Bergamo city

Bergamo is a fascinating city of art and culture waiting to be explored, and ideal for a quick visit or a longer stay.

Widely acclaimed as a city of rare beauty, Bergamo is famous for its wealth of artistic treasures and enchanting medieval atmosphere. It is a real life tale of two cities: “Città Bassa”, the busy and modern lower city, and "Città Alta", the upper city with its rich heritage of art and history.

Piazza vecchia The heart of the Bergamo Alta (the upper city) is Piazza Vecchia, one of Italy’s most beautiful squares and the symbol of the city. Originally built in the 14th century, it reached its present splendour under Venetian rule. The south side is dominated by the Palazzo della Ragione, the symbol of municipal power, flanked by the civic tower (XII-XV), otherwise known as “il Campanone” (“the Big Bell”), and the old Domus Suardorum (XIV-XV), home to Bergamo University. The 17th century building on the north side, with its impressive marble façade, houses the “A.Mai” Municipal Library, which has around half a million books and a priceless collection of works by Torquato Tasso. The elegant fountain in the middle of this spectacular square was donated by the Venetian podesta, Alvise Contarini (XVIII).   The Venetian walls Under the Republic of Venice in the 16th century, Bergamo bordered between the powerful cities of Milan and Venice and was fortified with a mighty wall extending more than five kilometres. Still very much intact with four huge gates, this splendid city wall offers a pleasant and popular stroll with panoramic views over the lower city, the plains and the mountains beyond. Museums and theatres You can find many important galleries and museums in Bergamo and its district, such as the Accademia Carrara, one of the world’s most famous art galleries, the Bernareggi Museum, the History Museum and the Natural Sciences and Archaeology Museums. Bergamo is also home to some beautiful museums dedicated to illustrious townsmen like the acclaimed composer Donizetti and Pope John XXIII, better known as “Good Pope John”. The Donizetti Theatre hosts a major music festival called “Donizetti e il Suo Tempo”, as well as an International Piano Festival and a packed calendar of plays, operas and jazz and dance productions.