Bergamo is divided into two distinct parts, the “Lower Town” and the “Upper Town”; the latter houses the majority of the most significant monuments, while the Lower Town-although it too is of ancient origin and retains its historic cores-has been made somewhat more modern by some urbanization. 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” because of the large number of volunteers from Bergamo (about 180) who took part in the Expedition of the Thousand, led by Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Visit the Piazza Vecchia, with the Contarini fountain, the Palazzo della Ragione, and the Civic Tower (known as the Campanone), which still at 10 p.m. fires 100 shots, those that in the past announced the nightly closing of the gates of the Venetian walls.

Beyond the Palazzo della Ragione are the Cathedral of St. Alexander, the Colleoni Chapel, the Baptistery, and the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

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