Bergamo

<< Lombardy

Bergamo is a city in Lombardy, located at the foot of the Alps and composed of the old town in the hills (Città Alta, “Upper Town”), and the mostly modern area in the plains (Città Bassa, “Lower Town”). Settled in ancient times, Bergamo was a Roman city, and then the seat of a Lombard duchy in the Early Middle Ages. The city became a free comune in the 11th century and, after a period under the rule of Milan, it was part of the Republic of Venice from 1428 to 1797. Bergamo later followed the history of the rest of Lombardy. The city is now a major industrial and commercial center, also known for its rich cultural, artistic, and historic heritage.

✪ Palazzo del Podestà

Palazzo del Podestà is a medieval palace facing Piazza Vecchia in Bergamo. Erected during the 12th century and reworked several times, it houses the Museum of the 16th Century (Museo del Cinquecento). This museum is dedicated to the history of Bergamo during the Renaissance, showing how people used to live during those times. Palazzo del Podestà is topped by the Campanone, or Civic Tower (Torre Civica), a tall medieval tower that offers an amazing panoramic view on the surrounding region.

✪ Piazza Vecchia

Piazza Vecchia is the main square of the old town of Bergamo. The western side of the square is occupied by Palazzo del Podestà, while the Gothic Palazzo della Ragione stands to the south. This palace, erected in the 12th century and later reworked, houses an interesting collection of ancient frescoes. Meanwhile, Palazzo Nuovo, originally built during the Renaissance but featuring a 20th-century facade, is located on the northern side of Piazza Vecchia. Palazzo Nuovo houses the Biblioteca Civica Angelo Mai, a rich library with many historic volumes.

✪ Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is a church in Bergamo, adjacent to the city’s cathedral. Erected in the 12th century with some later additions, it is a great example of Romanesque architecture. The facade of the church features various decorations, such as a porch, various statues, and some Gothic elements. The basilica has a richly adorned Baroque interior, which houses several elaborate frescoes, paintings, sculptures, and other artworks. Some medieval frescoes can also be found inside the church. The basilica also houses a museum of religious art. The religious complex adjacent to the basilica features the Aula della Curia Vescovile, a hall adorned with medieval frescoes.

✪ Cappella Colleoni

Cappella Colleoni is a Renaissance church and mausoleum adjacent to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The chapel was built in the 15th century and it features a richly adorned facade, with numerous intricate decorations, reliefs, and statues. The church houses the elaborate funerary monuments of some members of the Colleoni family, and frescoes painted by Tiepolo.

✪ Accademia Carrara

Accademia Carrara is an art museum and academy established in the 18th century in Bergamo. The museum houses a rich collection of paintings by famous artists such as Raphael, Mantegna, Titian, Tiepolo, Rubens, Canaletto, Lotto, and many more. The museum also features numerous sculptures, drawings, and other artworks, as well as numerous other historic objects and pieces of decorative art.

Bergamo Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Sant’Alessandro

The Bergamo Cathedral (Duomo di Bergamo) is the main church of Bergamo, erected starting in the 15th century over a previous older cathedral. Reworked various times, it was only completed in the 19th century. The church features a Neoclassical facade, while its interiors are adorned with various paintings and artworks.

Bergamo Baptistery

The Bergamo Baptistery (Battistero di Bergamo) is located in front of the Bergamo Cathedral, and next to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and the Cappella Colleoni. Originally erected in the 14th century, it was later reworked and placed on its current position in 1900. The baptistery features a blend of Romanesque and Gothic elements, and it is adorned with various statues.

Tempietto di Santa Croce

The Tempietto di Santa Croce is a small Romanesque chapel located behind the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Bergamo. Erected during the 11th century, it is one of the most famous works of Romanesque architecture in the Province of Bergamo, and it houses a rich series of ancient frescoes.

Donizetti Museum

The Donizetti Museum (Museo Donizettiano) is a museum dedicated to composer Gaetano Donizetti, who was born in Bergamo in 1797. The museum houses numerous memorabilia, documents, and artworks showcasing the life and work of the composer.

Gombito Tower

The Gombito Tower (Torre del Gombito) is a tall medieval tower erected in the old town of Bergamo during the 12th century. It was one of many towers built in the city during the Late Middle Ages, and it survived despite its upper section being demolished in the 19th century. The tower has now been restored and it features a panoramic terrace with a great view on the city.

Rocca of Bergamo

The Rocca is a 14th-century fortified complex in the upper town of Bergamo. The structure was expanded a few times and it was used until the 19th century. Now restored, the fortress houses the Historical Museum of Bergamo (Museo Storico di Bergamo), a military history museum dedicated to the Italian Risorgimento.

Palazzo Moroni

Palazzo Moroni is a historic 17th-century palace in Bergamo. The palace features a garden, Baroque decorations, and various frescoed halls. Palazzo Moroni also hosts numerous artworks and ancient furnishings and documents.

Church of San Michele al Pozzo Bianco

The Church of San Michele al Pozzo Bianco is a small church in Bergamo. Founded in the 8th century, it was reworked in the Late Middle Ages and it features a 20th-century facade. The church is known for hosting a rich series of Renaissance frescoes painted by Lorenzo Lotto, and it also includes an crypt with medieval frescoes.

Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery of Bergamo

The Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery of Bergamo (Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Bergamo) is an art museum in Bergamo, located in front of the Accademia Carrara. The collection of the museum includes numerous paintings and artworks by 20th-century Italian and foreign artists, such as De Chirico, Morandi, Kandinsky, and many more.

Visconti Citadel

The Visconti Citadel (Cittadella Viscontea) is a 14th-century fort that was later abandoned and restored during the 20th century. The complex now hosts the Civic Archaeological Museum (Museo Civico Archeologico), a collection of archaeological findings spanning from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages, featuring rich Roman and Paleochristian sections. The Enrico Caffi Civic Museum of Natural Sciences (Museo Civico di Scienze Naturali Enrico Caffi) is also hosted here, and it features numerous fossils, as well as sections dedicated to zoology, entomology, and ethnography.

Lorenzo Lota Botanical Garden of Bergamo

The Lorenzo Lota Botanical Garden of Bergamo (Orto Botanico di Bergamo Lorenzo Rota) is a botanical garden located on a hill near the Visconti Citadel in Bergamo. The garden houses numerous plant and tree species mostly from the Alps and Northern Italy, but also some exotic ones.

Venetian Walls of Bergamo

Between 1428 and 1797, Bergamo was ruled by the Republic of Venice. During the 16th century, the Venetians built an imposing series of fortifications around the upper town of Bergamo, which are still well preserved to this day and have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The fortifications include the decorated city gates Porta San Giacomo, Porta Sant’Agostino, Porta San Lorenzo, and Porta Sant’Alessandro.

Adriano Bernareggi Museum

The Adriano Bernareggi Museum (Museo Adriano Bernareggi) is an art museum hosted in a historic palace in the lower town of Bergamo. Its collection is focused on religious art and it houses numerous paintings, statues, and other artworks.

Church of San Bernardino in Pignolo

The Church of San Bernardino in Pignolo is a Renaissance church in the lower town of Bergamo. Built during the 15th century, it is best known for hosting the San Bernardino Altarpiece (Pala di San Bernardino), painted by Lorenzo Lotto in 1521.

Church of Santo Spirito

The Church of Santo Spirito is a church erected in the Late Middle Ages in the lower town of Bergamo. Originally part of a monastery, the church was reworked during the Renaissance. Its interiors house several artworks, including the Santo Spirito Altarpiece (Pala di Santo Spirito) by Lorenzo Lotto.

Church of Santi Bartolomeo e Stefano

The Church of Santi Bartolomeo e Stefano is a church in the lower town of Bergamo. The church was built in the early 17th century and it is known for hosting the Martinengo Altarpiece (Pala Martinengo), a monumental painting by Lorenzo Lotto, completed in 1516.

Teatro Gaetano Donizetti

The Teatro Gaetano Donizetti is a historic theater built in the lower town of Bergamo during the 18th century. The theater is named after local composer Gaetano Donizetti, and it is surrounded by a park with a monument dedicated to him.

Basilica of Sant’Alessandro in Colonna

The Basilica of Sant’Alessandro in Colonna is a church built starting in the 15th century in the lower town of Bergamo, on the site of a previous church. The basilica features Baroque decorations and various artworks, but it is best known for the Colonna del Crotacio, a Roman column which stands in front of the church and is the supposed site of the martyrdom of Saint Alexander of Bergamo.

San Vigilio Castle

The San Vigilio Castle is a medieval fortress located on a hill near the upper town of Bergamo. The complex was expanded various times and for centuries it was part of the fortifications of the city. The structure remained in use until the 19th century. Now restored, it can be visited.