Bergamo's topography is the very first thing that tourists see on arrival. It rises abruptly on the 16th century bastions at the top of its hill. This distinction is manufactured extra stark by The point that the decrease streets are lined with Neoclassical or present day structures while the aged town's narrow lanes weave haphazardly concerning Romanesque and Renaissance constructions. Most tourist sights can be found in the outdated upper town Citta Alta.
A funicular connects the two parts of Bergamo, rendering it much more obtainable as opposed to steep and winding roads that produce both end. These streets result in the aged city in the magnificent gates. Two of them aspect the Lion of St. Mark. It is a reminder of how Bergamo, together with A great deal of northern Italy was when part of a Venetian Republic.
This useful guide will assist you to discover the top Bergamo points of interest.
Citta Alta
The Citta Alta is the preferred spot to go to in Bergamo. It's the outdated city with medieval and Renaissance buildings, perched in addition to a rock outcrop. You are able to access it by taking the funicular to Piazza del Mercato delle scarpe. This slim sq. results in the slim, stone-paved By using Gombito. Listed here you will see a patrician tower-home known as the Torre di Gombito. It had been crafted about 1100.
By means of di Porta Dipinta is down below the gorgeous church buildings of San Michele al Pozzo Bianco, and Sant'Andrea. (In the former is actually a Madonna Inthroned With Saints By Moretto). By means of Gombito is lined by patrician properties that have tiny stores at Avenue level. It contributes to Piazza Vecchia.
Piazza Vecchia
This sq. is situated in the middle of the previous town and features a exceptional assortment of patrician households and the Palazzo della Ragione (city hall). The piazza's upper edge is dominated with the twelfth-century Palazzo della Ragione's stone staircase, and loggia with a few Gothic arches, which was mainly rebuilt in mid-1500s.
The late-Renaissance Palazzo Nuovo is situated around the reduced aspect. It properties the municipal library. The Contarini Font is in the center. It can be decorated with lions and another Lion of St. Mark may be noticed seeking down with the major. The upper corner includes a cafe that lets you take pleasure in the scene.
Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica of St. Mary Big).
The archway at Piazza Vecchia's top rated is Piazza del Duomo, which incorporates many of Bergamo’s most remarkable architectural treasures. Santa Maria Maggiore is a Romanesque basilica that was built-in 1137. It's got a tower with stepped backs around the crossing and an elaborate choir.
The doorways to your church's aspect are guarded beneath lovely Gothic canopies by lions (1353 and 1306). You can find wonderful Renaissance choirstalls and Baroque stuccowork within, along with 16th-century tapestries and side-aisles. Area admirers continue to leave fresh new flower tributes into the tomb of Donizetti, a Bergamo indigenous who's buried right here.
Cappella Colleoni (Colleoni Chapel)
As you move into Piazza Duomo, You can not overlook Bergamo's most hanging facade adjoining Santa Maria Maggiore. The Cappella Colleoni, a masterpiece in early Lombard Renaissance style, has a wonderfully decorated facade crafted from multicolored inlaid margarine.
The chapel was designed 1470-76 to house the spouse and children shrine of Condottiere Bartolomeo Coleoni and Medea. It had been also created by Giovanni Amadeo who also designed the tombs in just. In 1732, Giambattista Tiepolo extra ceiling paintings.
Art Gallery of the Accademia Carrara
The Accademia Carara is among Italy's most prestigious art museums. It may be reached by means of a stepped lane that qualified prospects down from Porta Sant'Agostino. You are able to see about five hundred paintings and 60 sculptures at any given time. These are definitely chosen from greater than one,500 paintings, and a hundred thirty sculptures.
These collections contain works of Lorenzo Lotto and Palma il Vecchio together with operates from Anton van Dyck and Albrecht Durer.
Cinta Muraria und town Gates
The Cinta Muraria, an previous city surrounded by a lot more than four kilometers worthy of of walls produced from the Venetians, is surrounded by them. Viale delle Mura proceeds to stick to them from Porta Sant'Alessandro close to the Donizetti Museum. It then passes Porta San Giacomo which is considered the most stunning with the town gates. Last but not least, it goes past Sant'Agostino's church to Porta Sant'Agostino. Viale Vittorio Emanuele I descends from this gate to the center of your reduced city.
The beautiful wall process consists of 14 bastions and a hundred cannon embrasures. There's also 4 gates and two armories. Underground passages and tunnels can also be provided. UNESCO World Heritage Web site.
Cathedral of Sant'Alessandro
The cathedral of Sant'Alessandro is situated at the Piazza del Duomo. It had been in-built 1459 and it has a Neoclassical façade and dome that were additional in 1889. You will see gorgeous Baroque choir stalls and paintings by Previtali, Tiepolo and Moroni within.
The church treasury also incorporates a number of silver reliquaries. It features the Tiara of beatified Pope John XXIII. This Tiara is adorned with pearls and diamonds, rubies, rubies, and emeralds. Within the Chapel of St. Vincent and St. John XXIII, you'll discover his tiara, chalice and all kinds of other items.
Baptistery
The Baptistery is located to the best of Cappella Colleoni. It is actually an unusual, octagonal creating that dates back again to 1340. It had been to begin with situated in Santa Maria Maggiore. In 1661, it absolutely was taken down and stored. It was reassembled in 1856 and once more re-erected in 1898.
It really is surrounded by statues that characterize the Virtues Religion, Hope Charity, Justice, Prudence and Temperance. They day again into the 14th Century. It's got a Gothic baptismal fountain in its center, whilst the altar powering it homes a marble statue representing St. John the Baptist.
Museo Civico di Scienze Naturali (Organic Science Museum)
The Piazza Vecchia is attained with the By means of Colleoni, which operates north to your Citadel. It houses a great museum that exhibits all-natural science, archeology, ethnography and paleontology.
You'll find a sizable, reconstructed mammoth as you enter. This exhibit pertains to the early twentieth century discovery of huge portions of mammoth stays while in the Petosino basic.
The Hall of Mammals within the museum displays fossils from this region. The museum residences much more than a thousand ethnographic artifacts. These are typically generally from early travellers to Africa plus the Americas. They are often interpreted not merely as curiosities but additionally for their inventive and cultural benefit.
The museum is supplied with sensory characteristics that make it easy to use for people who have impaired sight. An English Variation of audio guides is on the market.
Piazza Matteotti
Piazza Matteotti is found in the center of Bergamo’s Lower City (Citta bassa). It is actually surrounded by attractive gardens, parks and monuments. The Piazza Vittorio Veneto also has the Torre dei Caduti being a war memorial. The twin neoclassical gateways more info of your Porta Nuova can be found opposite. From there, the Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII proceeds south to your prepare station.
The primary traffic artery of Bergamo Is that this street and Viale Vittoria Emanuele II that operates through the Piazza Vittorio Veneto up for the higher town. East of Piazza Matteotti will be the Teatro Donizetti. Over the east aspect, you'll find a monument to Gaetano Donizetti.