20 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN BÉRGAMO

Here is a little secret: we have passed through Bergamo on numerous occasions, always to take a flight from your airport, but we had never visited it. Big mistake. Luckily, last year we decided to settle our debt with the Lombard city and spend a few days getting to know it. Verdict: we loved it. In this post we will tell you 20 things to see and do in Bergamo (Yes, there is life beyond the airport).

But first you have to know that Bergamo is divided into two zones: the Upper City, in which the vast majority of tourist attractions are concentrated, and the Lower Town, where there is something worthwhile ... and a pizzeria that we met thanks to our friend Luca, bergamasco DOC, and it was delicious. And yes, we are going to tell you what it is.

Now, as we promised, here they go the 20 things to see and do in Bergamo:

1. Take the cable car to get to the upper city. It is located on Viale Vittorio Emanuele II, 64 and the one-way ticket costs € 1.50. Obviously you can also walk, but if you want to save time and live a different experience, we recommend you to go up by funicular and down to paw (later we will tell you how and where). More information.

2. One of the most important squares in the city is the Piazza Duomo, which houses 3 of Bergamo's most prominent monuments. The first one, of course, is the Duomo, also know as Sant'Alessandro Cathedral (patron of the city). Inside there are paintings by Giambattista Tiepolo, among others.

3. We continue with the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore It was built in the year 1,137 as an act of thanks: in 1,100 a plague epidemic hit the city and the inhabitants swore that if the Virgin protected them, they would dedicate a church. So it was. It is worth seeing, especially inside.

4. Although there is a building in Piazza Duomo that steals all the prominence: we talk about the beautiful Chapel Colleoni. possibly the most majestic building in Bergamo. It was built between 1,472 and 1,476 by Bartolomeo Colleoni, a member of one of the most powerful families in the city, to ensure a mausoleum that empowered him even in the hereafter. They say that the priests of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore did not want to have him so close (let's say he was not a good Christian), so old Colleoni decided to take the initiative and leave so many talks ... what he did was simple and effective: he knocked down part of the church and thus found the perfect space to build his eternal house. What a character!

What is clear is that the Colleoni Chapel is a work of art and is also one of the best architectural examples of the Italian Renaissance. And soon it will take you to go from the sacred to the profane since all of Bergamo's people know that, if you want to load yourself with good luck, you have to touch Colleoni 's balls. Yes: you heard right ... you just have to look for them at the door of the chapel and dare to touch them. And don't look for 2 ... it's 3! Entrance is free.

5. A few steps from there is the Old Square (Piazza Vecchia), another jewel of the city. It is a medieval square that dominates the center of the Upper City. All the streets will take you to it, so you don't have to worry about the map or the GPS. in doubt, one of the most beautiful places and something to see in Bergamo.

6. In the center of this square you will see a fountain, the Fontana Contarini, which has a curious story: the lions, symbol of Venice, are not placed there by chance, but the fountain was donated by Alvise Contarini, who at that time was the ruler of the Republic of Venice (Republic of the Serenissima) . But the curiosities do not end here: in 1885, in the middle of Italian Risorgimiento, the fountain was dismantled and replaced by a monument of Giuseppe Garibaldi (Although they finally decided to put everything back as it was ... and the Giuseppe monument found a place in the Lower City).

7. Do not leave the square without seeing the Palazzo della Ragione, headquarters of the Angelo Mai Library and which in the past was Court. In addition, there is a solar clock known as “lo Gnomone” on the floor of its loggia. A curious and very handsome site.

8. Another notable Palace is the Palazzo del Podestá, where you can admire Roman archaeological remains (ground floor) and some Renaissance frescoes (upper floor). The ticket costs € 5 and includes a visit to Campanone, which we will talk about next ...

9. The Campanone It is the Civic Tower, symbol of the city. Campanone It means, literally "big bell" and it is not necessary a very hard research work to understand that inside there is a bell of remarkable dimensions (in fact it is the largest in all Lombardia). Curiosity: every day at 22:00 the bell rings 100 times. The reason? Remember that, once upon a time, the city gates closed at that time! For € 5 you can climb the 200 and peak steps that separate the square from its famous bell and enjoy the views from up there.

10. But it is not the only place from which to have the city at your feet. There is another tower to which you can climb: it is the Gombito Tower (open in spring-autumn). It was built in the year 1,200 to guarantee security to the Old Square. It's free.

11. The best, in our view, is wander aimlessly through the Upper City: Only then you will discover corners that do not appear in blogs or travel guides and in this way you can explore the city “in your own way”. Of course, for nothing in the world miss the Via Gombito, full of stores, shops and restaurants.

12. And speaking of restaurants ... one of the typical dishes of Bergamo is the Polenta and Osei, which translated would be "polenta (cornmeal) and little birds." This dish, which in other places would be a principal, in Bergamo is a dessert! Here the polenta really is not polenta, but a rum sponge cake, covered with marzipan and yellow sugar and filled with cream and chocolate, with the little birds made of marzipan and chocolate. The best place to try it is the Nessi pastry shop.

13. Very rich, yes ... but you can't leave Bergamo without trying a polenta really! A good place, cheap and informal, to do so is Polentone Città Alta. Try the polenta with wild boar ragout (€ 6). There is also a vegetarian option. If you are excited to try local food, you can join this tour of traditional gastronomy in Bergamo.

14. Did you know that in Bergamo the stracciatella ice cream? They say it was in La Marianna, a bakery / ice cream shop in Largo Colle Aperto, 4, Ciudad Alta. We went to investigate a little and the ice cream seemed super expensive (at least for Italian prices), so we went to try it here (outrage included) Do not you know what is stracciatella? It is ice cream with crunchy chocolate chips.

15. Today you can continue to see the Venetian city walls. The Venetians built them there by 1,561 to defend against possible attacks, and today they are perfectly preserved, so much so that they have been declared Unesco Heritage. In total there are about 5 km of walls and walking on them is one of the essential things to see and do in Bergamo (also the views of the lower city are wow!). Tip: go watch the sunset.

16. It is time to return to the Lower City, to do so avoid taking the funicular again and go down the Salita della Scaletta: the views are great and the stairs will allow us a shortcut (and a saving of money!). You will also pass near the small Church of the Madonna del Giglio.

17. If you like art you have to visit the Accademia Carrara, in the Lower City. Inside there are almost 1,800 paintings, among which works by Mantegna, Tiziano, Rubens, Tiepolo, Pinturicchio and Raffaello stand out. Admission is € 12.

18. To end the day nothing better than having a spritz or a beer in one of the many places in the Borgo Santa Caterina. The Beer Garage It is a very good option if you like craft beer. Prices: € 3-6. And no, we don't forget to recommend the pizzeria. Is named Marechiaro, really, the pizza is great. It is located in Borgo Palazzo, a quiet, residential and beautiful area of ​​Bergamo. It also has a restaurant with sea and land dishes but the pizza is amazing.

19. One of the most famous inhabitants of Bergamo was the composer Gaetano Donizetti, who gave the world works such as "Lucia di Lammermoor" or "L'elisir d'Amore" in which is the famous romanza "A furtive tear". You can visit the birthplace, the Donizettian Museum or take advantage of the stay to enjoy an opera in the Donizetti Theater. You can watch the programming here.

20. Do you have several days? Climb by funicular to the San Vigilio Castle, where the lords of Bergamo resided and dominated the entire city from a height of almost 500 meters. On a clear day from up there you can see nearby villages, Mount Barti and the Prealps.

We hope this article with the best 20 things to see and do in Bergamo I helped you on your trip to this stately city near Milan. And if you have questions or recommendations, leave us a comment!