Lombardia: Bergamo

Hotels Restaurants Sights Shopping

I stay in the Citta Alta (there is parking) and I rarely head down to the lower town when visiting Bergamo. However, if you’re staying in the lower town, just take the funiculare up to the Citta Alta for an enjoyable day or night. The upper town is perfect, medieval and filled with treasures (churches, restaurants, streets and squares). Most of the upper town is traffic free and wandering is my favorite thing to do here. The Piazza Vecchia is the center of the upper town and has some restaurants, bars and a fountain in the center. Surrounding it are the Palazzo della Ragione (the oldest town hall in Italy — 1199) with the Venetian lion, the bell tower (Torre del Commune gongs 180 times at 10pm) with a 15^th century clock and the Palazzo Scamozziano. The small Piazza del Duomo connects to the Piazza Vecchia by the arcades of Palazzo della Ragione. Capella Colleoni, Santa Maria Maggiore and the Battistero (Baptistry) are located here. The beautiful Capella Colleoni was designed and built in the 15^th century (Amadeo). The marble façade is ornamental with different colored marble, statues, sculptures, detailing and do note that the frescoes on the ceiling inside are by Tiepolo. The tombs of Colleoni and his daughter Medea are here. The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is next door to the Capella. It has a beautiful Baroque interior (lots of gold), tapestries and the tomb of Donizetti. The octagonal Baptistry, with the rich red marble and statuary on the façade was originally supposed to be part of Santa Maria Maggiore but was torn down and rebuilt in it’s current location in 1898. Just to the left of the Baptistry is the duomo with its ornate interior and 19^th century façade. Throughout the old town are palazzos and lovely homes. The fortress or Rocca (14^th century) houses the Museo del Risorgimento e della Resistenza. Beyond is the Parco della Rimembranza. The Galleria dell’Accademia Carrara in the lower town/Citta Bassa is located in an 18^th century palazzo (founded by Giacomo Carrara). It has some fabulous works from the Venetian school as well as Flemish, Italian and much more. There are some truly fabulous treasures located here. Market days are Monday and Saturday in Bergamo.