Bergamo and, in particular, its old part, ‘Upper Bergamo’, is truly a beauty; one of the most atmospheric cities in Lombardy, a real gem.
Its timeless charm comes from the cobbled streets lined with only quality shops and historic workshops.
Historical palazzi, ancient churches and a picturesque city wall also enhance the visit.
Getting to Bergamo is easy as the city is home to one of Milan’s airports, Orio al Serio.
From here, it is possible to reach Bergamo with a rented car or by public transport (lines 1 and 5).
For the uninitiated, Bergamo is divided into two parts: Lower Bergamo and Upper Bergamo, the latter developed on a hill.
The two towns are connected by a scenic funicular railway, bus and a, tiring if you are not so well trained, uphill road.
You can also get there by car, but parking is scarce at the top.
Let’s find out what to see in Bergamo with the itinerary on the map.
Let’s get going!
How to get to Bergamo
If you arrive by car, the advice is to park in Lower Bergamo and reach the old part by funicular railway.
If you want to go on foot, to the left of the funicular you will find the flight of steps leading to Upper Bergamo (in about 15 minutes).
The route is not suitable for pushchairs.
We decided to take the funicular up (tickets on sale on site) and walk down.
On the map, you will find the location of one of the cheapest car parks in Lower Bergamo, the funicular and the stairs leading to the Upper Town.
What to see in Bergamo
Upper Bergamo
Your visit to Bergamo could start from the Upper City, which is, without doubt, the most picturesque part.
Piazza Vecchia
Once at the top, head towards Piazza Vecchia, which is overlooked by Palace of Reason, Library Building, and the Campanone, the 53-metre high civic tower (it can be visited by climbing 230 steps or by lift, at a cost of 5 euro).
The Palace of Reason is the oldest municipal palace in Italy.
Climb the stairs to access the front door: the Palace is worth a visit inside as it houses the Fresco Museum.
Among the 100 frescoes present are those by Bramante, which once adorned the façade of the Palace of Podestà.
Admission to Palace of Reason is free unless there are exhibitions (price varies depending on the exhibition hosted).
If you are not interested in the exhibition, climb the steps anyway to admire from above Piazza Vecchia, the heart of Upper Bergamo, with the Contarini fountain towering in the centre.
The fountain was donated to the city by the Podestà of Venice in order to make water accessible to all citizens.
The sphinxes with the fountains have at their sides four lions, the symbol of Venice.
Cathedral Square
At this point, descend the stairs and cross the porticoes.
You will arrive in the presence of the three most important monuments of Upper Bergamo: the striking Colleoni Chapel, one of the finest examples of the Renaissance in Italy, the adjacent Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (which houses the tomb of Donizetti and Mayr, his master), and Bergamo Cathedral.
Only the visit to the Basilica has an entrance fee of 5 euro.
What to see in Bergamo: Piazza della Cittadella
Continue through the streets of the old town to reach Piazza della Cittadella, overlooked by the Archaeological Museum and the Natural Science Museum (both very interesting), and finally reach Largo Colle Aperto.
Here, one of the ancient city gates houses the Venetian coat of arms of St Mark’s lion.
Venetian Walls: Porta San Giacomo
Before returning to the Upper Town, head towards Porta San Giacomo (located near the funicular).
Porta San Giacomo, made of white marble, is one of the striking gates to the upper city.
It is part of the ancient city walls (Mura Venete or Venetian Walls) that are 5 kilometres long and recently added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Erected in the 16th century by the Venetian Republic in order to defend the city from enemy attacks, the Venetian Walls dominate Lower Bergamo and offer a breathtaking view of the surrounding panorama, from the city of Bergamo to that of nearby Milan.
From Porta San Giacomo, you can follow the downhill route that leads to the Lower Town in about 10 minutes, or come back up and take the funicular.
What to see in Bergamo: Lower City
Once you have descended from Upper Bergamo, head for the High City, which, as you will see, is very different from the more intimate and cosy part above.
Don’t miss the Basilica of San Alessandro in Colonna with its richly decorated and frescoed interiors, and priceless works such as Lorenzo Lotto’s ‘Lamentation over the Dead Christ’.
Piazza Matteotti, Bergamo’s young people‘s nightlife area and a venue for Christmas markets in December, is also very beautiful.
For a bit of shopping, take Via XX Settembre, full of shops and also places to get something to eat.
Where to eat in Bergamo
To sample typical Bergamo cuisine, go to Il Circolino in via Sant’Agata in Upper Bergamo.
If, on the other hand, you prefer takeaway, you will find a good choice of stuffed focaccias and pizzas by the slice at Il Fornaio in Via Colleoni.
And don’t forget to try Polenta e osei, the typical Bergamo dessert: it looks like polenta but is a sponge cake filled with hazelnut cream!
How long to stay
In my opinion, one day could be enough to visit most of the attractions that the city of Bergamo has to offer.
Certainly, with two days at your disposal you can take your time and perhaps take the opportunity to visit the surrounding area.
▶ Interested in a guided walking tour of Upper Bergamo?
Itinerary with Map
Below, you will find the itinerary with the major attractions of Upper Bergamo.
Visiting Bergamo with children
The Upper Town is perfect for visiting with children because it is cosy and the attractions can be reached on foot without any particular effort.
The sanpietrini pavement, on the other hand, is not ideal if your child still needs a pram.
If you do not have a model with wide wheels, equip yourself with a baby backpack.
What to do in Bergamo with children
If you are travelling with children, you will certainly make them happy by taking the funicular railway!
To let them relax for half an hour, find a playground at La Crotta garden, behind Piazza della Cittadella.
Take some time to visit the Museum of Natural Sciences, which is really beautiful.
Inside, there is also a space with tables, paper and markers where the little ones can get creative to draw a Citipati!
We did not attend, but we read that the Gamec (Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art) organises art workshops for children.
Half an hour away from Bergamo, then, you can find a wonderful attraction for children: the Leolandia amusement park.
It might be useful to know that in Piazza Vecchia, just below the steps leading to Palace of Reason, there is a pay toilet (1 euro).
Where to stay in Bergamo
Accommodation in Upper Bergamo is few and, therefore, slightly more expensive than in Lower City, which offers a wider choice.
We stayed in Cambiago, 20 minutes away, as it was centrally located to the tours we planned to take.
As Hotel Cambiago offers an excellent buffet breakfast, a gym and a swimming pool.
Massages and a wellness path, however, are charged separately.
We loved being able to park our car in front of our room.
The hotel also houses a restaurant (closed on Sundays) and is very close to excellent meat and sushi restaurants – check out the hotel rates.
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