• Art & Culture
    • Unesco Sites

Bergamo, Crespi d'Adda

For 53 years starting from the end of the 19th century, Crespi d’Adda was the embodiment of the “company town” dream.

Now, the settlement is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and represents a veritable industrial archaeology treasure trove.

It’s certainly not one to be missed for anyone who loves architecture or merely enjoys discovering new stories. The settlement had everything its inhabitants needed: a school, a hospital, a wash house and even an indoor swimming pool replete with showers and… hot water!

Like all small towns, Crespi d’Adda also had a church, a store, a cemetery and dozens of houses with their own allotments and gardens for the employees of the mill, as well as small villas belonging to the managers.

The skyline of the complex – created by a dynasty of cotton manufacturers on the Bergamo bank of the River Adda – is dominated by the mill’s dizzyingly tall chimney, huge windows and fired brick decorations.

Crespi d’Adda – which was the first town in Italy to have street lighting – is still inhabited today, mainly by descendants of plant workers. Guided tours are run for small groups, while school parties and larger groups can book in a visit all year round.

Take me here: Bergamo, Crespi d'Adda

On the same topic

Not to be missed: Top 12 tourist attractions in Milan

  • Art & Culture
Not to be missed: Top 12 tourist attractions in Milan

Angera and the Open Air Museum

A beautiful lakefront and a very picturesque aura in the province of Varese
  • Art & Culture
Visit Angera and surroundings: some tips

Strolling through Milan's southeastern agricultural park

  • Art & Culture
Milan South Agricultural Park

10 good reasons to visit Como

  • Art & Culture
10 good reasons to visit Como

The Cloister of Voltorre

The monastic art of the Cloister of Voltorre
  • Art & Culture
The monastic art of The Cloister of Voltorre

Treasure Hunt in the Monza Area of Brianza

Splendid villas, ancient basilicas, noble palazzos. The Monza area of Brianza is full of treasures to discover
  • Art & Culture
Oratorio di San Vittore

Walking through time between Grosio and Grosotto

The most extensive historiated rock in Europe
  • Art & Culture
Walking through time between Grosio and Grosotto

More than just cows

Everything you need to know about the Baronchelli dairy farm. A trip to Lodi to discover what's behind the milk we drink
  • Art & Culture
More than just cows

Podcast: "Elsewhere in Lombardy"

Boundless beauty
  • Art & Culture
@inLombardia_Adobestock

Monuments Bergamo

Bergamo and its province offer monuments of rare beauty. Discover the main monuments to visit
  • Art & Culture
Monuments Bergamo, choose what to see in Lombardy

Castles in Valtellina

A dive into the past between castles and towers in Valtellina
  • Art & Culture
A journey into the past among castles in Valtellina

Milan in the 1920s: Déco and tradition

  • Art & Culture
Milan in the 1920s: Déco and tradition

Diocesan Museum

Pre-view of the exhibited art-works
  • Art & Culture
Diocesan Museum

Monuments Como

Como, with noble palaces, elegant architecture and monuments, is an ideal destination for cultural tourism
  • Art & Culture
Monuments Como, ideas for visiting

FAI Landmarks in the Province of Varese

Cultural Treasures in a Stunning Natural Setting
  • Art & Culture
Aerial photograph of Villa Panza in Varese, showcasing the main building with its elegant neoclassical architecture and well-maintained geometric garden. The image features hedges, symmetrical flowerbeds, fountains, and a large park with lush trees, surrounded by historic buildings and the urban landscape in the background.

16th Olympic Games of Violin-making

4 settembre - 10 ottobre 2021
  • Art & Culture
16th Olympic Games of Violin-making

A Welcome Card to visit Cremona

Your Sightseeing Pass
  • Art & Culture
A Welcome Card to visit Cremona

Urban sculptures and works of art: Lombardy's open-air museum

Lesser known statues, monuments, and works of art, concealed within the streets and piazzas of Lombardy's cities: a prestigious artistic heritage is waiting to be discovered 
  • Art & Culture
Opere e sculture urbane: il museo a cielo aperto della Lombardia

Autumn trip to villas and castles

An autumn adventure of history & beauty: explore the autumn charm of Lombardy's villas and castles.
  • Art & Culture
Autumn trip to villas and castles

Monuments Mantua

The Gonzagas have made Mantua a jewel of the Italian Renaissance visible in its palaces, monuments, churches, culture and traditions
  • Art & Culture
Monuments Mantua, ideas for visiting