Bergamo, Italy complete tour

Bergamo, Italy complete tour

Bergamo is an ancient Italian hill-town of  magical beauty, yet relatively undiscovered,   where you can escape tourist crowds and step  into this crown jewel of Italy. This country   is famous for its medieval hill-towns, and one  of the best is Bergamo, the ideal town with  

Piazzas and pedestrian lanes lined with shops  and restaurants, fountains, lots of outdoor   bars and cafes and a wonderful setting up on a  hill surrounded by fortified walls, a relatively   small town just about a kilometer wide, but  filled with little lanes and fascinating sights,  

Located in the north of Italy, near the Alps.   Bergman’s Old Town is up on a hill surrounded   by massive fortified walls that were built by the  Venetians in the middle of the 16th century. They   are so well-preserved that several of the original  gates are still functional. And now the wall is  

A World Heritage site, as seen from above, with  the Venetian walls wrapping around the hillside   Old Town. The modern district of Bergamo is down  below and quite lovely, but not the main focus of   your visit. Instead, you’ll want to spend your  time in Bergamo is Citta Alta, the upper town,  

With origins that go back more than 2000 years.   There are still quite a few of those old buildings   surviving from the Middle Ages. Especially  dramatic are the towers that had been fortified   homes of the wealthy families. And now this one is  home to the Tourist Information Office. There is  

One main pedestrian street that runs through  the center of town. It’s about just under a   kilometer long. This nicely paved lane is quite  level, so you could walk from one end of town   to the other in about half an hour. But there  is so much to see, it could take you two days,  

Especially wandering along some of those steeper  little side lanes. The authentic character of this   place is seen in that small town atmosphere  with local residents doing their shopping,   chatting with neighbors and relaxing out in the  public spaces. Walking along the back lanes you  

Might run into some university students heading  for class. A place for people and some dogs. It’s   a quiet and peaceful town, especially in the  off-season as we’re visiting during October,   staying a couple of nights at a centrally-located  hotel. The main Piazza Vecchia is one of the great  

Spaces in all of Italy, surrounded by ancient  buildings and nice restaurants, or maybe just   sit and have a spritz. The majestic Palazzo Della  Raggione stands at one end of the main piazza,   constructed in the Gothic style 800 years  ago as a government building. Go up that  

Bell tower in an elevator for a magnificent view  across the Old Town — towers, domes, churches,   buildings and beautiful countryside off in the  distance. Of course, the old Gothic and baroque   churches of Italy are always fascinating to visit.  And this piazza has three of the best, which we  

Will take you inside later for extended visits.  Even the backside of this church is spectacular.    We’ll take you on a funicular ride, which is  one way to get down from the hilltop to the   lower city. Or maybe rent a scooter. But walking  is always the best way to get around. Excellent  

Restaurants are always an attraction in Italy.   Bergamo has some palaces open to the public, some   with amazing interior displays like Moroni, and  its own private garden. And this is looking out   across the countryside. One of the most important  features that Bergamo is famous for is the great  

Wall that runs all the way around the city, built  by the Venetians back in the 16th-century and has   been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, with  its green parks surrounding the town. With all of   its grand history, churches and monuments, it’s  those little pedestrian lanes that are some of  

The most attractive features of the city,  the place you’ll spend most of your time,   just wandering around, enjoying the sights and  a little shopping, eating and drinking. The   Old Town up on the hill overlooks a modern city  down below, which also has its charms, as we’ll  

Show you later in the program. But the primary  focus of our visit, as illustrated on the map,   is walking right through the heart of the Old Town  on the main street, with an extended look at the   piazza and churches, then continuing all the way  around in a big circle route, then walking other  

Routes through the different side lanes. After  that, we’ll take you into the modern town for   a quick look there. If you’re arriving by train,  which is a good way to get here, the station is in  

The modern city, with a busy station and frequent  service. But it is located about a kilometer and a   half from the Old Town. Upon arrival by train, you  could go right to the Tourist Information Office   located in front of the train station. And there  you can pick up some booklets and free brochures  

About the city. they could help you find a hotel  room, and explain how to use the city bus. Then   hop on the bus, number 1-A and that will take you  directly up to the Old Town, especially useful if  

You’re going to be spending a night or two and  are traveling with luggage — you don’t want   to walk that kilometer and a half. Or if you’re  just visiting on a day trip, you might not want   to spend that time and energy walking through  the new town, which does have some attractive  

Places you c see through the bus window, and  maybe walk down there later to have a look,   as we’ll show you towards the end of the program.   The bus takes you right through one of the four  

Massive gates in the wall. Continuing our drive  alongside the wall in a preview of the walk that   we will take later in the program, coming back for  a closer look. And now we are in the upper town,  

Citta Alta, filled with classic old buildings.   Arriving at the bus stop, which is nicely located   right on the edge of the Old Town. It’s also a  place that tour buses can drop off their groups,   such as this bunch of students who have just  arrived. Donkeys at this piazza gives you some  

Indication we’re not in a modern city anymore.   There is an alternate way to reach the upper town,   and that’s take t funicular, which goes from the  bottom of the hill and up through the old wall to   Bergamo Alta, riding this cable car that’s 128  years old, and it still performs beautifully,  

Going back and forth every day, up that 52% slope,  with friendly service that’s typical of the warm   greetings that you will get throughout town.   Upon reaching the top, you enter into a lovely   station that has cafes and newsstands and it’s  right on a little piazza that we’ll show you more  

Of later when we depart the upper town down that  same route. But that was just a little diversion   to show you the option. We came up by bus and the  bus stop is on the other end of the Old Town where  

We shall begin our walking tour. It’s like that  old cliche stepping back in time as we enter the   gateway of Bergamo. This Porta Sant’Alessandro was  built between 1565 and 1575 and provided access   to the upper town for those coming from Lecco  and Como in the west. More than just a gate,  

It’s part of a larger square stone structure  around Piazza Cittadella, with occasional markets   taking place. Even today, there is the occasional  attack by monsters or walking balloons, or maybe   it’s just some students out to have fun and  take some crazy pictures. Torre della Campanella  

Or Bell Tower was also part of the medieval  fortifications and leads into Piazza Mascheroni,   a pleasant square with some restaurants, and  underneath it was the ancient water storage   cistern. This piazza is at the beginning of the  main pedestrian street of town, via Colleoni,  

Also affectionately known as Corsorolla, named  after the renowned 15th-century mercenary captain,   Bartolomeo Colleoni, who lived here and founded  his charitable institution in 1466. And it’s still   functioning today on via Colleoni, We’ve only just  begun the main walk, but perhaps we’re getting  

Hungry already. Of course, Italy is world-famous  for its delicious cuisine, and here you will   have many fine choices. Look for this painted  halo suspended over our lane because not only   does it lead you into a nice restaurant, but they  have hotel rooms upstairs. It’s the type of place  

Called a loconda. “So the name is Locanda Mimmo.  It’s not a hotel, it’s just a locanda. Locanda   means like it’s, just this service because we  have a restaurant upstairs. This is a restaurant,   Mimmo, that is an historical restaurant. And we  have upstairs also six rooms, two apartments,  

And a freestanding room and one suite.” Staying  at Mimmo would be ideal because you’re right   in the middle of the Old Town on the main lane,  with a hotel room and a restaurant downstairs.    As I was walking along and getting a little more  hungry, one particular restaurant caught my eye  

With its outdoor table right on the main lane. And  when I saw a policeman coming out from his lunch,   I knew this must be the real deal. Are you a  police captain? Marcallo. Grazie. So I was  

Able to grab that table, which is about the only  outdoor table on via Colleoni. I decided to have a   light lunch and their special salad, presented  so beautifully, which I then deconstructed to   see what’s there. I had a fabulous, complicated  salad with carrots, fennel, quioja beets, pear,  

Zucchini, golden beets, spinach, potato with basil  cream, pea shoots and goat cheese. “And what’s   your name?” “I’m Becky.” “You’re Becky. And  your restaurant name?” “Vineria Cozzi, but it’s   not mine.” “But you work here?” “Yes, I work  here. It’s a pleasure for me.” “It’s very good,  

Right on the main street.” A perfect spot for  a meal combined with people-watching. After   that delicious culinary experience, I did not  leave much on the table. I got curious about the   restaurant, so took a walk inside and discovered  they have several big rooms with an extensive menu  

Such as porcini tagliatelle, a stuffed ravioli,  fresh, polenta from Bergamo, beef cheek, deer rib,   sausage, hamburger, duck, duck, duck, roasted  octopus and mixed vegetables. Continuing along on   via Colleoni, you’ll notice there is a local food  market, their version of a supermarket in a little  

Shopfront. We have more scenes of this beautiful  street a little bit later. But now it’s time to   dive into the big Piazza Vecchia, surrounded by  restaurants and historic buildings with a fountain   in the middle. This is the heart of town. Piazza  Vecchia represents the core of Citta Alta. It  

Has been the center of political and religious  power for centuries, and it keeps being one of   the most popular places for Bergamo citizens to  spend some time with friends. These loggia with   their pointed arches are underneath the Palazzo  della Reggione, which served as the seat of the  

City’s government during the Middle Ages, built  almost 1000 years ago to host the city public   meetings. The Contarini Fountain in the middle of  the piazza is decorated with statues of sphinxes,   lions and snakes. There are so many wonderful  photo ops here. It’s a good spot to show your love  

For your pet dog. Generally considered one of the  most beautiful piazza in all of Italy, and that’s   saying something because every town in Italy has  a piazza. But this one is really quite special   with these old medieval, preserved buildings and  cafes and great sites all around it. This white  

Granite Renaissance building is the Palazzo Nuovo  on the north end of the piazza. Built originally   from 1604, and it took 300 years to finish it  ending in 1928. It served as Bergamo’s Town Hall   for most of that time, right up until 1873. And  since 1928, it’s been hosting one of Italy’s most  

Renowned libraries, the Civica Angelo Mai, with  an incredible collection that includes ancient   and precious books from the 1500s, engravings,  manuscripts and 600,000 volumes in total. The   terrace in front is a popular gathering place for  locals and a convenient spot for visitors to sit  

Down and rest, and do some people-watching. The  piazza is a place to spend some quality time. Have   another look at that Contarini fountain, where  you could drink the water coming out of the sphinx  

Mouth. Don’t just stop and take a look and grab a  picture and then move on, but sit down at a cafe   and look around at some of these building details,  such as that open staircase and that tower rising  

Up behind it, which you can go up for a great  view looking across the town. And you don’t   have to climb the 300 steps. There’s an elevator.   The Civic Tower has three large bells at the top,   including the largest called Companone, which is  the popular name for this tower. A commanding view  

Into the piazza from this open air perspective,  53 meters high with a great angle on Piazza del   Duomo, with its three great churches, we shall  soon visit, then looking off into the hillside   town and distant landscape beyond. The glass  elevator just takes 30 seconds back to ground  

Level, where there is a historical exhibit with  some archeological finds down in the basement.    These rooms are part of the Palazzo del Podesta,  built in the second half of the 12th century as   the home for the municipal mayor of Bergamo.  The stone loggias were added later and form  

A fascinating courtyard in the Renaissance style  now, including dazzling contemporary displays.    Just beyond, we reach Piazza del Duomo, with three  major churches, including the Basilica on the left   and Colleoni chapel on the right. This spectacular  chapel is perhaps the most beautiful building in  

Bergamo, an authentic Italian Renaissance  masterpiece featuring an overwhelming mass   of decoration that dazzles the eye. Yet it is  not a large building. The main focal point is   the massive tomb and gilded equestrian statue  of Bartolomeo Colleoni, who was one of the most  

Famous mercenary captains in Italy. A fearless  soldier and great leader who spent his whole   life fighting all over Italy, especially for the  Republic of Venice, and was born here in Bergamo.    Two other major churches and the baptistery  adorn this Piazza del Duomo. But it would be  

Too much to see all three of them at one time. It  would overwhelm your senses. So we’re going to go   out and take a walk and come back here later to  see the rest of it. The lanes behind the churches  

Form an intricate maze of narrow streets with tall  buildings and old churches all around them. It’s   quite a place you can wander and get a little bit  lost and then find your way out again with very  

Little effort. Looking up at the tall tower and  rounded arches at the back of this basilica, we   can see that Romanesque style of a building that  dates back to 1140. Entering an adjacent piazza,   we get a look at the headquarters for a University  of Sciences Letters and Arts of Bergamo. Next to  

It, a historic fountain connected to a cistern  that supplied water to this part of town.    We are just one block behind the major piazzas,  Duomo and Vecchia, and yet we have entered this   little tangle of narrow alleys and smaller piazzas  off the beaten track. This street is named after  

Bergman’s most famous composer, Gaetano Donizetti,  who created about 70 operas. Sometimes we can get   dog-tired walking around in these little  lanes, need a break, but got to hustle on,   there’s a lot more to see. There are some schools  in this neighborhood, including a building of the  

University for the Department of Linguistics. This  road continues down to that funicular station,   which we’ll see in a minute, but we’re going to  backtrack through some other side lanes and have   a look at a very interesting washing fountain.   Most houses in the upper town did not have running  

Water inside the houses in the old days. So this  basin was built at the end of the 1800s to provide   a washing facility. The water supply cistern  could contain 300 cubic meters of water built   below the structure and a discharge system and  drainage channels that make it an amazing design  

Model. Wandering along alleys through arches to  apartment courtyards is a lovely way to explore   the back street. Then we return to the main lane  of town. Earlier it was called Via Colleoni, now   changes names to Via Gombito, leading towards the  east side of town, similar to what we saw earlier  

With more shops and restaurants. Arriving then  at Piazza Mercato Delle Scarpe, once a thriving   area of trade at an important intersection of six  streets, where the roads from Venice and Milan   met in the medieval period. Just a hundred meters  away, you’ll reach a 14th-century fortress called  

La Rocca. It had served as a fort, prison, refuge  and barracks, successfully defeating attacks in   1438 and 1514. You will get some of the best  views in town, looking back at the Duomo and other   towers, from the ramparts of the fort, providing  a nice perspective of the upper town and looking  

Down at the modern city. Now it’s a history museum  and garden. The museum offers a view of the period   starting in 1797 when the French troops arrived,  up through 1870. Then it’s back to the piazza   and the little lanes around it to investigate the  restaurant possibilities. There are many choices  

Here in the piazza, and in those side streets.  Perhaps a little pastry snack or the traditional   kitchen in an old restaurant with barrel-vaulted  stone ceilings. You can’t go wrong in a place   like that. Or maybe just relax in the piazza and  have a spritz. We’re very close to another major  

Street that extends out from this piazza, one of  those six streets that emanate from it. Via Porta   Dipinta is a street lined with grand buildings,  each with portals that offer glimpses of gardens   and terraces in the background. It’s an easy-going  downhill stroll. However, we have gotten beyond  

The restaurants and shops, so if you were  hungry, it would have been good to eat back at   the piazza. At this point we have reached Fontana  Dipinta, located at what had been the eastern gate   of the medieval walls of the city. Next to it is  Palazzo Moroni, an eccentric 17th-century palace,  

Which has been very well preserved. The furnished  interior is decorated with frescoes, several   objects and art masterpieces, as well as panoramic  terracing and two hectares of agricultural   grounds, now enjoyed as an extraordinary park in  the heart of the upper city. The interior boasts  

Extravagantly frescoed walls with trompe l’oeil  figures seemingly suspended from the ceiling,   creating the almost psychedelic illusion that  you are staring into a three-dimensional space   with columns, arches, balconies, colorful costumes  and angels flying through the air. It’s almost a  

Forerunner of our 3-D movies or virtual reality  goggles, except here you are standing in the   grand rooms of a palace, just looking with your  own eyes at this amazing optical illusion. The   Moroni family has owned and lived in the building  since 1636. The original layout has been carefully  

Maintained and preserved. A monumental staircase  leads from the entrance courtyard upstairs to the   rooms and halls, frescoed and furnished between  the 17th and 19th centuries. The back of the   building opens up to stunning gardens that  provide a welcome and peaceful respite from  

All of the dazzling frescoes in the interior of  the palace. The rose-filled gardens and manicured   hedges guide visitors towards a rolling meadow  with views towards the mountains, and benches are   conveniently placed for visitors to relax and soak  up the lush surroundings. All in all, a surprising  

And delightful experience. Back out on that same  via Porta Dipinta, we’re going to show you a route   we’ll take now that goes around the backside  of town for one kilometer. along the way, we’ll   see a few churches and more of the historic old  buildings. This lane is bringing us towards the  

East end of Bergamo Alta. In the old days, it had  been a very important road because travelers from   Venice, which is to the east, would enter the city  along this street. The major fortified gateway in  

The wall was demolished a long time ago. But  we do have this little arch that will take us   from the street, through a remnant of an old wall  out into a meadow. On the right side of the lawn,  

We have the Chiesa Sant’Agostino, founded in the  late 13th century, now part of the University of   Bergamo. It’s located next to the Venetian wall  around town and the major gateway through that   wall, which is Porta Sant’Agostino built in the  late 16th century. It’s still the most popular  

Route for driving into the Old Town. There is a  lovely pedestrian pathway you could take next to   the wall that would bring you down to the modern  city. But we’re not going that way. We’re going  

To be walking along the wall. This is the first  time that we are getting a close-up look at the   spectacular Venetian walls, and taking a stroll  right alongside them on a scenic route. The total   circuit of walls is over six kilometers long,  which is one of the recommended things to do  

When you’re in Bergamo, because the walls are  an important UNESCO World Heritage site. You’ll   have some fine views looking north towards the  foothills of the Alps. If you’re very eager,   there are hiking trails out in the forest. That’s  far enough. We are not going all the way around,  

But taking via San Lorenzo, which is a direct  route back into the center of the Old Town,   slightly uphill, but just over 300 meters  long, passing a small residential piazza,   then arriving back at that main lane of via  Gombito and extension to Via Colleoni. By now,  

You have definitely worked up a thirst and an  appetite. So hit one of these beautiful outdoor   restaurants, or maybe just grab a pizza. This  ready-to-eat selection looks unusually delicious.   You could grab a slice to go, then look around  and find a place to sit down and eat. Of course,  

You’ll generally be better off sitting down  and having a nice meal at a restaurant,   such as at Al Donizetti, which has a beautiful  outdoor pavilion reminiscent of the old markets   of Italy like you’ll find in Florence, with  that lovely multi-arched loggia and outdoor  

Tables right on our main street of via Gombito.   Donizetti has a large wine list — it’s a wine   bistro, after all, and they get mostly positive  reviews. But any time you’re picking a restaurant,  

You want to be careful. Have a look around before  you sit down and see if people are eating. Check   the prices. Ask around the neighborhood, in shops  and elsewhere for restaurant recommendations. And   then take your pick. Sometimes the setting,  like at this outdoor restaurant by a fountain,  

Is as important as the food. If you do see a lot  of people at a restaurant sitting with no food,   waiting for service, then go somewhere else.   The tourist information office is nearby.   

“Hello. And I’m in the tourist office of Bergamo,  and I will tell you that Bergamo is a beautiful   place, the place to be.” Stop by and get some  free information and brochures. It’s located   right next to the Gombito Tower, so you can’t  miss it at the corner of via Gombito and Via Lup,  

Just around the corner from Piazza Vecchia.   Earlier, we showed the Tourist Information Office   down by the train station, which is also a good  spot if you’re arriving by train. There are only   a handful of hotels up here in the Old Town in  Bergamo Alta. But some of them are quite nice,  

Such as Il Sole. “My name is Roberto, this is the  Hotel Sole in the old city, a historic hotel in   this town. My family’s here for 40 years. But  this hotel is a 500 year. Is born in 500 years  

Ago. It is the first hotel born in Bergamo.”   “And you have a restaurant.” “Yeah, there is   the big restaurant? Yeah, the restaurant with  the garden inside. And the restaurant is big. We   have 10 rooms in the hotel, it’s a little hotel,  but is characteristic.” “And not expensive?”   

“Not expensive.” “And you’re right on the  piazza.” “It’s in the corner of Piazza Vecchia,   the principal square in the old city.” I stayed at  the four-star Hotel Piazza Vecchia, which frankly   is more like a three-star hotel, but quite nice,  after you climb the steps up to the lobby. It’s  

Right on the main lane, very near Piazza Vecchia.   As we continue walking along via Colleoni,   I’d like to share a few tips for you about  traveling to Bergamo. It’s difficult if you   come in the summer because it can get very crowded  and it might be hot. My visit was during October  

And it was quite peaceful with weather that  was perfect. If you come in the summertime,   you might be waiting on line to get up  on the funicular, you might have a little   trouble getting room at a hotel or space at a  restaurant. So the off-season, shoulder season,  

Spring and fall, is definitely the way to go.   You could visit Bergamo on a day-trip from Milan,   just 45 minutes away by direct train. However,  there is so much here to see, as you’ve already   noticed, it’s worth spending at least one, better  yet, two nights. That way you can venture beyond  

The main squares and discover Bergamo’s hidden  gems, get lost in those charming labyrinth of   narrow streets, showcasing hidden piazzas, artisan  shops and unique cafes tucked away, with promise   of a delightful experience. We’ve walked to the  end of via Colleoni, exiting out through the wall  

To where we began this visit when we got off that  bus. But we’re continuing this time a block over,   outside the city wall, some of which is now  encircling a public parking lot. We’re going   to take another funicular ride, this time going  up the hill of San Viglio — a short journey,  

Well worthwhile, because when you get to the  top, there’s going to be an outstanding view   across the city. And there’s a castle. You could  walk up for free, but the round-trip funicular   costs under 3 euro, so take that little train and  then you walk out onto the observation terrace  

And you get a spectacular view. From this upper  vantage, you’re looking down on the Upper Town,   with the Lower Town beyond spread out into the  distance. From the funicular walk further uphill   a couple blocks to reach the castle. These are  spectacular ruins of a much larger fortress,  

First built in the 12th century, expanded in the  14th century, and then most of it was blown up by   Napoleon. It had been the most important fortress  of town, protecting Bergamo from attack for many   centuries. Now we have a splendid view across  the landscape that resembles the background of  

An early Italian painting. This garden terrace  is at the apex of the small summit providing   360-degree views all around you. When done,  it’s an easy walk downhill back to the funicular   about 300 meters away, passing a small hotel,  Relais San Viglio, four stars, with nine rooms,  

And a beautiful view. Keep your eyes open and  your camera ready while going back down and grab a   window because you’ll have more views all the way  to the bottom. The track is 630 meters long and   descends 90 meters. This funicular first began  operating in 1907. As we reenter Bergamo Alta  

Once again through Porta Sant’Alessandra, you’ll  see the winged lion on top. We’ll explain that   history with Venice in a little while. Now we’re  taking the last walking tour of our visit along a   picturesque side lane and then passing the main  section of the Venetian wall. Turning away from  

The main lane of the city and walking along Piazza  Mascharoni, that soon becomes via San Salvatore.    Typical of the paving here, you can choose between  smooth flagstones or the pebble cobblestones.    We noticed some students walking through a gated  entrance onto the University of Bergamo campus,  

Which has numerous buildings distributed  throughout the town. You’ll probably see more   students out walking, especially in these back  lanes. The university has got 16,000 students in   Bergamo. It was founded in 1968 and is already a  regional leader in research and education. In some  

Courtyards, you’ll see impressive buildings and  gardens. Via Salvecchio is an impressive side lane   that connects up with the town’s main street. And  along the way, there are some interesting little   shops. Here we encounter a glimpse of local life  with residents going about their daily routines,  

Off the beaten track, like this general store  that has a plethora of items for local residents,   not for tourists. We are away from the visiting  crowd, and little alleyways, fun to take a look   at. This street has another building complex  for the university. It’s a school that accepts  

Students from all over the world creating a  diverse and enriching learning environment,   making a delightful place to study with a peaceful  atmosphere amidst these historic sites. A narrow   alleyway brings us down from Via Salvecchio  to via Arena, the main street of this part of  

Town. It’s fun how the streets generally do not  follow a straight line. There are little angles,   sometimes they are curved, a little mystery as to  what’s up ahead. That’s always part of the game   when you’re walking in these little alleyways.   Misericordia, a charitable institution founded in  

1265, completed this important Baroque building in  1664 with a lovely cloister which also houses the   Museo Donizettiano, displaying the works of the  renowned local composer Gaetano Donizetti. Another   institution on via Arena is the Episcopal Seminary  of Bergamo, which accommodates the vocation of  

Young people who feel oriented towards the path of  priesthood. It’s called via Arena because it’s the   location of the ancient Roman amphitheater  that was once here. In the Middle Ages,   it played a significant role in the development  of Bergamo Alta. You can see how much fun it is  

To venture beyond the main squares and lanes and  discover Bergmo’s hidden gems. Get lost in the   charming labyrinth of narrow streets, showcasing  hidden piazzas, little shops and unique sites   tucked away. We take a right turn walking down Via  Simone Mayr, another charming street nestled in  

The heart of town, passing medieval town houses  with their characteristic stone facades and   alongside buildings with Renaissance influences.   Notice again the attractive and functional street   paving of brick and stone cobbles providing  secure footing. You’re going to see some furniture   restoration experts working hard on these narrow  lanes and skilled technicians doing much-needed  

Maintenance. Many of these old buildings look  like they’re brand new. We have now arrived at   a most significant part of town, the main section  of the Venetian fortified walls and gates. Porta   San Giacomo is one of the four magnificent  gateways through the Venetian walls and makes  

A great place for some pictures. It was built in  1592 by the important Venetian architect, Vincenzo   Scamozzi, with a design incorporating classical  architecture with the Italian Renaissance.    The wall extends along both sides with a huge  stone ramp that comes out the front, which had  

Originally been a wooden drawbridge over the dry  moat. Now it’s a pedestrian path that can take you   all the way down to the lower town. From here we  get outstanding panoramic views of the surrounding   city and the Bergamo Valley, extending off in the  distance. You’ll see the lower town below, which  

We are going to visit shortly towards the end of  the program. These walls were built by Venice,   which controlled Bergamo for three centuries, from  1428 to 1797 even though it’s 240 kilometers away.   Venice was a powerful city-state with a vast  empire that extended throughout much of the  

Eastern Mediterranean. Now there are gardens here,  and the promenade along the wall has become a very   popular park, a place for some jogging or walking  and healthy outdoor exercise, or maybe just kick   back and sit on a bench and enjoy the view. After  all, there are really no parks or patches of  

Greenery when you’re in the historic center.  It’s mostly stone and brick with a beautiful   collection of historic buildings, especially some  of those big churches that we’re going to show you   now. We’re looking at the south entrance of the  Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, considered to be  

The most important building in Bergamo, built in  the Romanesque style from the year 1137, in thanks   to the Virgin Mary for sparing them from a plague.  The building was completed in 1355, and then later   the interior was decorated in this high Baroque  style. Massive tapestries cover many of the walls,  

Making this space look somewhat like the hall  of a medieval castle. Every square inch of the   walls and ceiling is decorated with sculptures  and paintings. Organ music certainly adds to the   spiritual atmosphere as you wander about looking  at these grand sites. The basilica is located  

Adjacent to Piazza Vecchia, where we come out  into a lovely evening glow. Once again, you’ll   come back into this piazza many times during your  visit. There’s something curious about placement   of the three big churches. They’re not on the  main piazza. You can hardly see them from here,  

But they are just behind through those arches of  Palazzo della Raggione in a space of their own,   Piazza Duomo. On the right is the Colleoni Chapel  we visited earlier, and now we’re going inside the   Duomo, the Cathedral of Sant’Alessandro. It is  a wide, lofty structure with transept and dome,  

A semicircular choir and gilt arabesques all  over the walls and ceiling. It’s dedicated to   the patron of Bergamo, St Alexander, a building  constructed entirely of white marble in the   Renaissance style. Then later in the 17th  century, embellished with Baroque angels,  

Cherubs and saints looking down on you. The Duomo  holds numerous treasures, such as paintings by   Tiepolo, and gilded marble inlays, and the mortal  remains of St Alexander kept in an urn inside the   high altar. Emerging again into Piazza Duomo, we  see the octagonal Baptistery, first constructed  

Inside the Basilica, then moved out here in 1661.   This completes our detailed tour of Bergamo Alta,   the Old Town. We have one more thing to show you,  and that’s a visit to the Lower Town, the modern  

City, which is also quite lovely and interesting.   You could walk down there or take the city bus,   but more interesting to take the funicular from  Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe. We showed you coming   up this same funicular earlier. And we also took  that other funicular to the top of San Viglio for  

That view from the fortress. This time we’re  going down to the new town. Our grand tour of   Bergamo has shown you what a wonderful place it  is. Even though it’s not as well-known as many   other famous cities in Italy, you would find it is  definitely worth visiting — more than a day trip.  

Stay for one or two nights to get the most out of  the experience. Wandering through the lower town,   you might come across this Fountain of the  Dolphi at a cozy outdoor cafe. One of the   most impressive buildings in the new town is the  Palace of Justice, the city’s main courthouse,  

On Piazza Dante, which has the best collection  of monumental buildings in the lower city,   including this large structure, the Quadriportico  del Sentierone, which has porticos lined with   shops and restaurants, with a garden park  around it with benches for relaxing. While  

Lounging around in the civic center, give me  one minute to tell you the 3000-year history   of Bergamo. The first known settlement was a tribe  of Ligurian, about 800 B.C. Then the Celtics from   the Alps moved in 400 B.C. The Romans arrived in  49 B.C. and built a town that expanded with 10,000  

People. After the collapse of Rome, the Lombards  came in. Charlemagne conquered in the eighth   century. Then Bergamo enjoyed several centuries  of independence. Taken over by the Lords of Milan   in the 13th century. Then Venice arrived, as  mentioned earlier. The French under Napoleon  

Took control in 1797. The Austrian Hapsburg ruled  briefly. Then Garibaldi conquered Bergamo in 1859,   leading to unification with Italy. Now it’s a  thriving modern city with a population of about   120,000 people. These neoclassical twin  buildings at Porta Nova form a Propylaea  

Gateway to the city. Behind we see Bergamo  Alta rising majestically on the hillside,   a stark contrast with the hustle and bustle  of modern Bergamo. We are in the home stretch   walking down the main street of town – a good time  to have a spritz and maybe grab an inexpensive  

Sandwich. We’re heading to the train station  and it’s always a good idea to bring some food   on board. Or you could eat while walking. It’s an  impressive train station with connections to many   national and regional destinations. For example,  you could get a direct train to Rome that would  

Take 5 hours or a direct train to Milan in just  50 minutes. In my case, I’m heading to Brescia,   which is also a direct train route. No transfers  needed, a one-hour journey. I’ll be showing you   that beautiful town of Brescia in a different  movie. The trains are comfortable, inexpensive,  

And usually have beautiful scenery outside  the window. We frequently upload new movies,   so please subscribe to our channel and click that  little alarm bell so you’ll be notified. And if   you enjoyed the movie, how about a thumbs up,  and we always welcome comments down below. Or  

If you have questions about the destination, make  note and we’ll answer them. Thanks for watching.

travel videos & photos at: https://townsofeurope.com/ with text, maps & links.
00:00 intro
00:33 location
00:47 Venetian walls
01:44 main street, via Colleoni
02:38 Piazza Vecchia
04:53 map route of walking tour
05:19 train arrival, bus to top
07:05 funicular
07:57 Porta Sant’Alessandro
08:56 via Colleoni
12:17 Piazza Vecchia
13:34 Palazzo Nuovo
14:46 Tower vista
15:51 Colleoni Chapel
16:54 narrow lanes behind piazza
19:11 Piazza Mercato Delle Scarpe
19:26 La Rocca Fortress
20:37 Via Porta Dipinta
21:14 Palazzo Moroni
23:10 walk route on map
24:25 walk along Venetian wall
25:15 via Gombito
27:21 hotels
28:30 travel tips
30:00 funicular San Viglio
30:25 best vista and castle
32:05 another walking route
32:20 via San Salvatore and University
33:48 via Arena
35:14 Via Simone Mayr
36:02 Porta San Giacomo and main Venetian wall
37:46 Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
39:03 Cathedral of Sant’Alessandro
40:19 funicular to Lower Town
41:12 Piazza Dante
41:38 history summary
42:40 Porta Nuova and main street
43:15 train station and departure
Bergamo is an ancient Italian hill-town of magical beauty, yet relatively undiscovered, where you can escape tourist crowds and step into this crown jewel of Italy.
This country is famous for its medieval hill-towns, and one of the best is Bergamo, the ideal town with piazzas and pedestrian lanes lined with shops and restaurants, fountains, lots of outdoor bars and cafes and a wonderful setting up on a hill surrounded by fortified walls, a relatively small town just about a kilometer wide, but filled with little lanes and fascinating sights, located in the north of Italy, near the Alps.
Bergman’s old town is up on a hill surrounded by massive fortified walls that were built by the Venetians in the middle of the 16th century. They are so well-preserved that several of the original gates are still functional. And now the wall is a World Heritage site, as seen from above, with the Venetian walls wrapping around the hillside Old Town.
The modern district of Bergamo is down below and quite lovely, but not the main focus of your visit.
Instead, you’ll want to spend your time in Bergamo is Cheetah Alta, the upper town with origins that go back more than 2000 years.
There are still quite a few of those old buildings surviving from the Middle Ages. Especially dramatic are the towers that had been fortified. Homes of the wealthy families. And now this one is home to the tourist Information Office.
There is one main pedestrian street that runs through the center of town. It’s about just under a kilometer long,
this nicely paved lane is quite level. So you could walk from one end of town to the other in about half an hour. But there is so much to see. It could take you two days, especially wandering along some of those steeper little side lanes.
The authentic character of this place is seen in that small town atmosphere with local residents doing their shopping, chatting with neighbors and relaxing out in the public spaces, walking along the back lanes. You might run into some university students heading for class.