10 good reasons to visit Bergamo

Piazza Vecchia, the most beautiful square. The lakes and the mountains. Discover 10 good reasons to visit Bergamo

Do you need ideas for a unique weekend? Here are 10 good reasons to visit Bergamo. The entire province teems with interesting vacation proposals and the following 10 suggestions certainly encourage you to try it.

Le Corbusier once said that the square of Piazza Vecchia was among the most beautiful he had ever seen and it would be a crime to even move a single stone of its structure.

Start by strolling through the modern Lower city until reaching the medieval Upper part of town in order to fully grasp the extent of its charm. You can take the cable car instead of the stairs and pass the old defensive walls.

By walking amid its narrow streets you can find green oases like the Lorenzo Rota Botanic Garden, boasting over 1200 plant species and a magnificent view of the urban landscape.

Art lovers should go to the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica and admire the masterpieces of Lotto or the Carrara Academy, guarding artworks by Botticelli, Bellini, Mantegna and Tiziano.

For outdoor activities, there are more than 400 km of skiing lanes and trekking itineraries for both cold and warm seasons. Explore Zogno's Caves of Wonders and do rafting along the Bergamasque Alps' rivers.

Don't forget to taste some casoncelli, polenta e osei and other good dishes from this enchanting land.

It's both old and new — Stop by the contemporary Lower City and don't forget to visit the Upper City, with its medieval walls and ancient houses. Both sides of Bergamo enclose charm and history, complementing each other in perfect harmony. Take the over one thousand stairs or the relaxing cable car that passes above its old walls: the Upper city will enthrall you with its suggestive panoramic view where the beautiful scenery is just breathtaking.

It has the most beautiful plaza in Europe — It was none other than Le Corbusier who said it while visiting Bergamo. He also declared that: "touching even a single stone of it would be a crime" Who would dare contradict him? Take a walk across the Piazza Vecchia, with an 18th Century fountain at its center and surrounded by medieval buildings, with Palazzo della Ragione towering among them would make anybody change their mind.

It has some of the greatest names in art history — Painting and sculpture lovers? Enter the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica and gaze upon one of Lorenzo Lotto's masterpieces, or even better, the works of Beato Angelico, Botticelli, Bellini, Mantegna, Tiziano, Rubens and more... Don't forget the GAMeC, with De Pisis, Balla, Boccioni and many others.

There are green areas everywhere — Who would have thought that the city's narrow streets hide small orchards and extraordinary oases? Yet they are plenty, starting with the Lorenzo Rota Botanical Garden: 2.400 square meters, 1.200 different types of plants, 141 stairs to arrive on top and a beautiful view of the city's roofs.

It has the right sound — Bergamo is a mandatory destination for music lovers. The house museum dedicated to Italian melodrama star Gaetano Donizetti can be found at Borgo Canale, while the theater in Piazza Cavour takes the artist's name. Bergamo Jazz also takes place here every spring with numerous concerts and international artists.

It's perfect for romantic souls — Walk hand in hand along the Venetian Walls of the Upper City during sunset for a romantic date or pamper yourselves with couples massages and treatments in Trescore or the renowned San Pellegrino Spa. Bundle up and go stargazing at the Astronomic Observatory of the Orobie Foothills at 1,200 meters. Bergamo offers plenty of options to enjoy a vacation for two.

The food is amazing — Starting with Casoncelli alla Bergamasca, a traditional recipe for a variety of filled pasta is made with meat, grana cheese, raisins, amaretti, and served with melted butter. Continue with the Scarpinocc, a type of beef ravioli from the Valle Seriana. Don't forget to try the lepre in salmì as a main course or some polenta taragna, enriched with alpine cheese. Get a taste of the polenta e osei as well as the local dessert of the same name made with sponge cake and marzipan. Word of advice: come with an empty stomach.

There are sports and activities for everyone — Climb the steep rock walls of the Alps or descend into the cavernous depths of the Grotte delle Meraviglie in Zogno and the valleys of Valle Imagna and Val Cavallina. Try your hand at paragliding or rafting on the rivers that cut through the Orobie mountains. Get ready for the adrenaline rush of your life.

You can visit the mountains all year long — During winter, snow enthusiasts will find over 400 kms of lanes to challenge their skills, be it on skis, snowboard or on foot. The best known skiing stations are in Foppolo and Carona, in Val Brembana, Monte Pora, in the Valle Seriana, Schilpario and Colere in Valle Scalve. These destinations attract all kinds of visitors in the summer as well for incredible trekking and horseback riding. Try the long trail of Sentiero delle Orobie, or the Sentiero dei Fiori, and stay in one of the mountain lodges.

Its surroundings offer something for everyone — There are those who enjoy relaxing by the lake and here in Bergamo you'll find the charming villages of Lovere and Sarnico on Lake Iseo in addition to the countless small towns surrounding Lake Endine. Meanwhile, there are others who enjoy taking in the local culture, like the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Crespi d'Adda or the historical village of Clusone with its frescoes of the Dance of Death.

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