Bergamo Uncovered: Medieval Walls, Winding Funiculars & Upper Class Charm

Perched beautifully against the backdrop of the Alps just north of Milan, Bergamo is a breathtaking double-sided city. Divided into a historic hilltop medieval town and a modern lower city, it is one of northern Italy’s most romantic and underrated treasures. Here is your ultimate guide to Bergamo!

1. The Landmarks You Can’t Miss

• Città Alta (The Upper City): The ancient hilltop heart of Bergamo. Walk through the grand Piazza Vecchia, surrounded by beautiful Renaissance palaces and the majestic stone clock tower that still rings its bells every evening.
• The Venetian Walls: Massive stone defensive walls stretching over 5 kilometers around the hilltop city. Built by the Republic of Venice in the 16th century, they are so well-preserved that they are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

2. Bergamo Fun Facts

• The Curfew Bells Still Ring: Every single night at 10:00 PM, the giant bell in the Piazza Vecchia tower strikes exactly 100 times. Centuries ago, this historic sound signaled to locals that the city gates were closing and that it was time to step inside the safety of the walls.
• The Birthplace of Stracciatella: The world-famous gelato flavor Stracciatella (creamy milk ice cream with crunchy shards of dark chocolate) was actually invented in Bergamo in 1961 at a cozy café called La Marianna, which you can still visit today!

3. The Food Scene

• Polenta e Osei: Bergamo’s culinary trademark is polenta. You will find it served savory with wild mushrooms and stews, but also as a famous sweet pastry called Polenta e Osei—a yellow cake made of marzipan and chocolate designed to look like a small bird nesting on cornmeal.
• Casoncelli alla Bergamasca: A delicious, hearty local pasta dish. These are crescent-shaped pasta pockets stuffed with a rich mix of meat, amaretti cookie crumbs, and raisins, served swimming in a rich sauce of melted butter, crispy sage, and pancetta bacon.

4. Practical Travel Tips

• Ride the Funicular: Don’t exhaust your feet by walking up the steep mountain to the old town. Take the historic Funicolare—a charming cable-car railway that has been pulling passengers up through the ancient city walls since 1887.
• Perfect Airport Day Trip: Bergamo is home to the Orio al Serio Airport (used by many budget airlines). If you have a long layover or land early, take the local Airport Bus straight to the Città Alta for a few hours of world-class sightseeing.