A Guide to Visiting Bergamo, Italy

Serious about visiting Bergamo in Italy? Right here’s what that you must know!

Fast Information:

Location: Lombard, Italy (40 km northeast of Milan)
Language: Italian
Forex: Euro

Brief Historical past: The Celts (folks from central Europe) based Bergamo 2000 years in the past. It’s UNESCO listed on the World Heritage Listing as an essential historic city of Italy. It’s filled with historic buildings, the Citadel (fort), Saint Maria church and library being only some of them.

Metropolis Information – Visiting Bergamo, Italy

The town of Bergamo actually is a bit of hidden gem in northern Italy, about an hour away from Milan. Whereas it usually will get missed given its shut proximity to Milan, Bergamo Italy will enthral you with its beautiful cobbled laned, euphoric climate and historic ambiance!

Higher but, this stunning Italian metropolis can be fondly known as town of artwork, and it definitely is gorgeous in a uncommon and distinctive approach.

Now in all transparency, the one purpose we knew concerning the place and considered visiting Bergamo was that it was the closest metropolis from the place our flight was leaving. So, it appeared just like the handy alternative on the time!

We had really first deliberate to stay in Milan, however since none of us actually wished to go there – we googled visiting Bergamo as a substitute. Some lad referred to as ‘Irish Tony’ satisfied us straight away – and we’re so comfortable we listened to his recommendation! We ended up embarking on one in every of our greatest journey experiences, however extra on that later…

The Metropolis

Bergamo is split into two components – an previous half, Cítta Alta (higher city), and a brand new extra fashionable half, Cittá Bassa decrease city. The previous a part of city is admittedly one thing further and needs to be your fundamental vacation spot. So, be sure to present your self sufficient time to discover all that it has to supply.

Whenever you step out of the little ‘funicular’ that takes you up the hill from the newer a part of city, it straight-away feels such as you’ve traveled again in time.

Bergamo has a protracted historical past that dates again about 2000 years. It used to belong to the Venetians, so the structure is similar to what you will discover in Venice.

We have been instantly enchanted by the medieval character of this metropolis.

One of the simplest ways to take pleasure in Bergamo is to easily stroll alongside the road. The previous city is fairly small, so you’ll in all probability see all the pieces by simply strolling round.

It appears previous however very properly preserved. It’s a comfy feeling strolling round on the winding, slim cobbled stoned streets, wanting into little chocolate and cheese boutiques, wineries and cafés promoting their very own specialties.

All retailers and eating places mix in properly with the homes. They actually seem like they’ve been there since ceaselessly, and lots of of them nearly have. In eating places they’ve previous pictures exhibiting the identical restaurant within the 40’s and older.

The town is ready on a hill with an awesome view over the newer a part of Bergamo (Citta Bassa), and (on a transparent day, which we by no means had) a view of the alps.

Meals in Bergamo

The meals costs in Bergamo are just about the identical in all eating places. Margheritas are about 4 euro, and pizzas with extra stuff on it about 8. However it’s so value it. I by no means thought I’d ever assume a pizza tasted recent, not to mention wholesome..!

What wasn’t an enormous success to me have been the muffins… In each café window you see these yellow little Polenta muffins in all sizes. They give the impression of being scrumptious, however as most muffins and sweets in Italy it appears higher than it tastes.

Tip: Right here’s an awesome food tour of Bergamo that features conventional dishes from rural Lombardy to modern Italian dishes from Bergamo.

Speaking about that, one factor right here that does look higher on the within than exterior are their cathedrals.

I’ve by no means seen so many unimaginable church buildings all squeezed into such a small place. Often a metropolis tends to have one good church and a bunch of boring wanting ones. In Bergamo, each church we went into was an overabundance and extravagance of gold, stunning actually previous work and structure that might make anybody turn out to be spiritual.

In case you are to go to just one cathedral, let it’s Il Dumo and colleoni’s chapel on the Previous Sq. within the previous city.

That is an city church and inside you can find the architectural marks of the totally different intervals that got here one after the opposite for the reason that time of the development.

They began already in 600 BC constructing a small one, and from then they constructed increasingly more and the church grew bigger and bigger.

You possibly can be part of a strolling tour of Bergamo to find the Higher City of Bergamo and its hidden cultural and architectural heritage. Book here.

Piazza Vecchia

That is the previous sq., within the coronary heart of Citta Alta (the previous city). Right here you’ll discover the 400 12 months previous library Biblioteca Civica, the Twelfth-century Venetian Gothic Palazzo della Ragione (Court docket of Justice) and the Twelfth-century Torre Civica (Civic Tower).

For those who stroll up the 230 steps to the highest of the 54m tower you’ll get a 360-degree view of Bergamo. The Fifteenth-century bell rings 180 occasions at 10pm every night time to commemorate the city’s medieval curfew.

Getting round Bergama

It’s fairly nice getting round by foot, strolling from the practice station to the funicular takes about 15-20 minutes.

In any other case bus #1 goes from the practice station to the funicular that takes you as much as Cítta Alta (the previous city). The funicular connects Citta Bassa with Cítta Alta.

You possibly can get a day go the place you may journey with all buses and the funicular as a lot as you want for a complete day (24h from the time you buy it). The value isn’t rather more than a a technique ticket, so it’s almost definitely the most effective deal.

You may also purchase a spread of different tickets, equivalent to 3-day passes or 1 day passes together with airport bus.

You should buy these tickets on the Bergamo airport ticket workplace, the bus station and from ticket machines.

Tips on how to get to Bergama

There may be an airport like ten minutes away from town referred to as Milan Bergamo Airport.

Finances air strains equivalent to Ryan Air and Wizzair fly into right here, though they promote it as Milan – simply so you realize! Seek for flights here.

From the airport you’re taking a 15 minute bus experience (bus quantity 1C) to the practice station within the middle of the brand new city of Bergamo. The ticket is legitimate for 90 minutes so you need to use the identical ticket to catch one other bus to the Cítta Alta funicular that takes you as much as the previous city.

You may also take a train or bus from Milan, it takes about an hour to get there.

Or, book a private transfer.

The place to remain in Bergamo

I actually suggest ‘B&B al vicolo’. We stayed there ourselves and it’s an awesome place. It’s like an enormous residence with three bedrooms (one with a double mattress and the opposite two with a number of beds).

Two very good and clear loos upstairs and a eating space and TV lounge downstairs. Plus you get an enormous good yummy breakfast! 

B&B al vicolo

• Vicolo Sant’ Andrea, 2a – Bergamo – Italia
• [email protected]
• Cellular: +39 338 3848911
• It prices about 40 Euro for a double room.

Issues to do in Bergamo Italy

Go to the Tempietto di Santa Croce

That is by far one of many best-kept secrets and techniques of this unimaginable metropolis as you’ll immediately be amazed by all the stone buildings and the historical past of this place – we positively have been! It’s an 11^th-century chapel that you would simply miss, so place shut consideration when strolling by means of.

When you head inside you’ll be welcomed by an unlimited choice of murals. All of which even date again all the way in which to the Center Ages! Simply observe that it’s only open at chosen occasions all year long. That being mentioned, simply standing exterior of it’s magical sufficient.

Have dinner at Il Cicolino

This one could come as shock as a result of this location is definitely a former jail however that provides to all of its distinctive appeal and thrill. For those who meander by means of the pedestrian path you’ll discover a classic picket door – stroll by means of it for the last word Italian eating expertise.

You can be served genuine Italian delicacies while the music from the streets waltz in behind you. There are additionally loads of decadent wines so that you can take pleasure in and a formidable dessert emu too!

Go to the Museo Donizettiano

You possibly can’t come to this a part of Italy and never have a cultural expertise too, which is why this superb museum is making its debut on this record! This particular museum dates again all the way in which to 1906 and it’s a assortment of works that remember the well-known Italian composer Donizetti.

The interiors of this constructing are immaculate with the sheer quantity of artwork that it homes. From work to frescoes and courtyards, you’re in for the expertise of a lifetime – even should you aren’t very into artwork, it’s positively value visiting!

Go to the Torre Civica

That is really the native bell tower, and it presents you probably the most beautiful panoramic views of town in addition to the complete Piazza Vecchia (which is positioned in the midst of the Previous City). That is the world’s tallest tower, and it towers at about 52 meters.

Take a domestically guided tour by means of Bergamo Italy

In case you are searching for a extra holistic method to your journey adventures by means of Bergamo Italy, then I extremely counsel doing issues on a extra native stage and taking one of many many guided excursions that town has to supply!

Whereas with a guided tour you should have much less freedom to do your personal factor, that is your greatest technique to see as a lot as attainable in a shorter period of time. You may also select between doing the extra food-based excursions or historic website seeing – the selection is all yours!

We extremely counsel this private walking tour which incorporates discovering the charming previous streets on Bergamo and most of the high sights together with Piazza Vecchia, Palazzo del Podestà, Palazzo della Ragione, the Civic Library, and the Cathedral.

Now, all that’s left so that you can do is start your journey visiting Bergamo Italy – town that can make you fall in love in a matter of seconds!