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    Bergamo

    Italy

    Bergamo

    CityCulture

    Bergamo consists of two cities: the medieval Upper Town, Città Alta, on a hill, encircled by Venetian walls, and the larger Lower Town, Città Bassa. The two are connected by a funicular.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Italy
    7. Lombardy
    9. Bergamo
    Bergamo consists of two cities: the medieval Upper Town, Città Alta, on a hill, encircled by Venetian walls, and the larger Lower Town, Città Bassa. The two are connected by a funicular.

    Sights in Bergamo

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Piazza Vecchia

    1Piazza Vecchia

    The central square of the Upper Town is framed by the 12th-century Palazzo della Ragione, the Palazzo del Podestà, the Angelo Mai City Library, and the Campanone civic tower, with the Contarini Fountain from 1780 standing in the middle. Through the arcades of the Palazzo della Ragione, you directly reach Piazza del Duomo with its Cathedral, Santa Maria Maggiore, and Cappella Colleoni.
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    Santa Maria Maggiore
    Church

    2Santa Maria Maggiore

    The Romanesque Basilica was constructed from 1137 onwards; the side portals in the north and south were created by Giovanni da Campione. Inside, the intarsia panels with biblical scenes are remarkable, largely based on designs by Lorenzo Lotto. The Bergamo-born composer Gaetano Donizetti is also buried here.
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    Colleoni Chapel
    Church

    3Colleoni Chapel

    The funerary chapel of mercenary leader Bartolomeo Colleoni was built between approximately 1472 and 1476, based on plans by Giovanni Antonio Amadeo. The facade is clad with white, red, and black marble in diamond patterns. Inside are the tombs of Colleoni and his daughter Medea; the ceiling frescoes were painted by Giambattista Tiepolo from 1732 to 1733.
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    Campanone
    Historic Landmark

    4Campanone

    The Civic Tower (Torre civica) is on Piazza Vecchia. Every evening at 10 PM, its bell strikes roughly 100 times, once signalling the city gates' closing.
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    Accademia Carrara

    5Accademia Carrara

    The Art Gallery on Piazza Giacomo Carrara traces its origins to the collection of Count Giacomo Carrara, who founded the Academy in the late 18th century.
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    The Venetian City Walls
    Historic Landmark

    6The Venetian City Walls

    The Republic of Venice fortified the Upper Town with a ring of bastions between 1561 and 1588. The complex has been a UNESCO World Heritage site of Venetian Works of Defence since 2017. On the promenade atop the walls, you have views over the Lower Town.
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    City walks in Bergamo

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Bergamo's Soaring Heights: A Journey Through the Picturesque Città Alta

    Experience the timeless charm of Bergamo's upper town on this picturesque walk. From historic squares and impressive basilicas to breathtaking panoramic views, immerse yourself in the history and beauty of the Città Alta as you stroll through its cobbled lanes.

    ~2 Std. 20 Min.
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    Stops (6)

    Food & Drink

    1

    Antica Trattoria La Colombina

    Trattoria in the Borgo Canale district, just outside the Upper Town, with a terrace and views over the plain. The menu features classics of Bergamasque cuisine.
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    2

    Da Giuliana

    Downtown osteria with traditional pasta and meat dishes and a leafy terrace. Reservations are recommended in the evening and on weekends.
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    3

    Taverna Valtellinese

    Wood-paneled restaurant in the lower town, dedicated to the cuisine of Valtellina – with Pizzoccheri, Sciatt (fried cheese balls) and Bresaola.
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    4

    Trattoria Camozzi

    Trattoria on Via Camozzi in the Lower Town with Italian cuisine and fish dishes.
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    Food and Drink in Bergamo

    Bergamo's food scene offers an authentic journey through Lombard cuisine, from Città Alta to Città Bassa. Discover traditional dishes like Casoncelli alla bergamasca in rustic trattorias such as Trattoria Parietti, or sample regional specialties, for example at Taverna Valtellinese.

    Casoncelli alla bergamasca

    Crescent-shaped pasta pockets with a filling of meat, breadcrumbs, Grana Padano, and a sweet note like Amaretti, raisins, or pear, served with melted sage butter and Pancetta.

    Polenta taragna

    Polenta of corn and buckwheat flour, into which mountain cheese like Branzi or Formai de Mut is finally stirred.

    Polenta e osei

    Sweet pastry, looking like a polenta dish: sponge cake with cream, covered with yellow marzipan and crowned with small birds of chocolate and marzipan.

    Stracciatella Ice

    Enrico Panattoni invented this ice cream flavor in 1961 in the Gelateria La Marianna in Città Alta.

    Cheese from Bergamasque Valleys

    Branzi, Formai de Mut, and Stracchino all'Antica come from the province that boasts nine cheeses with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).

    Culture, Art, and History

    Bergamo was first settled by the Orobii and conquered by the Celtic Cenomani around 550 BC; in 49 BC, Bergomum became a Roman Municipium. The rule of the Republic of Venice, from 1428 until the Napoleonic era, was formative. The walls around the Città Alta, which have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Venetian Works of Defence since 2017, originate from this period.In the upper town, closely clustered, are the Cathedral, the Romanesque Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore with its inlays, and the Cappella Colleoni, which Giovanni Antonio Amadeo erected in the 1470s. Piazza Vecchia, with the Palazzo della Ragione, the seat of the medieval commune, is the city's historic center.Bergamo's most famous son is the opera composer Gaetano Donizetti, born here in 1797. He is commemorated by the Teatro Donizetti in the lower town and an annual opera festival.

    Traveling in Bergamo

    Funicular and BusThe funicular (Funicolare) connects the Lower Town with Città Alta; a second one runs from Porta Sant'Alessandro up to San Vigilio. City buses complement the network.From the AirportOrio al Serio Airport is located approximately five kilometers southeast of the city, with buses connecting it to the city center and train station.On FootThe Upper Town is best explored on foot. As an alternative to the funicular, staircases lead up.

    Accommodations in Bergamo

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    Campgrounds in Bergamo

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      • 1Piazza Vecchia3 days
      • 2Santa Maria Maggiore4 days
      • 3Colleoni Chapel5 days
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    Nearby

    Lombardy

    Lombardy

    Lombardy stretches from the Alps, across the great pre-Alpine lakes, into the Po Valley. Besides Milan, art cities like Bergamo, Brescia, Mantua, and Pavia, as well as Lake Como, Lake Iseo, and Lake Garda, define the region.
    Bellagio

    Bellagio

    Bellagio is located at the tip of the peninsula, where Lake Como divides into the arms of Como and Lecco. Staircase alleys lead from the shore up to the small old town; south and above the village lie the parks of Villas Melzi and Serbelloni.
    Milan

    Milan

    Milan is Italy's economic, fashion, and design metropolis and also a city of art with its Gothic Cathedral, Leonardo's Last Supper, and the Scala. Beyond the major sights, districts like Brera, Isola, and the Navigli with their canals shape city life.
    Lake Como

    Lake Como

    Lake Como, shaped like an inverted Y, is one of the most striking pre-Alpine lakes and, at over 400 metres, one of Europe's deepest. Steep, wooded shores, terraced-garden villas and villages like Bellagio, Varenna, Tremezzo set the scene.
    Brescia

    Brescia

    Brescia, Lombardy's second-largest city, is often overlooked despite possessing significant Roman structures. The Capitolium (with its Roman Theatre) and the Longobard Monastery of Santa Giulia are UNESCO World Heritage sites; it also boasts Renaissance squares, two cathedrals, and a castle above the old town.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Unsplash, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI