Often overshadowed by Italy’s bigger names, Bergamo is a medieval hilltop city with great food and plenty to see, and deserves a place on your itinerary.
After a roughly seven and a half hour flight from the UAE, Bergamo is a surprisingly easy city to
settle into. It is often overlooked in favour of better known neighbours such as Milan, Verona
and Venice, but spend some time here and it becomes clear that Bergamo deserves attention in
its own right.
The city is split between Città Bassa, the modern lower town, and Città Alta, the historic upper
city sitting on the hillside above it. The contrast between the two gives Bergamo much of its
character, with the old city feeling a world away from the streets below.
One thing worth knowing when booking flights is that the airport is called Milan Bergamo, but
Milan itself is around an hour away by train. Tickets cost roughly €8, making it easy to visit Milan
separately while using Bergamo as the starting point for a trip around northern Italy.
The easiest way up to Città Alta is the Funicolare Città Alta, which has been carrying visitors up
the hillside since 1887. At the top, narrow cobbled streets lead through the old town, with small
restaurants, food shops and local businesses tucked into the old buildings. You can spend hours
simply walking around, stopping for coffee, lunch or gelato along the way. Some of the shops
even have windows where you can watch fresh pasta being made.
Piazza Vecchia is the centre of Città Alta, surrounded by historic buildings including the Palazzo
della Ragione and the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. From here, you can climb or take the
lift up the Campanone for views across the city, or continue higher towards San Vigilio Castle.
Food is another reason to spend time here. A quick scan online and you will see posts about Il
Fornaio, and honestly for good reason. Their focaccia-style pizza slices are piled high with
toppings and sold by weight. The burrata-covered options are particularly popular. It gets busy,
but the pizza is worth joining the queue for.
Bergamo is also the birthplace of stracciatella, so there is no shortage of places serving the
chocolate and cream gelato classic.
Then there are the Venetian Walls, which wrap around the historic city and have UNESCO
World Heritage status. Walking along them gives you some of the best views of Bergamo,
particularly around the white marble Porta San Giacomo.
For sunset, head back towards the funicular station and find a seat at the bar overlooking the
lower city. It is a good place to sit with a drink after a day of walking around the old town.
Bergamo is also well placed for exploring further. Lake Como and Lake Garda are both within
reach, with local tours available or the option to hire a car and head out independently. We
found driving around the area straightforward and reasonably affordable.
Bergamo may not have the immediate recognition of Milan, Venice or Verona, but that is exactly
why it can be so easy to overlook. Spend a couple of days here and there is plenty to eat, see
and explore, with the added bonus of having two of northern Italy’s best known lakes within easy reach.
Discover: Bergamo, Italy: The northern Italian city you should not overlook.
