Sights in Bergamo
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A
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Begun in 1137, the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is quite a mishmash. To its whirl of Romanesque apses (on which some external frescoes remain visible), Gothic additions were slapped on. A more obvious addition is the busy Renaissance Cappella Colleoni, on the side facing the Piazza del Duomo. Detached from the church is the octagonal baptistry.
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B
La Rocca
The 19th-century section of Museo Storico della Città is located in the fortress La Rocca, whose round tower dates from Bergamo’s days as a Venetian outpost. La Rocca keeps the same hours as the main museum. The same ticket covers entry here and also to La Rocca’s surrounding park, with sweeping views over Bergamo.
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C
Torre del Campanone
Across the square from the Palazzo della Ragione, the colossal, square-based Torre del Campanone tolls the old 10pm curfew. There’s a wheelchair-accessible lift to the top of the tower. For €5 you get entry to the tower and other sights around the city, including La Rocca and the Museo Donizettiano.
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D
Accademia Carrara
Just east of the walls is one of Italy’s great art repositories, Accademia Carrara. Founded in 1780, it contains an exceptional range of Italian masters. Raphael’s San Sebastiano is a highlight, but other artists represented include Botticelli, Canaletto, Mantegna and Titian.
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E
Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea
The Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea displays the academy’s small permanent collection of modern works by Italian artists such as Giacomo Balla, Giorgio Morandi, Giorgio de Chirico and Filippo de Pisis.
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F
Orto Botanico Lorenzo Rota
For spectacular views, visit Bergamo’s botanic garden, planted with some 1200 species in a small but enchanting area carved out of the old Venetian defensive walls.
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G
Duomo
Roman remains were discovered during renovations of the modest baroque Duomo. A rather squat maroon building, it has a brilliant white facade.
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H
Museo Donizettiano
The Museo Donizettiano is an ornate hall housing the piano and manuscripts of Bergamo’s favourite musical son, Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848).
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Piazza Vecchia
The upper town’s beating heart is this cafe-clad piazza, lined by elegant architecture that is a testament in stone to Bergamo’s long and colourful history. Le Corbusier apparently found it ‘the most beautiful square in Europe’ – good thing they didn’t try out any of his ideas on it!
The white porticoed building on Via Bartolomeo Colleoni, which forms the northern side of the piazza, is the 17th-century Palazzo Nuovo, now a library. Turn south and you face the imposing arches and columns of the Palazzo della Ragione, built in the 12th century. The lion of St Mark is a reminder of Venice’s long reign here. Across the square from the palace, the colossal, square…
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History Museum
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Cappella Colleoni
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Botanic Garden
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