Visiting Bergamo “la città dei Mille” Italy

Hi Dear Steemit community,

Today I would share my visiting of Bergamo an Italian small city 40 km east from Milan.

Before my visiting let me introduce the reason why Città dei Mille. Mille in Italian language means one thousands identified the number of people supervised by Garibaldi and who crossed the Tirreanean sea from Genova to Marsala (Sicily). They reached the area close to Rome in order to unify Italy in 1861 under the Royal family resident in Turin. A relevant number of volunteers from Bergamo partecipate to that expedition.

The city is only one in Italy which claim this recognizion through the coat of the arms of Bergamo. A shield divided in red and yellow (traditional colours of city) in a blue circle with golden edges and a crown.

The city is divided in upper town which is the fortified part among some hills and a lower town the modern part of the city. We parked in the lower city and we walked till one way of access. The gate of St.Augustine because a complex and monastery of the same name are nearby.

The construction is part of the plan of fortification promoted by Repubblic of Venice in the XVI century. (See on the top the lion symbol of Venice). As result that was a relevant impact to the history of the city and what nowadays is the urban structure of Bergamo. The influence of Repubblic of Venice found also around the city of Brescia around the region of Lombardia and Veneto.

From this gate began our walking around the upper town following “Via delle mura” and we found the monastery I mention previously. I could not go inside because it was close but I was able to take a picture of the view from the wall.

Turning to one of the narrow and medieval streets Via Porta Dipinta we follow it untill Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe. From that square we turned to the central and pedestrian street Via Gombito a street dedicate to shopping and for tourists. On the way as soon as I saw that I tooked a photo of that Polenta a typical dish from northern Italy It was the first time I have seen it with that size and shape.

Following the same street we finally are in Piazza Vecchia the most important square in Bergamo. On our left the white building is the pubblic library Angelo Mai which owns thousands of volumes Its construction began in the first half of XVII century. More recently were modified but still preserves its style typical of Renaissance and partially neoclassic inside the palace. In the middle of the square is situated the fountain Contarini built in the XVIII century.

In the opposite side the Palazzo della Ragione which was built in the XII century. It became at that time the Town Hall of Bergamo and one of the most ancient in Italy.

Alongside Palazzo della Ragione is situated Palazzo del Podestà an ancient and large staircase connect the two buildings. The second one was built also in the XII century by a member of the family Suardi part of Ghibellins faction.

It own a bell tower and nowaday shield the history of Bergamo during the Republic of Venice through interactive representations.

Next to the these building we walking through one of the arch of Palazzo della Ragione and we were in the middle of Piazza Duomo a narrow and asymmetric square which include the most representative building in Bergamo.

The cathedral of Saint Alexander, built in the XV century, in opposite side the baptistery. The church of Saint Mary, erected around the XII century. The main façade is part of the bishop palace and the entrance is on its left side. The external architecture preserved its Lombard Romanesque architecture.

On the way back to Piazza Vecchia in front of the public library we turn on the left we keep going the narrow street with shop which has a different name Via Colleoni. We keep walking toward Piazza della Cittadella and following the arch of its bell tower till Piazza Mascheroni. From this square we left the upper town through the Gate of St.Alexander.
Next to the gate we caught the cable railways to the castle San Vigilio on the highest hill of Bergamo. (Approximately 10 minutes)

Once on the top of the hill we walked through the ruins of the castle and what remain of its four towers. On the way we enjoyed the spectacular view of the upper town, the hills and countryside around Bergamo. From the upper town it is worth a visit of this part of the city in particular if the weather is sunny.

From the gate St.Alexander we had to walk toward we parked the car but follow a different way by not coming back to gate Saint Augustine but the one of Saint Giacomo.

From that gate we walked untill around the corner of Via Borgo Palazzo and Via Pirovano where we parked the car. Actually I did not count how many kilometers we walked to visit this city and still we had to drive for around 180 km. It does not matter it was worth it... I spent a great weekend visiting this part of Italy.

Thanks for attention

All photos are my own property

Best Regards