The city of Bergamo, located at the foothills of the Alps, finds its place on many itineraries owing to its airport. Given the chance (and the time), it is a beautiful “two-tiered” city to visit. Frequent trains connect Bergamo and Milan, making it a fantastic destination for a day trip from the fashion capital.
On a sunny spring morning, about a year ago, we spent a day exploring the beautiful Città Alta of Bergamo.
A pleasant walk (of approximately a kilometer) from Bergamo station past several pretty piazzas brought us to the funicular that would take us from Città Bassa to Città Alta, up the hill.
Piazza Vecchia, in the Historic Center
We loved strolling through the narrow cobbled streets of the Città Alta to reach the Piazza Vecchia. The impressive Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Colleoni Chapel, the Baptistery, and the Palazzo della Ragione are a feast for the eyes! After appreciating the Medieval and Rennaisance architecture, take a ride up the elevator of the bell tower, Torre Civica (or Campanone), for splendid views over Bergamo. The bell in this tower tolls 100 times every night at 10 pm (unfortunately, we visited during the day, and did not get a chance to hear it).
And we saved the best for last!
La Rocca and Parco delle Rimembranze, Looking Near and Far
The complex of La Rocca and the Parco delle Rimembranze offers the most delightful views of the area. We sang praises of the views over the towers and domes of Bergamo, while Junior hummed a happy tune as he scampered around a bright yellow tank in the park.
Sweet Tooth
During our stroll in the city, we could not resist trying the Polenta e Osei, a special dessert from Bergamo.