Where is Bergamo Italy – The City on 2 Levels

Bergamo is a city in Lombardy, Italy sitting on 2 levels. Città Bassa, the lower level, is the modern city of Bergamo, while Città Alta, the upper level, is a medieval jewel.

Getting to Bergamo, Italy

Bergamo is easy to reach from Milan by train or bus. The ride from the Central Station in Milan takes about 50 minutes, and the ticket costs 5.50€. You can buy your train tickets for your journey to Italy here. Another option is to travel by bus from Milan, they just cost a bit more.

Also, Bergamo has an international airport, so you might land here if you’re going to Milan. If so, save at least a few hours to visit Bergamo.

It’s easy to get into the city from the airport using the local transport.

Things to do in Bergamo, Italy

Take the funicular to the upper Bergamo city

From the station in the lower city, take the funicular to the upper city, Città Alta. The ride takes 3 minutes, and a ticket is 1,30€. If you’re in town for one day, the best option is to buy a 24h tourist ticket for 5€ that you can use for the buses in the city, as well as the 2 funiculars. You can click here to see all the other options.

Visit Città Alta

The station in the upper city is close to the center of the town, in Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe.

Make your way to the heart of the city, Piazza Vecchia. There are many things to see here for such a small place. Don’t miss the Cathedral (Duomo) and Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, both of them are spectacular and free to visit.

Everywhere you turn, you will stumble across a church, a palace, or a fountain. There are also a couple of towers, the Accademia Carrara Museum, and my favorite – Il lavatoio – which was a place where women gathered to wash clothes in medieval times.

Go to San Vigilio Castle

For a view from above Città Alta, take the second funicular called San Vigilio to the San Vigilio Castle. The view is amazing, and you can walk downhill to the city afterward.

Try the ‘polentine’

Polenta is a very popular dish in this part of Italy, it’s comfort food served with meat or sausage, that goes really well on a chilly evening.

Something different here is the ‘polentina’ which is a corn-based cake, resembling a classic polenta, but sweet.

The Venetian Walls

The Venetian Walls embrace Bergamo Alta with more than 6km of high walls built by the Republic of Venice in the 16th century. Walk along the walls, you will get a lot of great views and photos.

The Venetian Walls in Bergamo are also recognized as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

When to visit Bergamo Italy

You can visit Bergamo all year round but, if you don’t like rain, avoid the fall season. Spring and summer are probably the most comfortable times to wander around Bergamo.

Where to stay in Bergamo

If you fall in love with the city, here are a few places to stay:

• Villa dei Venti Apartment
• Le Mura Suite
• B&B Bergamo Rota’s House

If you’re looking for another day trip from Milan, don’t miss out on Lake Maggiore.

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