Situated on a hilltop and ringed by ancient defensive walls, Bergamo's picturesque Città Alta (High City) boasts fantastic views of the Lombardy plains. It's the second city of Lombardy, but as Milan is the first, it is often overlooked on the tourist trail. This is very sad, as the old part ... Read review
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Advantages: Not brimming with tourists, good art and architecture Disadvantages: Only enough tourism to last a day or two
...as the old part of Bergamo has some stunning and important rennaissance art and architecture.
On a Sunday afternoon, it seems like the entire population takes the funicular railway up to the Città Alta to take a walk following the walls or the cobbled streets. Here, they eat ice-cream, meet with friends and show off their clothes, their dog, their children. Showing off is something the Bergamaschi love to do and they do it rather well ... .../>
Nightlife in Bergamo is a bit of a problem. There are a couple of good Irish pubs in town, but a local story says that after the Second World War, the priests decreed that there would be peace in the city until the year 2000. This means that, despite the dawn of the new millennium, all nightclubs are still out of town and only reachable with a car. Great. Make mine an orange juice. If you don't mind missing out on the dancing (and the ... more
Situated on a hilltop and ringed by ancient defensive walls, Bergamo's picturesque Città Alta (High City) boasts fantastic views of the Lombardy plains. It's the second city of Lombardy, but as Milan is the first, it is often overlooked on the tourist trail. This is very sad, as the old part of Bergamo has some stunning and important rennaissance art and architecture.
On a Sunday afternoon, it seems like the entire population takes the funicular railway up to the Città Alta to take a walk following the walls or the cobbled streets. Here, they eat ice-cream, meet with friends and show off their clothes, their dog, their children. Showing off is something the Bergamaschi love to do and they do it rather well (they have a national reputation for snobbishness).
The Piazza Vecchia (Old Square) is at the centre of the ancient city and it is here you'll find Bergamo's cathedral and baptistery. Clad in pink, white and green marble, they are important examples of Lombard rennaissance architecture. Unfortunately, the later wedding cake interior of the cathedral is pretty hideous compared to the simple beauty of the exterior. There's also a gloriously gross tomb belonging Donizetti, covered in cherubs weeping desolately at the death of the syphillitic composer.
The best works of art are to be found in the main art gallery, the Accademia Carrara where, again, much is of the rennaissance period. I have to admit that your average tourist won't find too much of interest here when the collection is compared to the Big Name treasures of Florence or Milan, but it's a pleasant enough way to spend an hour. However, for anyone really into their art history, their are some great works by less well-known painters.
So, you've had your fill of culture for the day, aren't you hungry yet? The only good, cheap place to eat in Città Alta is Circolino, a co-operative bar-cum-restaurant run by the friendliest people *ever* (really). Sandwiches, salads and a blackboard's worth of hot meals (including the local speciality pasta, Casoncelli alla Bergamasca) are dished up to a clientele largely made up of pensioners and students (I said it was cheap, didn't I?) and rarely tourists, as it's tucked away just off the main street. As the other restaurants at the top of the town are overpriced and aimed at tourists, I'd head back down to the Città Bassa (Low City), the newer part of town, for loads of restaurants and pizzerias, almost all of which serve decent grub at decent prices (not difficult to find in Italy, let's face it).
Nightlife in Bergamo is a bit of a problem. There are a couple of good Irish pubs in town, but a local story says that after the Second World War, the priests decreed that there would be peace in the city until the year 2000. This means that, despite the dawn of the new millennium, all nightclubs are still out of town and only reachable with a car. Great. Make mine an orange juice. If you don't mind missing out on the dancing (and the music in the local clubs is pretty run-of-the-mill chart dance anyway), some of the pubs and bars in town are open until 2am so you should be able to keep yourself occupied.
It might seem like I'm putting Bergamo down a bit in this review. I'm not, honestly. For all it's disadvantages, it's a lovely town with plenty to do. It's just that, compared with other tourist destinations in Italy it doesn't quite measure up. However, if you're on holiday in Milan or at Lake Como and have a day or two free in your timetable, I'd say it's well worth a visit.
ps. please note that the categories below don't describe the best way to see Bergamo (as part of a tour of Lombardy) or how I came to be there (I lived there for a year as a student) so I've picked the closest categories possible
...to visit Bergamo. Bergamo is situated at the feet of Orobiche Alps. It si divided in two parts, the high and lower part. Locals are mocked over the country for their Funny way of describing the 2 parts in the their dilect, which is reputedly one of the most difficult to understand to anyone who was not born there. The main monument is Palazzo della Regione dating back to the 12th Century. Next to it is the tower of the county hall, from the 13th ... ...old medieval walls. Bergamo is also a place where you can have good food. I would recoomend you try "polsetto di vitello alla bergamasca" a very tender piece of veal and "Polenta e codeghi", which is the traditional Polenta with a speacial kind of salami. Wash your meal with one of the wines form the nearby valleys, Inferno and Sassella are my favourites. ...
NATALIA70 29.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Bergamo (Italy)
I travel a lot around Italy for work, and I am in the lucky enough position to visit quite a few restaurants.
Albergo Ristorante Al Sole is one of my favourites when in Bergamo.
Below is the address.
Via Mazzini, 54 - 24047 - Treviglio - (Bergamo) - Italy
Tel. 0363/49161
The restaurant is run by the family Giussani.
As a starter, I would recommend "insalata tiepida di polipo" or "ostriche e cappesante" or "antipasto misto di pesce della casa" ... ...first course, my favourites are "tagliolini all'astice" or "tagliatelle con polpa di granchio" (this is a kind of thin pasta with crabs".
For the second course, ask for the fish of the day, which is really fresh.
To finish everything, try "sorbetto al limone" or one othe hand made cakes, the one with blackberries is greaaaaaaaaaat!!
The wine list is good, although, I always had the house wine by the glass, not to fall asleep in the afternoon!
...
CICLISTALOCO 19.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Bergamo (Italy)
Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
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