A Guide to Visiting Bergamo, Italy

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

Fast Details:

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

Brief Historical past: The Celts (individuals from central Europe) based Bergamo 2000 years in the past. It’s UNESCO listed on the World Heritage Listing as an vital 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

Town of Bergamo actually is a little bit hidden gem in northern Italy, about an hour away from Milan. Whereas it typically will get ignored given its shut proximity to Milan, Bergamo Italy will enthral you with its attractive cobbled laned, euphoric climate and historic environment!

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

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 truly first deliberate to stay in Milan, however since none of us actually wished to go there – we googled visiting Bergamo as an alternative. Some lad referred to as ‘Irish Tony’ satisfied us immediately – and we’re so blissful we listened to his recommendation! We ended up embarking on one among our greatest journey experiences, however extra on that later…

The Metropolis

Bergamo is split into two elements – an outdated half, Cítta Alta (higher city), and a brand new extra trendy half, Cittá Bassa decrease city. The outdated a part of city is absolutely one thing additional and needs to be your principal vacation spot. So, be sure that to provide your self ample time to discover all that it has to supply.

While 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 an extended historical past that dates again about 2000 years. It used to belong to the Venetians, so the structure is similar to what you could find in Venice.

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

The easiest way to take pleasure in Bergamo is to easily stroll alongside the road. The outdated city is fairly small, so you’ll most likely see every thing by simply strolling round.

It seems outdated however very properly preserved.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

All outlets and eating places mix in properly with the homes. They actually appear to be they’ve been there since eternally, and plenty of of them nearly have. In eating places they’ve outdated photographs displaying the identical restaurant within the 40’s and older.

Town is about 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 might ever assume a pizza tasted contemporary, not to mention wholesome..!

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

Tip: Right here’s an awesome food tour of Bergamo that features conventional dishes from rural Lombardy to up to date 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. Normally 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, lovely actually outdated work and structure that may make anybody develop into non secular.

If you’re to go to just one cathedral, let it’s Il Dumo and colleoni’s chapel on the Previous Sq. within the outdated city.

That is an city church and inside you will see the architectural marks of the completely 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 and the church grew bigger and bigger.

You’ll be able to be a 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 outdated sq., within the coronary heart of Citta Alta (the outdated city). Right here you’ll discover the 400 yr outdated library Biblioteca Civica, the Twelfth-century Venetian Gothic Palazzo della Ragione (Courtroom of Justice) and the Twelfth-century Torre Civica (Civic Tower).

Should you 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 instances 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 prepare station to the funicular takes about 15-20 minutes.

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

You’ll be able to get a day cross the place you possibly can 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 way more than a a method ticket, so it’s most certainly the most effective deal.

You can even purchase a variety of different tickets, resembling 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.

Learn how to get to Bergama

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

Price range air traces resembling Ryan Air and Wizzair fly into right here, though they promote it as Milan – simply so you recognize! Seek for flights here.

From the airport you’re taking a 15 minute bus journey (bus quantity 1C) to the prepare station within the heart of the brand new city of Bergamo. The ticket is legitimate for 90 minutes so you should utilize the identical ticket to catch one other bus to the Cítta Alta funicular that takes you as much as the outdated city.

You can even 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 advocate ‘B&B al vicolo’. We stayed there ourselves and it’s an awesome place. It’s like an enormous condominium with three bedrooms (one with a double mattress and the opposite two with a number of beds).

Two very good and clear bogs 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
• alvicolosandrea@tiscali.it
• Cell: +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 constructions and the historical past of this place – we undoubtedly had been! It’s an 11^th-century chapel that you would simply miss, so place shut consideration when strolling by way of.

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

Have dinner at Il Cicolino

This one might 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. Should you meander by way of the pedestrian path you’ll discover a classic picket door – stroll by way of it for the last word Italian eating expertise.

You may 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 powerful dessert emu too!

Go to the Museo Donizettiano

You’ll be able to’t come to this a part of Italy and never have a cultural expertise too, which is why this wonderful museum is making its debut on this listing! 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 in case you aren’t very into artwork, it’s undoubtedly value visiting!

Go to the Torre Civica

That is truly the native bell tower, and it provides you probably the most attractive panoramic views of town in addition to your complete Piazza Vecchia (which is positioned in the course of the Previous City). That is the realm’s tallest tower, and it towers at about 52 meters.

Take a regionally guided tour by way of Bergamo Italy

If you’re on the lookout for a extra holistic method to your journey adventures by way of Bergamo Italy, then I extremely recommend doing issues on a extra native degree 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 individual factor, that is your greatest strategy to see as a lot as attainable in a shorter period of time. You can even select between doing the extra food-based excursions or historic web site seeing – the selection is all yours!

We extremely recommend this private walking tour which incorporates discovering the charming outdated 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!