Do you know Bergamo?
If not, we’d love to introduce you to this Northern Italian gem, surrounded by Venetian Walls and stacked atop hills that make it a multi-tiered medieval city.
Here’s what you need to know about Bergamo, only a short train ride away from Milan.
Image Credit: Getty Images, RomanBabakin. Image Location: Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Bergamo, Italy.
Get to know Bergamo
🚉 Main train station: Bergamo
🚆 Journey time by train from Milano Centrale: ~ 1 hour
🍲 Hometown food: Casoncelli alla Bergamasca
🍷 Local vino: Valcalepio
Where is Bergamo in Italy?
Bergamo is located in Italy’s Lombardy region. It’s only an hour away from Milan by train and two hours by train from Lake Iseo in the Italian Lakes District.
What is Bergamo known for?
Let’s be real: many travelers know Bergamo—or rather, its international airport—as a convenient place to fly in to then immediately head to Lake Como. Those who actually visit one of the most popular cities in Lombardy will know that it has its own grape varietal, is the hometown of renowned bel canto opera composer Gaetano Donizetti, and boasts a history dating back to before the Romans got there.
What are the most popular things to do in Bergamo?
One of the most popular things to do in Bergamo is ride the funicular up to the top of the two-tiered medieval city. Walking the Venetian Walls, the Piazza Vecchia, and Roccia di Bergamo are also visitor highlights.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Freeartist. Image Location: Bergamo, Italy.
What to do in Bergamo for first-timers
If the only things to do in Bergamo on your list included the Venetian Walls and ducking into the odd restaurant, museum, or shop, you’ll still have a lovely visit. Here are a few specific sites to add to your itinerary if you have the time:
- Climb the Tower of the Fallen: This memorial to the fallen soldiers of WWI has six stages that cover the wartime history of the city as well as the construction of the tower.
- Admire the Accademia Carrara Museum: Over 300 paintings covering 500 years of artistry fill this Italian art museum.
- Explore the Civic Museum of Natural Sciences: If you’re looking for educational engagement but would rather skip more cultural history museums, head into the Civic Museum of Natural Sciences to see collections ranging from the fossils found throughout the province to the animals currently roaming right outside the museum doors.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Alexander Spatari. Image Location: Bergamo City Cathedral, Italy.
Free things to do in Bergamo
Prefer to plan your itinerary using as few pennies as possible? Here are a few free things to do in Bergamo:
- The Castello di San Vigilio
- The Colleoni Chapel
- Bergamo City Cathedral
- Bergamo Botanical Garden
- Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Unusual things to do in Bergamo
Bergamo has its quirky attractions if you look hard enough. Take the Puppet Museum, for example, founded to continue spreading the cultural significance of puppetry in Bergamo and celebrate their beloved local puppeteer, Benedetto Ravasio.
Or you could eat a brick.
Okay, not a real brick. The Dolce M’Oro is a dessert created to resemble the bricks of the Venetian Walls. You should be able to pick one up at the Brembati Pastry Shop.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Peter Adams. Image Location: Old Square, Bergamo, Italy.
Where to eat and stay in Bergamo
Bergamo is in the Lombardy region of Italy so expect a lot of Lombard staples on your plate: rice, butter, cheese, and meat. For a classic pasta, casoncelli alla bergamasca is the local specialty. Wander over to the appropriately named Trattoria Casoncelli for a dish.
The only 3-star Michelin restaurant in Bergamo is Da Vittorio. It’s outside of the city center, but the Albano S. Alessandro train station is only a 3-minute cab ride away. Brisket and lobster ravioli, roasted pigeon with endive and beet, and mustard-marinated pumpkin are on the menu. There are two other 1-star Michelin restaurants if you want a more casual dining experience: Impronte and Villa Elena.
Plan a stay near the Bergamo train station without bunking in an Italian sleeper car. Petronilla is a boutique abode with a wellness area that includes an infrared sauna, massage shower, and wooden Jacuzzi. The B&B Hotel Bergamo is a little more casual and cheaper if you’re only in town for a spell.
Download the Trainline app and plan a day trip to Bergamo from Milan today.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Simone Tiraboschi. Image Location: Bergamo, Italy.