Bergamo

The city of Bergamo is one of those Northern Italian cities that seem to balance elegance and authenticity in equal measure. Nestled at the foothills of the Alps in Lombardy, it has long served as a link between the plains of Milano and the mountain routes leading to the lakes and beyond. Its dual layout – Città Alta (the Upper Town) and Città Bassa (the Lower Town)– immediately captures the imagination. The medieval walls enclosing the old upper city stand in stark contrast to the modern avenues below, a physical reminder of centuries of transformation and resilience.

The city’s history goes back to ancient times, founded as a Celtic settlement before becoming a Roman municipality. Throughout the Middle Ages, Bergamo prospered as a Lombard duchy and later as part of the Venetian Republic, whose influence still shapes much of its architecture and urban layout. The Venetian walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are perhaps the clearest symbol of that era, stretching over six kilometres with panoramic views across the Lombard plain. Bergamo’s prosperity and strategic location often attracted foreign powers, yet it managed to retain a strong sense of local identity rooted in craftsmanship, trade, and music.

What makes Bergamo special today is the way it preserves that layered past without turning it into a museum piece. Walking through the narrow, cobbled streets of the Città Alta feels like a journey through time – Romanesque towers, Renaissance palaces, and Baroque chapels all coexisting within the same square. Yet, the lower city hums with modern life: cafés brimming with conversation, boutiques tucked along tree-lined avenues, and a lively student presence lending a youthful edge. The funicular linking the two parts of the city is not just transport – it’s a brief crossing between two worlds.

Every visitor should begin in Piazza Vecchia, the graceful heart of the upper city, flanked by the Palazzo della Ragione and the Torre Civica. From there, the ornate Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore and the adjoining Colleoni Chapel beckon, stunning examples of Lombard artistry. The Accademia Carrara holds one of Italy’s finest collections of paintings, while a stroll along the Venetian walls at sunset offers an unforgettable panorama of the city and surrounding countryside. For a touch of nature, the Parco dei Colli provides tranquil walking trails just minutes from the medieval gates, rounding off what makes Bergamo such an exceptional Italian gem: compact, cultured, and effortlessly beautiful.

Bergamo
Italy