Hotel
San Giorgio
Bergamo

Bergamo and its Upper Town

With the dual nature of mountain and plain cities it summarizes its urban dimension. Upper City, Historical and Medieval, Lower City, more functional and rich in villages.
Bergamo Alta can be reached in two ways: or with the funicular which starts from the lower city or on foot and when access is free you can also get in the car.

The first thing that will amaze you about Bergamo Alta are its Venetian Walls, proclaimed Unesco World Heritage. In fact, the upper city is surrounded by this city wall, dating back to Roman times and which was later rebuilt in medieval and Renaissance times. The city thus presents itself as a very characteristic hamlet, with its homes and shops which have still maintained their traditional appearance today. You can take a walk around the walls and admire the botanical gardens below you, while before your eyes a splendid panorama of the entire lower city will be presented.

Once you arrive in the upper city from the funicular, you can head towards the Piazza Vecchia, where the main attractions are located: the Angelo Mai Civic Library, the University of Bergamo, the Capannone, which was once the tower that rang at 10 pm, and even today it is remembered and played, for 100 chimes to remind the inhabitants of the closing of the city gates, and the Contarini Fountain. Along the street that leads to the square, you can also stop to take a look at the shops and cafes of the upper town.

From Piazza Vecchia, passing under the arches of the magnificent Gothic palace, you arrive in front of the Duomo of Bergamo, dedicated to Sant'Alessandro. The cathedral is an example of neoclassical and baroque style and inside you can admire the canvases of numerous artists. Next to the Cathedral stands the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, in Romanesque style, with biblical inlays from Lotto and confessional inlays from the Caniana Fantoni school inside, and the Baptistery, in which the remains of Donizetti, an illustrious figure of the city.

On the Piazza del Duomo of Bergamo Alta, next to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, there is the Colleoni Chapel, a Renaissance work by Giovanni Antonio Amadeo.

Leaving Piazza Vecchia behind you, continue towards Piazza della Cittadella, where the Civic Archaeological Museum and the Natural Sciences Museum are located. Passing the Citadel, you will arrive at Colle Aperto, where you can observe one of the four gates of Bergamo, the Porta di Sant'Alessandro. Also in via Colle Aperto is the Botanical Garden, now also home to the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures of Bergamo. There is a second funicular in Colle Aperto that takes you to Colle San Vigilio, where the Castle of the same name is located which in the past had a defensive function.

Bergamo in the surrounding area

Located a few kilometers from Milan, Bergamo is a city of rare beauty in the heart of Lombardy.

At first you come across Città Bassa, whose beating heart develops through a long tree-lined and porticoed avenue, i.e. the Sentierone, enclosed between shops and residential buildings (the work of the architect Piacentini); raising your gaze you can instead see Bergamo Alta, the oldest one with enchanting architecture, which majestically dominates the surrounding valleys, i.e. Val Brembana, Val Seriana and Val di Scalve, where you can walk or trek between the long alpine paths, cycle on the many cycle paths, or follow the cultural itineraries between the villages of Clusone and Crespi d'Adda, the only example of Italian industrial archaeology, a World Heritage Site.

There is also room for history in the Bergamo valleys, for example you can visit the medieval center of Gromo, in the Seriana valley, or the wonderful ethnographic museum of Schilpario, in the Scalve valley.

As in any self-respecting valley, you come across lakes and water sources that flow into wonderful waterfalls, such as those of the Serio, the second highest in Europe with their drop of 315 metres, truly spectacular.

In less than an hour you arrive at Lake Iseo, on the Bergamo shore, an ideal destination for those who want to enjoy a boat ride, take a swim or long panoramic walks on its shores.

Also not to be missed is a walk through the pretty towns of Sarnico and Lovere, overlooking the lake and counted among the most beautiful villages in Italy in 2003, among medieval streets and breathtaking views, which make them very suggestive and romantic.

Also interesting is a boat trip to reach Montisola, in the heart of the lake, the largest lake island in Europe and the two islets of San Paolo and Loreto, where it is possible to go on pleasant excursions on foot or by bicycle.

You can opt for a ride around the island cycling on pleasant paths lined with the lake and fields of olive trees and vineyards, or in the summer, immerse yourself in the waters to take refreshing baths or enjoy a typical dish in the various restaurants and trattorias present in the seaside resorts.

Other sites of cultural interest are:

• La Church of S. Tome, precious Romanesque style located in Almenno San Bartolomeo
• Under the Mount, in memory of Pope John XXIII, who was born there
• Sanctuary of Caravaggio, erected in 1432
• The Malpaga Castle, medieval residence of the famous leader Colleoni