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🏰 Bergamo Città Alta – the real hidden gem of northern Italy!
To be honest, I didn’t expect that this place would impress me more than many bigger cities. But walking through the medieval streets of the upper town, I felt like I was inside a storybook — without crowds and chaos. If you’ve never been here, this video is your perfect introduction. And if you have — I hope it brings back great memories.
What surprised us most? The views! 🤯 From the top of the city walls, you can see all of Lombardy stretching into the distance. Also, the architecture here isn’t just old — it’s majestic, clean, and proud. Everything is full of charm but still feels alive.
And no, it wasn’t expensive. Just regular Italian prices, sometimes even cheaper than in Milan.
As always, this walk has no voice, no music — just real sounds and real moments.
I’ve added 100 fun facts in subtitles, so you can learn as you watch. If you read them — let me know what you liked most, or if I missed something interesting. I really appreciate your comments ❤️
If you enjoyed the walk — drop a like, share, and see you next Friday with a new journey!
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📅 New videos every Friday – subscribe and walk with me!
🎥 Filmed in 4K with love and summer light
🚶♂️ Best enjoyed on a big screen
💛 Thank you for joining me on this journey. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to support the channel!
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#italy #tour #bergamo #walking #virtual
Hello! I am glad to see myself on my channel. In this video you will learn a lot about the upper part of the city of Bergamo. So let’s put on our virtual sneakers and go for an incredible walk. Now we are in the lower part of the city and walking to the funicular Now we are in the lower and main part of Bergamo and are walking to the funicular We left the car in the parking lot. It costs 2 euros per hour In Bergamo’s Upper Town, even streets and buildings over 500 years old are jokingly called “new” The Upper City is perched on seven hills, like a little Rome, and is encircled by mighty Venetian walls Here comes the funicular. You need to buy a ticket or pay with a card at the entrance. A one-way ticket costs 1.5 euros. What do you think of the price? Then just attach the ticket to the thing. That’s your pass. We seem to have found a VIP place Are we going to the historical pearl of Lombardy? This funicular has been in operation since 1887 (originally powered by steam) and rises to a height of about 85 meters in just 2 minutes. Another short funicular (opened in 1912) runs from the Upper Town even higher up San Vigilio hill, leading to an old castle and scenic lookout points The ancient Celts called their settlement “Vergaheim,” meaning “town on a mountain,” which eventually evolved into the name Bergamo The upper funicular station is at Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe, literally “Shoe Market Square.” In medieval times it truly was a bustling footwear market – hence its telling name According to legend, the city was founded by a mythical warrior named Cidno who called it Barra making Bergamo one of the oldest communities in northern Italy Bergamo became a Roman municipium (self-governing city) in 49 BC and after the fall of Rome it was sacked multiple times by barbarian invaders If you take this road, you will come to incredible views. Then you can return to the city itself. In 452 AD, Attila the Hun destroyed Bergamo, but the city rose from the ashes and carried on its millennia-long history How do you feel about such sounds? In 1428, Bergamo came under the Venetian Republic for over 350 years, serving as Venice’s western frontier – the Upper Town still boasts many “Venetian” touches in its architecture In some parts of the city it is so quiet that you can hear my footsteps. But I tried to walk quietly) Bergamo is famed for its cheeses – no wonder the nearby Val Taleggio is the home of the aromatic Taleggio cheese. In Upper City restaurants many dishes feature local cheeses: from polenta taragna (corn porridge with Taleggio) to desserts made with creamy mascarpone. On Sunday morning the Upper City fills with a special sound – dozens of church bells ringing at once over Bergamo, creating an unforgettable symphony of chimes. Locals joke that this is how Bergamo speaks to the heavens. The Upper City’s streets are paved with cobblestones – here and there lies uneven stone that is centuries old. It adds charm to the medieval atmosphere, though tourists should wear comfortable shoes when walking on these cobbles. The picturesque Bergamo Alta has also served as a film set for classic movies. For example, in 1952, the film The Overcoat based on the Ukrainian-born writer Gogol was filmed here – the narrow streets and squares of the Upper Town perfectly captured the atmosphere of this satirical story. From the top of San Vigilio Castle you get a breathtaking view of the whole region. In clear weather Milan is visible on the horizon, and to the north – the snowcapped Alps; special panorama panels tell you exactly which mountains you’re looking at And now you will have an incredible view of the lower part of the city. From the top of San Vigilio Castle you get a breathtaking view of the whole region. In clear weather Milan is visible on the horizon, and to the north – the snowcapped Alps; special panorama panels tell you exactly which mountains you’re looking at In spring the gray walls of the Upper City burst into color – blooming wisteria vines twine along them. In April–May cascades of pale purple blossoms drape from the walls and gates, filling the air with a sweet honeyed fragrance. The most photogenic gate to the Upper Town is Porta San Giacomo (built 1592), clad in pale pink-white marble it once connected to a wooden drawbridge leading into the city Bergamo Alta has also appeared on the silver screen. For example, the Oscar-winning romantic drama “Call Me By Your Name” (2017) was filmed here – in the movie you can spot the Upper City’s cobbled streets and the iconic Agnello d’Oro hotel The skyline of the Upper City is recognizable from afar: above the hill’s crenelated walls rise the cathedral’s dome, the Campanone tower, and the old bastions. This postcard panorama is especially enchanting at twilight when the western sky backlights the old city’s outlines. Bergamo has inspired many artists. Poet Salvatore Quasimodo dedicated a poem to it and Nobel Prize-winning playwright Dario Fo (a native of this area) joked that Bergamaschi are so stubborn because they live amid hard rocks and walls. A pedestrian promenade runs along the top of the Upper City walls – a favorite stroll for tourists and locals alike. It gets especially busy in the evening, when everyone comes to admire the sunset over the plains and mountains on the horizon. The Upper City even has a botanical garden (Orto Botanico “Lorenzo Rota”) – a small oasis on the slope near Colle Aperto. Its terraces cover 2,400 m² with over 1,200 plant species; a staircase of 141 steps leads up to the garden, offering a lovely view of Bergamo’s red-tiled rooftops If you’re interested in reading this, be sure to let me know in the comments. The city’s patron saint is Saint Alexander. Every year on August 26, Bergamo celebrates the Feast of Sant’Alessandro with solemn Masses, processions, street fairs and an evening fireworks show above the walls. As you can imagine, this park belongs to cicadas. I think for many thousands of years Like this view and you will definitely get to Bergamo soon The grandest legacy of that era is the nearly 6 km circuit of Venetian walls around the Upper City inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017 The fortifications include 14 bastions, 2 gun platforms, 100 cannon embrasures, 4 city gates and a network of underground tunnels connecting casemates Interestingly, these mighty walls never faced a real siege – no enemy ever dared to attack so the ramparts remain virtually intact to this day During the walls’ construction in the 16th century, more than 250 Upper City buildings (including churches) were demolished leading Venice to incur eight papal excommunications The cicadas indicate that it is quite hot here now. Bergamo proudly carries the nickname “City of the Thousand” (Città dei Mille) – that’s how many volunteers from this area joined Garibaldi’s expedition in 1860 to unify Italy It’s hard to convey how romantic the atmosphere on the benches in this place is. Bergamo Alta has also appeared on the silver screen. For example, the Oscar-winning romantic drama “Call Me By Your Name” (2017) was filmed here – in the movie you can spot the Upper City’s cobbled streets and the iconic Agnello d’Oro hotel In 2023 Bergamo (together with Brescia) was chosen as the Italian Capital of Culture. After the difficult pandemic period, the Upper City sparkled with new events and art projects – this historic gem finally received the worldwide attention it deserves Through the Porta Sant’Alessandro gate in 1859, Garibaldi’s volunteers triumphantly marched into Bergamo, liberating the city from the Austrians. In memory of that, Porta Sant’Alessandro is sometimes also called Porta Garibaldi. This road leads us into the middle of the city. If you haven’t subscribed to my channel yet, I’d love for you to do so. The main feedback for me is your like, comment and subscription. Well, we are entering the city. There are many streets where there are almost no people. Here you can feel the spirit of the Middle Ages In 2023 Bergamo (together with Brescia) was chosen as the Italian Capital of Culture. After the difficult pandemic period, the Upper City sparkled with new events and art projects – this historic gem finally received the worldwide attention it deserves. The modern University of Bergamo is seamlessly integrated into the old city. Its humanities faculty occupies the former Sant’Agostino monastery (13th c.) by the gate of the same name – so students study surrounded by medieval walls and frescoes. Every Sunday morning the residents of the Upper City have a tradition of strolling leisurely down the main street – a passeggiata along the Corsarola. They greet friends, pop into one of the old cafés for an espresso and pastry – it’s a living scene of authentic Italian life. The Upper City has its own historic theater – the Teatro Sociale, built in 1808. After almost a century of disuse it was restored and reopened in 2009; since then this cozy theater once again hosts performances, especially during the Donizetti opera festival. The streets of the Upper Town are paved with cobblestones – here and there, there is still uneven stone that is several centuries old. This adds to the medieval atmosphere, although tourists should wear comfortable shoes when walking along these cobblestones. In the quiet courtyards of the Upper City, cats love to bask in the sun. Local residents feed the stray felines, so don’t be surprised if a fluffy “guard” watches you intently from a stone balustrade. We are approaching a well-known supermarket, but the prices are much higher here The main lane of the Upper City – Via Colleoni, known as the Corsarola – is like an open-air museum. You won’t find modern chain stores or supermarkets here – only old-fashioned shops, artisan workshops and family-run cafés, just as it was a century ago In some Upper Town shops you can see real Roman mosaics under your feet through glass flooring! For example, one antique shop has a fragment of an ancient Roman floor preserved under glass – ancient Bergomum literally peeking through into the modern city In the little Piazza Duomo stand four sacred sites tightly together, each from a different era: a 19th-century cathedral, a 12th-century basilica, a 15th-century chapel, and a 14th-century Neo-Gothic baptistery. Few cities can boast such a wealth of history in one tiny place! While wandering the cobbled alleys, peek into courtyards and under archways – the Upper City is full of hidden treasures: faded frescoes on walls, crests over gates, medieval wells and arcades On the Santo Eustachio hill stands the Rocca fortress – a medieval castle rebuilt by the Austrians in the 19th century. Now it hosts a Park of Remembrance with old cannons, and inside is a museum about 19th-century history and the Bergamaschi’s struggle for Italy’s unification. In the old Visconti Citadel there are now two museums. The Archaeological Museum holds artifacts from prehistoric times through the Roman era And now we are looking at the Museum of Natural History with dinosaurs, a mammoth skeleton and other wonders of nature By the way, a life-sized woolly mammoth “greets” visitors right at the entrance of the science museum – this Bergamo mammoth has already become a favorite of kids and adults alike Not far from the Rocca lies the old San Francesco Monastery with two picturesque medieval cloisters. After years of neglect, the complex was turned into a Photography Museum – from here you can also enjoy a tranquil view over the rooftops of the Upper City. I’ll let you in on a little secret. On the right is a restroom. It costs only 50 euro cents. That small arch is the entrance to the toilet. Bergamo has inspired many artists. Poet Salvatore Quasimodo dedicated a poem to it, and Nobel Prize-winning playwright Dario Fo (a native of this area) joked that Bergamaschi are so stubborn because they live amid hard rocks and walls. The city’s patron saint is Saint Alexander. Every year on August 26, Bergamo celebrates the Feast of Sant’Alessandro with solemn Masses, processions, street fairs and an evening fireworks show above the walls. By the way, a ticket to the Museum of Nature on the left costs only 3 euros. In Bergamo even polenta is sweet! The traditional dessert Polenta e Osei looks like a yellow mound of polenta with little “birds” on top, but it’s actually sponge cake with nut cream covered in sweet cornmeal icing, garnished with chocolate bird figures A popular local dish is casoncelli bergamaschi: small half-moon pasta dumplings filled with breadcrumbs, cheese, meat, amaretti biscuits, pear and herbs. They’re served in a delicious sauce of melted butter with sage, garlic and crispy bacon The famous stracciatella gelato (vanilla-cream ice cream with fine streaks of chocolate) was invented in Bergamo. In 1961 the owner of the “La Marianna” café in the Upper Town, Enrico Panattoni, came up with drizzling melted chocolate into churning ice cream – thus creating a new flavor that became known worldwide A traditional Bergamasque dessert is named after Donizetti. The Torta Donizetti is a fluffy ring-shaped cake with bits of candied pineapple and apricot, lightly infused with liqueur – this cake’s recipe was created in Bergamo in the 1940s Beneath the cobbles of the Upper Town lies a whole other world. Archaeologists found remains of the Roman forum, ancient houses and an early Christian basilica under the Cathedral – there is now an underground museum showing 2,000 years of history Warning: Sweets lovers, close your eyes In the evening the Upper City is especially romantic: narrow lanes glow under the soft light of old-fashioned lanterns. It’s a favorite time for a passeggiata – couples stroll along the walls, admiring the lights of the city far below. Each year in September Piazza Vecchia turns into a fairy-tale garden – as part of the I Maestri del Paesaggio festival, the square is filled with flowers and trees designed by some of the world’s top landscape architects. I would like to note that there are much more people here on weekends. Be prepared for this. If you would like to be in the shoes of that couple, please like it and you will be! Finally, we came to one of the most beautiful squares in Europe – Piazza Vecchia On Piazza Vecchia stands the Palazzo della Ragione – the city hall built in the late 1100s. It is the oldest municipal hall in all of Lombardy On the façade of the Palazzo della Ragione you can spot the winged Lion of Saint Mark – a symbol of Venice’s dominion, which ruled the city until the end of the 18th century Facing the old town hall is the white-marble Palazzo Nuovo, now home to the Angelo Mai Library. In its Tassi hall lie rare incunabula, manuscripts, and two gigantic globe spheres crafted in the 17th century by Venetian cartographer Vincenzo M. Coronelli Piazza Vecchia, the heart of the Upper City, is considered one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. Architect Le Corbusier admired its harmonious design, saying “to move even one stone here would be a crime” This is the Contarini Fountain (18th century), donated to the city by the Venetian governor, and surrounded by marble sphinxes, snakes and lions – symbols of Venice Overlooking Piazza Vecchia stands the Civic Tower, or “Il Campanone” – a 53-meter-tall 12th-century bell tower that houses the largest bell in Lombardy Every night at 10 p.m., the Campanone’s big bell tolls 100 times – a tradition from Venetian days when it signaled the closing of the city gates and the start of curfew It’s said that during those ten minutes of bell tolling, everything in the Upper City goes quiet: theater actors pause mid-performance and cinemas stop the film in honor of the ancient tradition The most revered church in Bergamo is the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Construction began in 1137 as a vow to the Virgin Mary for deliverance from the plague; interestingly, the basilica has no central entrance, as its facade is a blank wall built up against an adjacent building The basilica’s exterior is austere Romanesque, but inside it stuns with Baroque opulence: you can see antique Flemish tapestries and unique 16th-century wood intarsia panels designed by the artist Lorenzo Lotto The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is also the resting place of the famous composer Gaetano Donizetti – his tomb (next to that of his teacher Simon Mayr) can be seen along the back wall of the church To the right of the basilica stands the Colleoni Chapel – the lavish Renaissance mausoleum of condottiero Bartolomeo Colleoni (built 1476) with a facade of pink and white marble and exquisite bas-reliefs On the chapel’s wrought-iron gate you can see Colleoni’s family coat of arms – three rounded balls. Local nonnas (grandmas) whisper that if you rub these “lucky balls,” you’ll be blessed with good fortune For a long time people believed Colleoni’s ornate sarcophagus was empty, but in 1969 his actual remains were sensationally found in a hidden crypt under the chapel – nearly 500 years after the warlord’s death Behind the chapel hides a tiny octagonal temple — the 11th-century Tempietto di Santa Croce. It’s one of Bergamo’s oldest structures, a true Romanesque gem that’s easy to overlook In this silence, I will share the remaining facts. Bergamo proudly carries the nickname “City of the Thousand” (Città dei Mille) – that’s how many volunteers from this area joined Garibaldi’s expedition in 1860 to unify Italy Bergamo’s people are often described as stubborn and hard-working. Fittingly, their unofficial motto in dialect is “Mola mia” (“Never give up”) – this spirit of resilience showed brightly during the hardships of the pandemic, when the whole city pulled together and persevered. On Via Lantro there’s an old public washhouse (Lavatoio) – a covered pavilion with marble wash basins built in 1881. Once women gathered here to do laundry and gossip, and now these marble tubs are a silent reminder of bygone daily life. The oldest restaurant in the Upper Town is “Mimì” on Via Colleoni. It opened in 1858, and for over 160 years it has been serving guests traditional Bergamasque dishes like polenta taragna (corn porridge with cheese) and of course casoncelli pasta. Near the San Lorenzo church lies the hidden Fontana del Lantro – an underground cistern usually closed to the public. It once supplied the city’s water: people drew drinking water, washed clothes, and even soaked skins for tanning here The comic character Harlequin (Arlecchino) hails from Bergamo – in Italian commedia dell’arte he portrays a crafty servant-prankster from the provinces who speaks in a comically rustic Bergamo dialect In the Middle Ages, wealthy families built their own lofty towers in the Upper City – Bergamo was nicknamed the “City of One Hundred Towers” It’s impossible not to fall in love with Bergamo Alta. Everyone who has strolled its ancient streets and admired the view from its walls will agree – this city leaves a lasting place in your heart. Join us and watch for a new video next Friday! Good luck! See you for more walks!
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