Holiday apartment in Bergamo: History, Walls and Great Views

Città Alta is the historic heart of Bergamo. Piazza Vecchia was Bergamo’s political centre for centuries and remains a place to meet and enjoy leisure time to this day.

History in Squares, Palaces and Churches

The Museo dell'Ottocento tour is divided into eight sections and traces the history of Bergamo from the uprising against the Serenissima to Italy’s situation after unification. The Palazzo della Ragione dates from the late 12th century and is the oldest surviving municipal seat in Lombardy. The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore combines a Romanesque exterior with a Baroque interior.

The Campanone rises 52.76 metres above Piazza Vecchia and offers panoramic views of the old town. Another landmark building is the Rocca: this 14th-century fortification stands on Sant’Eufemia Hill. Its tower offers 360-degree views of Città Alta, the Orobie Pre-Alps, the Bergamo plain and as far as Milan.

Experience the Venetian Walls

The Venetian Walls of Bergamo were built in 1561 by the Republic of Venice as an example of Renaissance military architecture. They encircle Città Alta over a length of approximately 6 kilometres. The walls can be explored on foot or by bicycle and offer views across the plain and towards the Orobie Pre-Alps. The “Mura di Bergamo” Museum presents the individual stages involved in planning and physically constructing the fortress.

Museums of Nature, Archaeology and Discovery

The Museo Civico di Scienze Naturali “Enrico Caffi” preserves more than 55,000 exhibits, including a life-size cast of an Allosaurus skeleton. Its collections cover zoology, entomology, geology and palaeontology. The Civico Museo Archeologico is housed in the 14th-century Palazzo della Cittadella, a building constructed by the Visconti, the lords of Milan. It traces the history of Bergamo and its surrounding area from its prehistoric beginnings to Lombard rule in the Middle Ages. It frequently organises guided tours, workshops and activities that are also aimed at adults.

The Area archeologica preserves remains from various periods, from a protohistoric settlement to the Middle Ages. These include an imperial Roman complex of shops along a paved path or square. In this way, the archaeological site complements the museums with visible traces that have survived from different periods.

Gardens and Cable Car for Further Perspectives

The “Lorenzo Rota” Botanical Garden in Città Alta contains more than 1,200 plant species. The city funicular travels up and down between the stations, passing between flowering gardens and special viewpoints, and offers panoramic views across the Po Valley when the sky is clear.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Bergamo, these highlights can help structure your plans: history and architecture are reflected in museums, palaces, churches and fortifications, while the walls, Rocca, botanical garden and viewpoints add movement and scenic views to your stay. This allows you to take your desired combination of culture, shared discoveries and views into account when choosing your holiday location.

For further location options, you can also find Almè, Brusaporto, Trescore Balneario, Oltre Il Colle, Ghisalba, Roncobello, Riva Di Solto and Foresto Sparso.

For the higher-level travel overview: Bergamo.