Just cross one of the ancient gates of Bergamo Alta or go up with the historic funicular to find yourself in a historic center that still retains its medieval charm, made up of cobbled alleys, elegant squares and walls that tell centuries of history. Ours was a day trip, but enough to understand why this part of the city is considered one of the jewels of Lombardy. Here every road leads to a historic palace, a monumental church or a panorama that ranges from the Orobie Prealps to the Lombard plain.
How to get to Bergamo Alta: by funicular or on foot
As mentioned, the most characteristic way to reach the upper part is undoubtedly the funicular, active since 1887, which in a few minutes leads to Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe, the ideal starting point for the itinerary.
Those who prefer to move on foot can instead choose one of the suggestive (and not very easy) climbs that cross the Venetian Walls, a UNESCO heritage site, entering through monumental gates such as Porta San Giacomo, probably the most photographed thanks to its elegant white marble and spectacular view of the city below. Even the walking route, the one we chose, offers magnificent views and allows you to appreciate the gradual transition from modern Bergamo to its more ancient soul.
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Between Piazza Vecchia and Piazza Duomo: the heart of the city
Walking along Via Gombito, full of shops and historic venues, you quickly arrive in what many consider one of the most beautiful squares in Europe: Piazza Vecchia. Here time seems to have stopped. In the center the Contarini Fountain dominates, which unfortunately we found under renovation, while all around there are historic buildings that tell the story of the political and civil past of the city.
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What immediately captures attention is the famous Campanone, the Civic Tower over fifty meters high which still today, every evening at 10pm, rings one hundred bells, recalling the ancient medieval curfew, when the city gates were closed.
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Crossing the Palazzo della Ragione, the oldest municipal building in Italy, you reach Piazza Duomo, the true artistic and religious heart of Bergamo Alta.
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Some of the most important monuments of the city are concentrated here: the splendid Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, built in the 12th century as a vow to the Madonna during an epidemic; the Cathedral of Sant’Alessandro; the suggestive octagonal Baptistery and the extraordinary Colleoni Chapel, a Renaissance masterpiece dedicated to the famous leader Bartolomeo Colleoni.
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The Fortress and the walls: the most beautiful views of the city
Among the stages that struck us most there is certainly the Rocca di Bergamo, built on the hill of Sant’Eufemia and today immersed in the greenery of the Parco delle Rimembranze. From here the view is simply spectacular: the view takes in the roofs of the city, the surrounding valleys and, on the clearest days, reaches as far as Milan. The Fortress, born as a military structure and now home to the 19th century Museum, still retains the charm of the ancient fortifications.
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Walking along the Venetian Walls, about six kilometers long, means walking along one of the most important symbols of Bergamo. Built in the 16th century by the Republic of Venice, they today represent one of the best preserved historical heritages in Europe and offer a truly unforgettable panoramic walk.
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A city to be enjoyed slowly
Bergamo Alta is also a city to be savored. Among restaurants and trattorias you can taste traditional Bergamo specialities, such as casoncelli and polenta taragna, while the ice cream parlors and historic cafés that liven up Piazza Vecchia invite you to take a break and observe the life of the city. At the end of the day, you are left with the feeling of having visited a place capable of combining history, art, nature and medieval atmospheres in a rare balance. A perfect destination for a trip out of town, to be experienced without haste, simply letting yourself be guided by the curiosity and charm of its ancient streets.
