Citti Alta: Upper City
and
Citti Bassa: Lower City
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| Bergamo at night from the viewing platform |
TRAVEL:
Flights:
Bergamo is a cheaper area of Italy to fly to and is a popular airport used by travellers on route to Milan. We flew with Ryan Air and it cost around £90 for return flights for two people from Manchester Airport. We booked directly on Ryan Air's website as they provide an online check-in system prior to your arrival at the airport; helping you skip some of the queues.
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| The Alps through the plane window |
Transfers:
We were lucky to have our apartment owner come and pick us up from the airport and drop us off; however on the return journey we caught the airport bus in Citti Alta with a ticket valid for 90 minutes which drove us directly to the airport departure door in 20 minutes.
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| A busker in Citti Bassa |
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TRANSPORT:
Bus:
The local bus connects the two parts of the city with tickets available to be purchased at newsagents and at ticket stations located at some bus stops. You cannot purchase a ticket once on board the bus but they must be validated when you get on by placing it in the ticket machine at the front or rear of the vehicle. They generally run every 30 minutes from 6am to midnight with the average ticket costing around 2 euros for a 90 minute ticket. This can be used multiple times during your time allocation if you wish to travel around Citti Alta before it expires.
Furnicular:
The furnicular is the most popular way to travel between the two cities; it is a track bound train which rides up or down hill via a tunnel located at the base of the hill leading to Citti Alta and at the top of the hill once you arrive. You buy a ticket from the machine and wait in line for your turn to ride the furnicular, but be aware it has no seat-belts and limited seating so make sure you hold on tight! A second furnicular ride can be taken from Citti Alta to the viewing platform and small collation of restaurants at the highest point of Bergamo. This provides incredible panoramic views of both cities and is best ridden in the evening to watch the city fall from dusk to darkness. You can purchase a 24 or 72 hour ticket which covers transport on the furnicular, bus and the airport bus or you can buy a single which last 90 minutes for around 1.30 euros.
Walk:
Walking is obviously the most cost effective way of travelling around Bergamo and in my opinion the best. If you want to avoid the tourist crowds on the furnicular start at the base of Citti Bassa and walk through the shopping area before beginning your ascent uphill to the Venetian Gates. It is a 25-30 minute walk to the gates but the views and architecture on route make it worth every step. It is favoured by the locals of Bergamo and the lack of cars allow you to walk up the road without worry of being met by much traffic.
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| A local of Bergamo |
Furnicular:
The furnicular is the most popular way to travel between the two cities; it is a track bound train which rides up or down hill via a tunnel located at the base of the hill leading to Citti Alta and at the top of the hill once you arrive. You buy a ticket from the machine and wait in line for your turn to ride the furnicular, but be aware it has no seat-belts and limited seating so make sure you hold on tight! A second furnicular ride can be taken from Citti Alta to the viewing platform and small collation of restaurants at the highest point of Bergamo. This provides incredible panoramic views of both cities and is best ridden in the evening to watch the city fall from dusk to darkness. You can purchase a 24 or 72 hour ticket which covers transport on the furnicular, bus and the airport bus or you can buy a single which last 90 minutes for around 1.30 euros.
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| The furnicular track |
Walk:
Walking is obviously the most cost effective way of travelling around Bergamo and in my opinion the best. If you want to avoid the tourist crowds on the furnicular start at the base of Citti Bassa and walk through the shopping area before beginning your ascent uphill to the Venetian Gates. It is a 25-30 minute walk to the gates but the views and architecture on route make it worth every step. It is favoured by the locals of Bergamo and the lack of cars allow you to walk up the road without worry of being met by much traffic.
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| The view from a walk to Citti Alta |
FOOD:
On our first night we visited a local restaurant called Da Franco in Citti Alta. This charming little Italian pizzeria had outdoor seating where we took the opportunity to relax and do some people watching whilst enjoying some handmade Italian pizza. However on our second night we discovered the best views in Bergamo at San Vigilio which is definitely worth a visit! This hilltop restaurant can only be accessed by riding the furnicular (information above) up to the highest point of the city and walking 500 yards up the hill, bypassing the first outdoor restaurant and stopping at the ominous looking door of San Vigilio . The restaurant doesn't look like anything special from the outside however when you step inside and the waiter takes you to your seat you are greeted with panoramic views from a wall of glass windows overlooking the hills and landscapes of Bergamo.
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| Our breakfast cafe |
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| The view from San Vigilio |
ATTRACTIONS:
My best tip for a trip to Bergamo is to pick up a local map and start walking. Explore the city like a local and take a visit to the information guide shop for any leaflets or to pick up a Bergamo visite card if you want to visit specific attractions. On our trip we were lucky enough to stumble across a local music festival where we sat on the grass amongst the locals; drank beer and listened to the Italian singers performing whilst enjoying panoramic views of the Italian Alps.
Parco S. Agostino:
Parco S. Agostino:
This public park was my favourite spot in Bergamo; if you want an opportunity to see the real city and escape the often tourist fuelled centre of Piazza Vecchia for a few hours head left through the Venetian gates and walk the length of the wall until you find the opening for Parco S Agostino. Find a local supermarket, pack a picnic and choose a spot to sit on the grass with your loved one. Every hour the bells from the bell tower below in Citti Bassa are rung and from the park you have the perfect view to see the bell ringer hard at work operating the mechanisms. Close your eyes and take in the charming sound of the Italian bells before packing up your picnic and continuing to walk the length of the park until you have nearly reached the exit where you can turn around and witness the beauty of the Alps of Bergamo in all its glory.
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| The view from Parco S Agostino |
Citti Alta is surrounded by a wall; dividing the upper city to the lower. There are 4 venetian gates allowing access through the perimeter holding a wealth of history and beauty alone. They are reached by climbing up the cobbled bridge from Citti Bassa and provide a perfect opportunity to capture some amazing photos before you reach the top. A top tip I would suggest is to walk through the gate and capture the arch and city as I have in the photograph below for the most incredible framing.
This tower is referred to by the locals as 'Campanone'. It can be found in the main square; Piazza Vecchia and you can climb it for a small fee of 6 euros or with free access if you are under 18. It is closed on a Monday and for an hour over lunch time on opening days at the start of the year if you aren't visiting during peak time. The view from the top allows you to see both squares of the upper town at once and is the only spot in the city where this is possible. However if heights aren't your forte then the view from the base of the tower looking up is still a beauty to marvel.
This beautiful and almost haunting church can be found just off the main square; you can walk around the interior or just admire the architectural beauty of this building from the outside. Unusually the church has no traditional entrance and the lack of front doors leaves only side doors available for entry. The opening times can be found on the website linked above; with general admission being from Monday-Saturday depending on the time of year you choose to visit.
Chapel Colleoni:
The chapel is the architectural wonder of Bergamo; the intricate carvings of gargoyles and angels span the entire circumference of the building and provide an ethereal look which shouldn't be missed. Walking around the interior of the chapel is definitely worth scheduling into your itinerary for any art fanatic or creative soul who respects the beauty of classic and authentic pieces of Italian Renaissance artwork. An old wives tale told in Bergamo says that should you touch the coat of arms at the Chapel's gate at midnight you will be granted with good luck.
Sophie x
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Gorgeous pictures xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you xxx
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