Bergamo

Bergamo is one of the most charming cities in Lombardy. Divided into two parts – modern Citta Bassa and historic Citta Alta – it offers not only beautiful views, but also excellent cuisine and unique atmosphere. If you have even a few hours, it's worth stopping here. This is a place that fully captures the Italian spirit and is not as popular among tourists. Bergamo is often undervalued because most tourists immediately move on. Wondering how to get here from the airport? Check here!

Citta Bassa

This part of Bergamo consists of modern buildings, shops, restaurants and communication centers. Although it's less atmospheric than Citta Alta, it also has a lot to offer. Above all, classic Italian streets without crowds of tourists, unlike Milan. Elegant avenues, squares, shops and restaurants. It's pleasant to walk through Sentierone square, where various events are often organized and you can find a market in the morning. Then walk along Via XX Settembre street, along which shops are located. Further on, you can visit the Basilica of St. Alexander in Column church. Meanwhile, walking along the main road from the station, at Porta Nuova, a beautiful view of Citta Alta situated on the hill unfolds before us.

Where to eat in Citta Bassa

You must try stracciatella ice cream, because it's in Bergamo where it originated. We went to the ice cream shop Gelato al Quadrato located on Via Torquato Tasso, 1a, 24121. They have a wide selection of flavors, creamy and generous portions of ice cream, including stracciatella ice cream. If you want a proper meal, La Scagna at Via Gianbattista Moroni, 31 is worth checking out, although we couldn't get a table. The reviews are quite convincing, so if you decide to go there, we recommend making a phone reservation in advance. When choosing a restaurant, it's important to carefully check opening hours and days. In most places in the lower city, siesta lasts even until late evening hours. This must be taken into account when planning meals. If you're looking for a place for good coffee with the best pistachio croissant, you'll find it at Rive Gauche Bistrot at Via Gianbattista Moroni, 10, 24129. The croissants are admittedly unusual because they're made with yeast dough instead of French pastry, but with phenomenal pistachio cream with white chocolate.

Ice cream from Gelato al Quadrato

Breakfast at Rive Gauche Bistrot

Citta Alta

How to get to Citta Alta

The upper city - as the name suggests, is located on a hill, so the best way to get there is the cable-ground railway – Funicolare di Bergamo. The ticket costs 1.70€ (you can buy it at an ATB machine). The ride takes a few minutes and is an attraction in itself – the car climbs up a steep slope, and the views along the way are impressive. You can also reach the upper part of the city by public bus operated by ATB. You can also walk there. The walk is not long, but with a steep climb. You can also use the cable car one way and walk down on foot.

Citta Alta information

When in Citta Alta, it's worth visiting the main Piazza Vecchia Bergamo Alta square, which you can reach by walking up the main promenade from the cable car. There you'll find buildings such as: Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica and Duomo Cathedral in Bergamo - it's worth going inside to see the beautiful, richly decorated interiors. In addition to following the main promenade, it's also worth getting lost in the side streets, which are less crowded, free of souvenir shops and restaurants, but are also atmospheric and beautiful. It's also worth going outside the city and walking along the Venetian walls. Walking along them you can find the main gate, Porta San Giacomo. When in Citta Alta, you can go even higher to Castello San Vigilio. Many tourists forget about this and skip this place. To get there, you can use the second cable car (Funicolare S. Vigilio) starting behind the historic Porta Sant'Alessandro gate or climb on foot while admiring the city panorama in the background. Although only part of the castle demolished in 1797 was restored, it's worth visiting this place because the hill is an excellent viewpoint. Entrance to the Castello is free, which is also a great advantage.

Gate to Citta Alta - Porta San Giacomo

Venetian walls around Citta Alta

Where to eat in Citta Alta

If you get hungry while exploring the upper city of Bergamo, we have some recommendations for dishes and snacks worth trying and where to find them. In Città Alta you'll find many atmospheric trattorias. First of all, when in Bergamo it's worth trying the famous casoncelli alla bergamasca from this region, traditional dumplings with meat filling, sage butter and grana padano cheese. We also tried something less regional: scarpinocc mantecati burro e salvia serviti con fonduta di gorgonzola dolce a tartufo nero estivo, similar dumplings with cheese filling, sage butter served with gorgonzola fondue and summer black truffle. We found this at the trattoria Mimì • La Casa dei Sapori located on the main promenade of Citta Alta (address - Via Bartolomeo Colleoni, 26, 24129). The restaurant's atmosphere and locally made products appealed to us, so we can personally recommend this place for lunch! After a savory meal, it's worth trying a dessert, another delicacy from this Lombardy region - polenta. It's a characteristic yellow sponge ball, usually with nut filling with rum, surrounded by marzipan and sugar, but you can find various types in shops. To get it, you don't need to look far - right after exiting the cable car to Citta Alta there's a café Nessi (address - Via Gombito, 34, 24129). There you'll find polenta in various sizes. However, walking up the promenade you can encounter many other cafés or pastry shops, behind whose windows these regional sweets are displayed. If you want a small snack, it's worth stopping at Il Fornaio (Via Bartolomeo Colleoni, 3, 24129), where they serve really fluffy pizza by the slice with various interesting toppings. Don't be surprised if you find a long queue at the checkout.