This guide of places to see in Bergamo, will help you to know one of the best preserved and most beautiful Italian medieval cities, making the most of the time.
Located in northern Italy in the Lombardy region, this city is divided into two parts: Ciudad Alta (Città Alta) and the Ciudad Baja (Città Bassa), connected by an old funicular. The Upper City, which is located on the hillside and top of a mountain, has the walled medieval old town and the most interesting points to visit and the Lower City, built mostly in the twentieth century, is the most modern and residential.
To get to Bergamo you can take a low cost flight to Orio al Serio airport, located 7 kilometers from the city, or take a train from Milan that takes less than an hour
Keep in mind that Bergamo is a city that can be explored perfectly in a day on foot and is usually included in a trip to Milan.
Based on the experience of the time we spent in this city during our trip to Milan and Bergamo, we have made a list of what we think, are the 10 places to visit in Bergamo essential. We start!
1. Piazza Vecchia
Piazza Vecchia, located in the heart of the Città Alta, is the prettiest square to see in Bergamo.
This medieval square, surrounded by historical buildings such as the Palazzo della Ragione, Palazzo del Podestà, the Civic Tower and the Palazzo Nuovo, has in the center the Fontana Contarin, an ancient fountain adorned with sculptures of lions and two sphinxes.
In addition to sitting on one of the terraces of the square, we recommend you go up to the Civic Tower, built between the 11th and 12th centuries, to enjoy the best views of the old town.
If you have the opportunity to spend the night in Bergamo, remember that at 22 o'clock the bells of this tower ring 100 times, following a tradition of centuries ago in order to warn of the closing of the gates of the walled city.
Piazza Vecchia
2. Palazzo Nuovo and Palazzo della Ragione
The Palazzo Nuovo and the Palazzo della Ragione, both located in Piazza Vecchia, are the Two most essential palaces to visit in Bergamo.
The Palazzo Nuovo, which took more than three centuries to build, was thought to be the seat of the Town Hall although it later housed the Angelo Mai Civic Library, one of the most important in Italy.
The building impresses with its marble facade and an elegant interior in which the atrium stands out with a carved tree-shaped lectern known as Colonna Camozzi.
The Palazzo della Ragione built at the end of the 12th century, is the oldest communal palace in Italy, was used as a court and inside you can see an impressive room full of paintings on the walls and a wooden ceiling.
Palazzo Nuovo
3. Cappella Colleoni
Cappella Colleoni, built between 1472 and 147 and located next to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, is another of the wonders to see in Bergamo.
This chapel, which is really a mausoleum, was done by demolishing an old sacristy to build a building that will house the tombs of Bartolomeo Colleoni and his daughter Medea, from one of the most powerful families in the city.
The facade of the chapel is made of polychrome marble in which white, red and black colors predominate and in which you can see several reliefs with biblical stories and statues.
Inside, in addition to the tombs of Colleoni and his daughter, there are several reliefs, a high altar and some beautiful frescoes that decorate the dome.
Keep in mind that although admission is free, you cannot take photos inside.
Cappella Colleoni
4. Via Gombito
Walking through Vía Gombito, the main street of the old town, is to move to the Middle Ages. In this street that begins in Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe you will find all kinds of shops, restaurants and cafes such as the popular Nessi pastry shop, where you can try Polenta e Osei, typical sweets of the region. Other charming corners of this street are the Fontana del Gombito and the Torre del Gombito of the thirteenth century, where you can climb its 200 steps to enjoy magnificent views of the city.
Another of the best streets to walk in Bergamo is Vía Bartolomeo Colleoni, a cobbled street a little shorter than Vía Gombito but of similar beauty.
Via Gombito, one of the places to see in Bergamo
5. Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
Entering the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, which began to be built in 1137 and was not finished until three centuries later, is another of the Top things to do in Bergamo.
This basilica that gains in beauty to the cathedral, is Romanesque Lombard style and has a facade without an entrance in which sculptures made of Verona marble stand out.
The interior of the baroque church is its most interesting part where you can tapestries of Florence decorating the walls, several tombs, a wooden choir and several frescoes.
Our recommended hotel in Bergamo
Our recommended accommodation in Bergamo is the Mercure Bergamo Palazzo Dolci, located near the train station in the Lower Town. In addition to its good connection to the airport and the city of Milan, this modern hotel has all the amenities, a full breakfast, attentive staff that speaks Spanish and one of the best quality / price ratios in the city.
6. La Rocca, one of the places to see in Bergamo
From this ancient fortification dating from the fourteenth century and located on the hill of Santa Eufamia, one of the best views of Bergamo is obtained.
In addition to the church of Santa Eufamia, in this complex there is a historical museum and a park where you can see several cannons and a World War II tank.
Bergamo from La Rocca
7. Castello de San Virgilio
Climb by funicular to the Castello de San Virgilio, located on a hill in the Upper City, is another of the Top things to do in Bergamo.
From this ancient fortress from which the towers are preserved, incredible views of the Città Alta are obtained and on clear days, you can even see the Swiss Alps.
8. Bergamo Cathedral
Walking through Pignolo you will reach the Cathedral of San Alejandro or Duomo of Bergamo, dedicated to the patron saint of the city and another of the buildings to see in Bergamo.
This church with origins in the 5th century AD, has a valuable pictorial set, several chapels and the tiara of Pope John XXIII.
Before leaving the Duomo square, do not miss the small Baptipterio located in front of the Cathedral, behind a fence.
Bergamo Cathedral
9. Convent of San Francesco
The Convent of San Francesco, located near Piazza Mercato del Fieno, dates back to the 13th century and is another of the Essential places to visit in Bergamo.
One of the great advantages of this convent is that there are not many tourists and it allows you to relax while visiting its two magnificent cloisters: Delle Arche and Pozzo.
In addition to admiring several frescoes made between the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries, from the convent terrace you have magnificent views of the city and the surrounding landscape of valleys and mountains.
10. Lower City
Once you have completed visits to the Upper City you can take a walk through the Lower City, the modern part of Bergamo that looks like another city.
In this area of large avenues such as Via Roma, there are some Interesting places to see in Bergamo such as the elegant Piazza Dante, the Donizetti Theater and above all, the Carrara Academy museum that has one of the most important pictorial collections in the country.
Lower Town
If you feel like helping us complete the list of the 10 places to see in Bergamo essential, add yours in the comments.
