martirio di San Giovanni Vescovo of Tiepolo placed behind the altar, built on drawings by Filippo Juvara.
Under the portico of the Palazzo della Ragione there is access to the archaeological area under the basilica, a testimony of the history of the cathedral since the early Christian period.

www.cattedraledibergamo.it

BASILICA OF SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE

The people of Bergamo decided to located the Basilica on the site of the small Church of Santa Maria. Work began in 1137 according to the project of a little-known “Master Frido”. Towards the middle of the fourteenth century, Giovanni da Campione was given the task of building a monumental portal on the north side. He designed a porch supported by red marble lions. The south porch is instead supported by white marble lions. The magnificent Romanesque interior was later transformed by sumptuous Baroque decorations. With its rich historical and artistic heritage the Basilica is the most important building in the city.

www.fondazionemia.it

Monuments of the Lower Town

VIA XX SETTEMBRE

This street connect the Sentierone with Borgo San Leonardo, which many years ago was the heart of commerce and trade of the town and surrounding area. Here, merchandise from the Port of Venice was stored and then in turn travelled on to Milan or Valtellina. Today, Via XX settembre is pedestrianised and is the heart of the city shopping area.

At the end of the Sentierone is the Church of Saints Bartolomeo and Stefano where it is possible to admire, behind the high altar, the Pala Martinengo one of Lorenzo Lotto's masterpieces dating back to 1516.

www.domenicani.bg.it

DONIZETTI THEATRE

The Donizetti Theatre stands on the area where, during the old Saint Alessandro fair, performances were held on a wooden make-shift stage. In 1786 the entrepreneur Bortolo Riccardi built a permanent theatre and in 1987, same year in which the theatre was named after the great composer Gaetano Donizetti, on the occasion of celebrations commemorating the centenary of his birth the architect Pietro Via designed the façade. In 1934 the theatre became property of the Municipality of Bergamo. Theatre host prestigious events such as Bergamo Jazz and Bergamo Musica Festival Gaetano Donizetti.
www.teatrodonizetti.it

Museums in Bergamo

There are numerous museums that can be visited in Bergamo. In the Visconti Complex of the citadel there are the Civic Museum of Natural Sciences and the Archaeological Museum.

ACCADEMIA CARRARA

It was the idea of Count Giacomo Carrara to establish the Art Gallery, but unfortunately he died before it was completed in 1810. The Accademia was built in Neoclassical style on the design of Simone Elia. With two thousand paintings, collections of sculptures and rich archives of drawings and prints, making it one of the most important galleries in Italy. Some of the best known artists displayed include: Titian, Raphael, Tiepolo, Mantegna, Bellini, Lotto, Canaletto and Guardi.

www.lacarrara.it

GAMeC

Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery
The Gallery, building in two former convents, with an exhibition area of 1.500 square metres, was inaugurated in 1991 and design by Vittorio Gregotti. The Art Gallery is dedicated to contemporay art in all its form, and also offers permanent and temporary exhibitions, educational and cultural activities. The heart of the Museum is the Manzù collection, made up of sculptures, paintings, drawings and etchings of the great artist from Bergamo.
www.gamec.it

ADRIANO BERNAREGGI

Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art
The sixteenth-century Bassi Rathgeb Building, wich was donated to the Diocese, houses the museum wich was named at Mons. Adriano Bernareggi. The Bishop of Bergamo collected works of art, cult images and Church relics from the Thirties. The museum tour offers the possibility to discover extraordinary artefacts that are closely linked to the history of Bergamo and the Church.
www.fondazionebernareggi.it

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Tours and excursions in Bergamo and surroundings

Guided tours of Bergamo to discover its history and its mysteries. To visit: the province with its valleys and Lake Iseo. Discover the destinations near Bergamo.

UPPER TOWN TOUR

2.5-hour guided private tour of Upper Town. The tour start from Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe until you reach the Rocca Castle, a spot from which you can enjoy a view on the Lower Town. The walk continue towards Piazza Vecchia, the heart of the Upper Town, and then Piazza Duomo, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Colleoni Chapel. Walk along shops, restaurants and coffee houses. The end of tour is in the Cittadella, built by the Visconti family back in the 14th-century.

Duration 2.5 hours. More information: tour.

LOWER TOWN TOUR

2.5-hour guided tour of Lower Town, the modern centre of Bergamo. Starting from the train station, you walk along the main alley until you arrive to Porta Nuova and, from here, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the skyline of the Upper Town. Let's cross the "Sentierone" and walk towards the Torre dei Caduti.

The tour continue to the ancient Cloister of Santa Marta and end through shops, boutiques and restaurants where taste “polenta e osei” the typical Bergamask dessert.

Duration 2.5 hours. More info: tour.

FRANCIACORTA TOUR

Leave Bergamo on a coach to reach the Franciacorta wine region. Enjoy a light lunch of typical local dishes with a glass of sparking white wine.

After lunch, your guide will take you to one of best vineyards in the Franciacorta region. Here, you will get to sample wines and meet some of the industry's real producers and learn about how they produce wines.

After 2-hours in the vineyard, have plenty of time for shopping at the Franciacorta Design Outlet. Duration 7 hours. Maggiori informazioni: tour.

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