Bergamo Things to Do Tips by irisbe Top 5 Page for this destination

San Pancrazio fountain Città Alta Review

Around the corner of Via Gombito you see the Church of San Pancrazio and in front of it the white Zandobbio marble fountain.

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Fountain was built in 1549 by Leonardo Isabello. The parapets are of the 18th century and was restored in 1931.

Behind it you see the portal of the chruch of san Pancrazio, originaly built in 1000 but demolished to be rebuilt again in 1450.
The church got consecrated in 1474 and modified in 1750.

Haven't entered it but I read there are many paintings and statues to admire.

The Contarini fountain at Piazza Vechhia Piazza Vecchia Review

If there is one place on the Piazza Vecchia that is THE spot to take pictures, it must be this fountain in the middle of the piazza.
It took quite some patience to be able to take it without anyone posing and someone else shooting pictures.

Admit, it is a lovely item.

This fountain dates from 1780 already and was donated to the city by Alvise Contarini, a Venetian.

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It is funny but the Bergamask seem to relocate monuments and buildings quite a lot!
When they have got rid of the Austrian domination they wanted to erect a monument for their war hero Garibaldi (a name you will read many times visiting the history museum La Rocca).
To honour him, they removed the fountain and put his statue instead.

The Bergamasks however soon found out that by removing the fountain, also the nice ambiance was gone.
How much they did honour their hero, he had to move again and the fountain was put back where it was meant to be in the first place.

Directions: in Città Alta (in the upper part)

Palazzo della Ragione Piazza Vecchia Review

The Palazzo della Ragione at the Piazza Vecchia, the most famous square in Città Alta.
On the building a flag referring to the anniversary of 60 years of the liberation of WWII.

The Palazzo della Ragione, also named Palazzo Vecchio has its first mentioning in reports dating from 1199!
That time it was referred to as the palatium comunis Pergamil.
Over the ages the building has undergoing many modification, additions and remodellings.
For a detail of the whole history I would recommend you the guide book “Bergamo step by step” which you can by in the Colleoni chapel for a fair price!

Directions: in Città Alta (in the upper part)

Piazza Vecchia and the civic library Piazza Vecchia Review

Day and night scenery of the most famous square in Bergamo old city with at the background the civic library, brilliant white marbled in the sunshine and nicely enlightened during the evenings.

Directions: in Città Alta (in the upper part)

A. Mai Civic Library Piazza Vecchia Review

The Civica Biblioteca A. Mai may not reveal its age but maybe that is because it is old and yet “young”.
The construction started in the 17th century, however it was completed in the 20th century with the finishing of the white marble façade, made along the original design.
Before the start in the 17th century there was another building constructed (1435), meant for the City Council, which got destroyed already in 1453.
It got rebuild again, bigger, more imposing, serving more needs then originally.
First stone was laid in 1604, finishing in 1919 by adding the statues.

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Inside the library you can view the 17th century ornaments; the Salon; rare and old manuscripts, a collection of 13th century incunabula; the Tasso collection...

A to-do thing on my list for a next-visit!

Directions: in Città Alta (in the upper part)

The Baptistery Piazza Vecchia Review

In 1340 Biovanni da Campione erected this baptistery.

I haven't been inside but I read you can find some bas-reliefs which depicture the life of Jesus.

The Baptistery has an octagonal shape.
Just at the beginning of the roof you can see eight 14th century statues of virtues.

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There is a story about this building that I read in a local travel guide:

It is written that the original location of the Baptistery (Battistero), was inside the Santa Maria Maggiore!
Most likely it must have been situated at the bottom of the central nave, if not, then probably in the South-Western small aisle.
When Petrarca once visited Bergamo, this was the location he admired this Battistero.

When halfway 17th Century the baptizing ritual moved to the Duomo, the Baptistery lost its use and finally got demolished, the pieces stored in the Misericordia Maggiore.

Reconstructed again in the Canonical courtyard in 1856, it was not appreciated by the Bergamask as they considered it owned a better place then this.
Following their wishes, the building was replaced on its present location in 1898.

It appeared often in those times that when there were restorations or reconstructions done, it often happened with some final touch or moderations by the person(s) in charge.
No less happened to the Battistero. The roof was redone, the base was modified and heightened so the building would look larger and gave it its present look.

Directions: in Città Alta (in the upper part)

The Duomo or Cathedral of San Vincenzo Cathedral Review

The Cathedral was closed for restauration at the moment of my visit in May 2005.
A pity as I believe it must be beautiful inside with more frescos to admire.
I am sure it will leave me something to visit on a next trip. I hope to find it re-opened by then.

Directions: in the Città Alta (in the upper part)

La Rocca

La Rocca is a historical museum in which you can learn a lot about the history of Bergamo.
It has touch screens and you could travel back into time to learn on what reasons the population decease rate was suddenly high (Cholera epidemies) or when what war or fight took place.
You have to do a littl climbing up the street as the "castle" is high upon the hill, which will reward you then again with marvelous panoramic views over the old city and the valleys and the new city.

Outside the La Rocca you can visit the remembrance park, comemorade monuments will tell you about people who fought during the prevous World War and each division of the army has their own specific remembrance symbol.
More about this in next tips.

Colleoni Chapel Colleoni Chapel Review

This Chapel is build in Renaissance style, matching well attached to the older more simple style of the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.

This construction (1473-1476) is actually encased into the Basilica.
It was meant to hold Colleoni's sepulchral monument and even almost caused the demolition of the Palazzo della Ragione!
Inside bas-relief art by Giovanni Antonio Amadeo (architect of the chapel); lots of fresco's; statues; the Medea's tomb by Amadeo Medea (Colleoni's favourite daughter died at the age of 15)

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No photography inside was allowed and there was surveiance.
You could listen to a bad quality audiophone if you put some money in the automat.
The explication was monotomous and hardly to understand if there was any other interfering noise in the chapel (which there was). I didn't recall anything of what was said.

There is a little stand where you could by some postcards and a guide at fair price.

Directions: in Città Alta (in the upper part)

Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica S. Maria Maggiore Review

The Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore was built on the location of a smaller church named Santa Maria. The last one already mentioned in 774.

The new Basilica was designed by the architect (maestro) Fredo and the construction works started in 1137.
Probably it was built out of devotion after a severe plague that hit Bergamo earlier.
If they knew what other terrible plague was holding the future for them!

(If you visit La Rocca you will be able to have a look at the demographic changes throughout history. Very interesting!)

The exterior of the church alone is already worth some of your precious time to analyse: two main portals (see also the other picture on next tip); the roof, the Medieval character (what a contrast with the interior!), complimented with some newer additions.

The Colleoni Chapel next to it almost meant the demolition of this beautiful building.
Colleoni wanted to use the old vestry of the basilica for his sepulchral (tombe monument)monument.
He promised he would rebuild it afterwards… bigger and more beautiful.
His melomanic dream came to an end when in 1475 he died, aged 80.

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On the picture (please click on it as it is panoramic):

1.basilica and cathedral
2-4. overwhelming decorations, started in 16th century and on
5. Baroque confessional by Andrea Fantoni - inspired by the topic of the Confession
6. Monument dedicated to Gaetano Donizetti, created by Vincenzo Vela (1855).

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This basilica is just breath thaking.
When I visited I didn't knew where to look first.
If you want to enjoy it to the fullest, take at least an hour of your time to look around and let all this Baroque interior get a hold on you!

Directions: in Città Alta (in the upper part)