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Visit Bergamo

Bergamo is situated in the Lombardy region, to the north-east of Milan

The town is divided into two quite separate parts: the Bergamo Alta ["Upper Bergamo"] is the ancient centre, surrounded by walls and rich in beautiful monuments. It is modelled according to the medieval plan of the town, with narrow and winding roads. The Bergamo Bassa [Lower Bergamo] has evolved where already in the Middle Ages there were some villages outside the walls, and today the modern city is still growing.

Bergamo: a stimulating cultural itinerary.

If your interest is in savouring Bergamo's Art, you will be satisfied, because in Bergamo there are extraordinary artistic works, both in painting and architecture. For the best far-reaching views, you can follow the path up the hillside to the north-east of the city to the botanical gardens at Orti Botanico Lorenzo Rota (gardeners will also enjoy exploring these gardens).

Arriving in Bergamo

In Upper Bergamo we come across four gates erected during the domination of Venice, towards the end of the 16th century. If you arrive from Venice you will pass through the gate of Saint Augustine [Porta San'Agostino], if from Milan, you arrive at the Porta San Giacomo; if from the Alps, the Porta San Lorenzo, and finally, if you arrive from the Adda, you meet the Porta Sant'Alessandro." From each of these city gates, through some narrow roads, you will move towards Piazza Maggiore, where you can admire some of the monuments and mansions typical of the city, including: the Podestà's Palace", the "Palace of the Region", the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Cathedral and the Colleoni Chapel.

If you instead arrive in Bergamo at the railway station follow Via Torquato Tasso that runs as far as the Renaissance Church of Santo Spirito. From here you can see the mansions of noble families, such as of the Tasso, Martinengo, Mazzoleni, Gratarola along the road to Pignolo.

Going beyond the Fontana del Delfino ["Fountain of the Dolphin"] you come to the Church of St. Augustine, the walls built during the Venetian dominion and the "Rocca" [Fortress], built in the fourteenth century by King John of Bohemia, and surrounded by a park of exceptional beauty.

Bergamo Artists

Some of the best known Italian and foreign painters of the Renaissance worked in these beautiful mansions and churches. Among the painters who worked in Bergamo are Giovambattista Tiepolo (1696-1770), Giambattista Moroni (1510-1578), Lorenzo Lotto (1480-1556), Vittorio Ghislandi, (nicknamed "Fra' Galgario") (1665-1745), a renowned portrait-painter of the nobility from Bergamo, Evaristus Baschenis (1617-1777), author of some splendid "Still Lifes" and many.

Today many of the works of these painters are located in various Italian and foreign museums, and in Bergamo itself at the "Accademia Carrara" Art Gallery you can see some works, of incredible beauty, by Andrea Mantegna (1431-1506) , Squarcione (1397-1468), Tiziano (1473 c.-1576), Perugino (1450-1323), Raffaello (1483-1520), Pinturicchio (1454-1513), Canaletto (1697-1768), and Van Dyck (1599-1641).

Exploring Bergamo - other highlights

We conclude our artistic review, noting some other architectural highlights. See the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, which was begun in 1137 by "Maestro Fredo", above all for the portal to the north preceded by an arcade created by Giovanni di Ugo da Campione in 1353. Another masterpiece is the Colleoni Chapel, built between 1470 and 1476 by Giovanni Antonio Amedeo (1781-1864), a work in Renaissance style.

Inside the Colleoni Chapel admire the funerary statue of Medea Colleoni, daughter of the leader of mercenary troops Bartolomeo Colleoni (1400-1475). The work is by Giovanni Antonio Amadeo, and the statue was brought to Bergamo in 1842 from the Church of Santa Maria della Bosella at Ugnano.

Another imposing monument is the so-called Torre dei caduti ["Tower of the fallen"], in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, beside " Piazza Dante" and Piazza della Libertà , a work created between 1919 and 1929 on a plan by Marcello Piacentini (architect - Rome 1881-1960).

Places to visit near Bergamo

If you then want to have a rest in the outskirts of the city, there are really exceptional attractions of the Bergamo's country, especially known for the castles including the castles of Malaga, Predore, Cologno, Brembate, and many others throughout the hills and the flat country.

Another local architectural highlight you will see as you explore are the numerous barn-shelters.

Of course, there are typical restaurants, displaying the sign "Local dishes from Bergamo". In the wine bars you can then taste the local wines of the countryside around Bergamo.

Related article: to best appreciate a visit to Bergamo and the many influences that have shaped the town we see today it is useful to first have a brief look at the history of Bergamo.