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The best things to do in Mallorca, Spain
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Bergamo has just been elected Cultural Capital 2023, a perfect opportunity to visit! We really enjoyed exploring the city, discovering its heritage and history, then setting off to visit its region. Visiting Bergamo also means finding yourself in the heart of the Italian mountains in just a few minutes’ drive, and setting off to visit nearby villages like Clusone, for example.
In this article, we give you all our good addresses and ideas for things to do when visiting Bergamo in Italy. We hope it helps you to know what to do in Bergamo! All that’s left is to wish you happy reading and a great holiday in Italy.
The city of Bergamo is made up of two parts, the upper part called Città Alta, which corresponds to the historical and cultural center, and the lower part, more built up with residential neighborhoods. We only visited the upper part, which is more picturesque. First of all, we advise you to let yourself be carried along the cobbled streets, so that you can immediately appreciate the gentle atmosphere and the journey back in time that Bergamo has to offer. Then, follow our must-see list if you don’t want to miss out on any of the places of interest!
We suggest you start your tour of the old town with Piazza Vecchia. In this superb square in Bergamo’s city center, you’ll find a chapel, a basilica and a cathedral, all in one! If you’re a fan of Baroque architecture, you’re in for a real treat. Although the architecture on the outside is impressive, you’ll really realize the scale of the decor once you get inside the buildings. The square can quickly become overcrowded with guided groups, so make sure you get there early enough in the morning to enjoy it. Architect Le Corbusier is even quoted as saying that it’s the most beautiful square in Europe, no less! We had lunch on this square while picking up takeaway pizzas right next door, find the address a little further down in the article.
Wow effect guaranteed when you walk through the door of this Basilica…. The Baroque aspect has taken over the façade, the high ceilings are phenomenal and the gilded decorations impressive. It’s a must-see!
Stop by Bergamo Cathedral to admire its paintings, sculptures, gilding and architecture. It’s one of the reasons we love Italy! It’s a feast for the eyes.
Make your way to the gates of the walled city to admire the view over the rest of Bergamo and its surroundings. Here you can admire the extremely well-preserved Venetian walls, built in 1561. You can also stroll along the impressive viaduct, for photography lovers, you’ll be happy here!
This pretty square is worth a visit for its architecture, and you can also take the funicular that links the upper and lower parts of the city. We recommend you enter the small station and walk through the on-site café to admire the view from the terrace. A good place to have a coffee with a view!
Just east of the city, you can enter to discover Bergamo’s fortress di Rocca. Stroll through the garden inside the walls. Continue to the far end for a panoramic view of the city’s rooftops. A must-see address for a good visit to Bergamo.
If you’d like to visit Bergamo’s lower town, be aware that it’s much more modern and built-up than the upper part. Let yourself be carried along its streets, which often overlook the historic part! In this part of Bergamo, you’ll also find some great cafés and restaurants.
If you want to sleep in the heart of Bergamo’s old town, we recommend the GombitHotel address. This 4-star hotel is very well located, and offers very comfortable rooms which are ideal for visiting Bergamo on foot.
© Photos Hôtel GombitHotel – Booking
Visiting Bergamo also means taking the time to explore its surroundings. If you have the time, we recommend a visit to Clusone. This pretty town nestled in the heart of the mountains is surprisingly charming. We visited it with a guide from the Tourist Office, which gave the various monuments their full meaning. A must-see is the Piazza dell’Orologio, or Clock Square. This planetary clock indicates the days, months and hours, as well as the evolution of the moon and the signs of the zodiac. It’s a must-see monument that’s been meticulously restored. Stroll through the streets of the town center before beginning your ascent to the Church of Clusone, which is well worth a visit. Here you’ll discover an impressive monument and some fairly well-preserved frescoes, revealing Clusone’s religious life.
We stayed at the Hotel Garden, a handsome establishment offering several renovated rooms, beautiful communal areas and a tastefully furnished exterior. Breakfast is included in the price and served as a buffet, the ideal way to start a good day.
Looking for an unusual experience on your trip to the Bergamo region? Head to the fattoria della felicità for a 100% Italian cooking lesson! We had the chance to make our own pasta with the help of the chef, and had a lot of fun doing it. Afterwards, we enjoyed our dishes in a lovely rustic atmosphere. An experience we thoroughly enjoyed. Please note that you can come and eat at the farm restaurant without taking a cooking class.
What about taking advantage of being in the area to go hiking and immerse yourself in Italian nature? We decided to head for Lake di Gleno, at an altitude of 1530 meters. This is a place with a heavy past, as it was a dam that collapsed and was very deadly for the region. Today, a lake has been created here, and we propose a beautiful hike to access it and the ruins of the dam.
The hike takes about 1h30 one way from the village of Pianezza, where you can park easily. Be aware that it’s constantly uphill, so you’ll need to be in good physical condition. At the end of the trail, you’ll start to see the dam. It’s a very impressive sight! When we came there was a very thick mist so visibility was limited, but in fine weather it must be magnificent.
Far less touristy than Lake Como, Lake Iseo has many points of interest, starting with its charming villages. Not to be missed are Pisogne and Iseo. The lake is less than an hour from Bergamo and only 20 minutes from Cluzone. We recommend a trip there when you visit Bergamo.
What if you took advantage of being in northern Italy to extend your stay by going to Lake Como? That’s what we did, and we recommend this combo. Read all our tips on Lake Como in our dedicated article.
To find the best mode of transport to Bergamo to suit your budget, we recommend you always look on the OMIO comparator. This will give you an overview of all available modes of transport. You’ll be able to compare prices very easily.
If you want to rent a car during your trip to Bergamo in order to visit this beautiful corner of Italy, we advise you to look on the RentalCars website. This will enable you to find the best prices and conditions for your rental.
In order to find the best hotels and benefit from the best conditions (security, cancellation…) we go almost exclusively through Booking.com for our trips. We recommend that you take a look at the available hotels before you leave. You can filter them according to their ratings. There are plenty of recent customer reviews, so there are no unpleasant surprises when you’re traveling!
If you want to get ideas for things to do on your vacation and want to book in advance, we’d also recommend taking a look at the GetYourGuide website. This will give you an overview of the activities on offer in your destination, so you don’t have to wait until you get there to book your places.
This article was produced in collaboration with the Valseriana e Val di Scalve Tourist Office. Our opinions are personal and sincere.
We hope the tips and good addresses on our travel blog will help you visit Bergamo, Italy!
You can also follow our daily adventures on Instagram 🙂
Clem & Alex
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I love your blog! what camera do you use?
Hello Mariana!
Thanks for your comment. 🙂
We use a nikon Z6 with f2.8 lenses. Have a nice day!