Bergamo

The city is made up of two elements. The first, known as Città Alta (‘upper town’), is the city’s Old Town. Full of winding cobbled streets and narrow alleyways, this part of Bergamo is one to get lost in. Notably, the Alta is surrounded by Venetian defence systems originally built in 1561, which give the city its prized UNESCO World Heritage site status.

Map of Bergamo

The other part of the city, Città Bassa (‘lower city’), has much wider streets, which are lined with hip bars and restaurants. The two are linked to one another by an old-fashioned red cable railroad, which gives tourists unrivalled views over the city.

But how did Bergamo grow to be the place it is today? Well, the site of the city used to be an ancient Celtic settlement. In 49 BC it was municipilised by the Romans, but five and a half centuries later, it was paved by Attila the Hun.

Then began the reign of the Kingdom of the Lombards, followed by a period of independence. In 1428 however, the Duchy of Milan ceded Bergamo to the Kingdom of Venice. Venice then gave up its direct rule during the Italian Wars, meaning Bergamo changed hands yet again.

Eventually, Bergamo became a part of the unification of Italy in 1859.

The main sights in the city’s old Upper Town include: the 14th-century Visconti Citadel, the Cattedrale di Bergamo e Battistero, and the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. The Tempietto di Santa Croce is another landmark, a hidden Romanesque gem dating back to the 11th century.

Anybody wishing to view both a fine art collection and a fantastic example of unique architecture can drop by the Accademia Carrara. With the art gallery Bergamo has one of the finest Renaissance collections in the world, featuring works by Bellini, Botticelli, Raphael and Titian. Bergamo also used to boast two main cathedrals, although only one remains in the Upper Town, next to the Piazza Vecchia square.

Cuisine in the city is hearty and rustic. Polenta targana is a speciality, a plate of cornmeal-based snacks with an assortment of cheeses. For afters, why not continue with a polenta cake with chocolate in the shape of birds (polenta e osei)?

Casoncelli alla bergamasca is the city’s signature pasta dish: pasta with a meat filling served in a rich butter sauce. Risotto alla bergamasca is a local classic too, with a fine example being a creamy, gloopy risotto with mushrooms.

The city also serves fantastic pizza, one place even having even been awarded the DOC status of excellence.

The city is served by Il Caravaggio International Airport, which is the third-busiest airport in Italy. Bergamo is also the second most visited city in Lombardy after Milan.