Bergamo is divided into two distinct parts, the “Lower City” and the “Upper City”; the latter houses the majority of the most significant monuments, while the Lower Town – although it is also of ancient origin and retains its historic nuclei – has been partly made more modern by some urbanization interventions. The two parts of the city are separated by the Venetian walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017.

Bergamo is nicknamed “the city of the Thousand” due to the large number of volunteers from Bergamo (around 180) who took part in the Expedition of the Thousand, led by Giuseppe Garibaldi.

To visit Piazza Vecchia, with the Contarini fountain, the Palazzo della Ragione and the Civic Tower (called the Campanone ), which still fires 100 shots at 10 pm, those that in the past announced the night closing of the doors of the Venetian walls.

Beyond the Palazzo della Ragione are the Cathedral of Sant’Alessandro, the Colleoni Chapel, the Baptistery and the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Also not to be missed is the Civic Archaeological Museum and the “Enrico Caffi” Natural Science Museum, not far from which you can visit the Lantro Fountain.