Holiday apartment in Bergamo: Old Town, culture and mountain panoramas

Città Alta lies on seven hills and is a medieval village with cobbled lanes, historic palaces and squares. At the heart of this cityscape is Piazza Vecchia, the centre of Bergamo Alta. Here, the Fontana Contarini stands alongside the Palazzo del Podestà, the Biblioteca Angelo Mai, the Palazzo della Ragione and the Campanone. The bell tower rises 52.76 metres high and offers panoramic views of the old town. Even today, the Campanone rings more than one hundred times every evening at 10 p.m. It was built from the mid-12th century onwards by the Suardi-Colleoni family for defensive purposes and for reasons of political and military prestige.

Culture and history

Bergamo’s historic sites tell of different periods and collections. The Torre dei Caduti houses an exhibition on the development of Bergamo’s Piacentinian centre and the modern city; at its summit, it also has a viewing terrace. The Convento di San Francesco preserves cloisters and a chapter house with fresco cycles from the 14th to the 17th century. Its viewing terrace offers views of the confluence of the Brembana and Seriana valleys. The Rocca di Bergamo stands on the Colle di Sant’Eufemia and is a 14th-century fortification. The Venetian tower of the Rocca offers views of Città Alta, the Orobie Pre-Alps, the Bergamo plain and as far as Milan.

Several museums focus on specific subjects. The Museo Donizettiano displays an extensive collection of scores, letters, portraits and objects from the life of Gaetano Donizetti. After a short restoration break, it reopened in 2015 and was equipped with audio and interactive stations for listening to Donizetti’s works. The Museo Archeologico di Bergamo presents sections on prehistory and early history, the Egyptian collection, the Gauls, the Romans, the lapidarium and the Early Middle Ages. The Accademia Carrara presents more than 300 paintings and sculptures from five centuries of Italian art, from the Renaissance to the 19th century.

Nature

The Parco dei Colli di Bergamo encompasses the municipality of Bergamo and the medieval core of Città Alta. The Parco dei Colli stretches for 40 kilometres across green hills from Città Alta towards Canto Alto. Nature and education also come together within the city: the Museo Civico di Scienze Naturali Enrico Caffi displays mineralogical, geological, palaeontological, zoological and ethnographic collections and offers playful and educational activities along the visitor route.

The Orto Botanico di Bergamo Lorenzo Rota works to preserve endangered plants and supports projects for reintroducing endangered species into nature. Private guided tours are available for a fee when booked several days in advance, including in other languages. The Astino section of the Orto Botanico, called the Valle della Biodiversità, can be reached on foot from Città Alta in 25 minutes.

Cityscape and routes

The first funicular between Città Bassa and Città Alta was built in 1887. Another defining structure is Bergamo’s Venetian Walls. They extend for more than six kilometres and are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The walls were built in 1561 by the Republic of Venice as an example of Renaissance military architecture. Today, they can be explored on foot or by bicycle and offer views of the plain, the Orobie Pre-Alps and the city. The gun galleries of San Giovanni can be visited during events and as part of guided tours.

Cuisine

Traditional Bergamo cuisine includes Polenta Taragna, Brasato, Casoncelli, Creste Scalvine, Stracciatella and Torta Donizetti. This cuisine can be sampled in restaurants and traditional establishments, and purchased in historic shops and at local food markets.

Other destination pages

Other destination pages: Valbondione, Villa Dʼalmè, Stezzano, Stalettì, Selvino, Sarnico, San Pellegrino Terme, Predore, Orio Al Serio, Olda, Nembro, Medolago, Lovere, Leffe, Lallio, Cologno Al Serio, Clanezzo, Cavaglià, Castione Della Presolana, Bonate Sopra, Bergamo, Almenno San Bartolomeo, Fuipiano Valle Imagna, Rota D'imagna, Bagnatica, San Paolo D'argon, Ponteranica, Presezzo, Bossico, Osio Sotto, Treviolo, Cavernago, Roncola, Boltiere, Brusaporto, Fino Del Monte, Mozzo, Scanzorosciate, Brembate, Montello, Verdellino, Dalmine, Castro, Trescore Balneario, Palazzago, Terno D'isola, Zanica, Valtorta, Grassobbio, Urgnano, Riva Di Solto, Cisano Bergamasco, Treviglio, Villa Di Serio, Costa Volpino, Bianzano, Piazzatorre, Foppolo, Fonteno, Almenno San Salvatore, Camerata Cornello, Romano Di Lombardia, Telgate, Zandobbio, Branzi, Mapello, Serina, Azzano San Paolo, Pontida, Sorisole, Seriate, Solto Collina, Gromlongo, Cene, Oltre Il Colle, Cenate Sopra, Bagnella, Sotto Il Monte Giovanni Xxiii, Canonica D'adda, Alzano Lombardo, Fara Gera D'adda, Villongo, Ponte San Pietro, Carona, Costa Di Mezzate, Borgo Di Terzo, Gazzaniga, Paladina, Foresto Sparso, Zogno, Vigano San Martino, Aviatico, Misano Di Gera D'adda, Colere, Valleve, Schilpario, Clusone, Calcinate, Comun Nuovo, Brembilla, Tavernola Bergamasca, Endine, Selino Basso, Vall'alta, Scano Al Brembo, Chiuduno, Fontanella, Grignano, Colognola, Cassiglio, Palosco, Bottanuco, Carvico, Ghisalba, Arcene, Parzanica, Antegnate, Grumello Del Monte, Costa Valle Imagna, Calusco D'adda, Martinengo, Gromo, Ornica, Mozzanica, Monasterolo del Castello, Pumenengo, San Pantaleone, Vigolo, Oneta, Villassio, Ambria-spino, Barzana, Torre Boldone, Capriate San Gervasio, Spinone Al Lago, Locate Bergamasco, Albino, Rovetta, Bracca, Marne, Verdello, Gandosso, Bonate Sotto, Adrara San Rocco, Carobbio, Mezzoldo, Colla-muggiasca, Piazza Brembana, Bordogna, Brumano, Entratico, Roncobello, Fiumenero, Sant'Erasmo, Bariano, Averara, Malpaga.

For the overarching travel overview: Lombardy.