• Art & Culture

Bergamo Upper City

Medieval atmosphere on the top of a hill

Bergamo is divided into two cities: the modern and dynamic lower city, with its tree-lined avenues of viale Giovanni XXIII, the Sentierone and viale Vittorio Emanuele II, and the high city, with its picturesque and enchanting historic old town.

 

Bergamo Alta, surrounded by its walls, perched on a hill, has retained its centuries-old Medieval and Renaissance appearance, represented by piazza Vecchia and piazza del Duomo. And if Palazzo della Ragione and Santa Maria Maggiore date back to the period of the medieval communes, an absolute masterpiece such as the Colleoni Chapel, built to host the mausoleum of the leader and his daughter, brings visitors back to the Renaissance age.

On one side of Piazza Vecchia you will find Palazzo della Ragione (built in the 12th century and subjected to various renovations in the centuries that followed) and palazzo del Podesta to the left, a symbol of Venetian power over the city, built in the 14th century yet frescoed by Bramante in 1477 (the remains of these paintings are now housed in the Sala delle Capriate hall of Palazzo della Ragione).

Be sure to take a walk around the walls of the city: from the 16th century gate of Porta Sant'Agostino, surmounted by the lion of Venice, to the gate of Porta Sant'Alessandro, near the citadel built by the Visconti in the 14th century, to the gate of Porta San Giacomo, located along the ramparts which strengthened the city walls.

The 16th-century fountain of Sant'Agostino, which stands in front of the door of the same name, completes the monumental entrance to the city like the beautiful 18th-century fountain in the centre of Piazza Vecchia that completes the view.

However, many more medieval fountains are scattered throughout the city, such as the fountains of Osimano, the San Michele fountain at the church of Pozzo Bianco, the fountain of Porta Dipinta, on via Colleoni, the so-called Seca Fountain or Visconti Fountain, an ancient cistern that became the basement of the university at the end of the 18th century. 

Take me here: Bergamo Upper City

On the same topic

Monuments Milan

Milan is rich in historical and artistic monuments of the highest value that bear witness to the history of the Lombard capital
  • Art & Culture
Monuments Milan, suggestions for visiting

The Rainbow Quarter

  • Art & Culture
The Rainbow Quarter

Castles Mantua

The Mincio marked for centuries the border of important possessions. The landscape was characterized by new castles in key places
  • Art & Culture
www.mantovaducale.beniculturali.it

Milan, a novel city

Discovering the writers of the past, between the places and the atmospheres of Milan that have inspired great masterpieces of literature
  • Art & Culture
Milan, a novel city

10 good reasons visit Pavia

  • Art & Culture
10 good reasons visit Pavia

Theaters Brescia

Brescia will surprise you with the vitality of its theaters, where are staged prose, ballets and concerts
  • Art & Culture
Theaters Brescia, culture in Lombardy

Santo Stefano Ticino

A village to be discovered near Milan
  • Art & Culture
Santo Stefano Ticino, art and agriculture

Soncino - the water system

Special guided tours for those who are keen to learn
  • Art & Culture
Soncino - the water system

The Archaeological Museum

on Google Arts & Culture!
  • Art & Culture
The Archaeological  Museum

Online i modelli di Stradivari dell’MdV

On Google Arts & Culture!
  • Art & Culture
Online i modelli di Stradivari dell’MdV

Leonardo in Lombardy: 8 itineraries to discover the places of Vinci

Eight itineraries in the Lombard capital to discover the genius of the Renaissance
  • Art & Culture
Leonardo da Vinci

Festival of Ethical Photography

Responsible photojournalism: The Festival of Ethical Photography
  • Art & Culture
Festival della Fotografia Etica

School trips

Cremona is the ideal destination for your school trip
  • Art & Culture
School trips

The life in a farm

Come and discover the charm of an ancient farm!
  • Art & Culture
The life in a farm

Visiting the Castle in the night

  • Art & Culture
Visiting the Castle in the night

Lorenzo Lotto Itinerary

In Bergamo on the trail of Lorenzo Lotto, one of the leading exponents of the Italian Renaissance
  • Art & Culture
Lorenzo Lotto Itinerary, following his trails

6 Discovering Lombardy - virtual tour

Museums and castles to visit from your home
  • Art & Culture
Palazzo Te (Mantova)

Between ancient memories and majestic landscapes

Cultural itinerary in lower Valtellina
  • Art & Culture
Between ancient memories and majestic landscapes

Museum Varese

Mummies, archaeological finds, design, ancient and contemporary art: museums to suit all tastes!
  • Art & Culture
Museum Varese, what to see?

Bergamo Brescia: Italian capital of culture 2023

Discover the schedule of events, new museums, projects and exhibitions that promise to take you off the beaten track.
  • Art & Culture
Bergamo Brescia: Italian capital of culture 2023 - Teatro Grande Brescia - inLombardia