Bergamo is a city with a thousand faces and a thousand cultural proposals, capable of satisfying everyone's needs. Porta Nuova, a monumental gate, formed by two imposing neoclassical buildings from which the entry of goods into the city was once controlled, is now the fulcrum of the Lower Town. In the back gardens of Piazza Matteotti stands the famous Monument to the Partisan, the work of famous sculptor Giacomo Manzù. The Academy and Picture Gallery of Carrara, one of the most important artistic institutions in the city, houses the works of masters of the size of Raphael, Botticelli, Mantegna, Tiziano, Tiepolo and Canaletto.
Bergamo "the most beautiful spontaneous example of medieval architecture" (cit. Frank Lloyd Wright)
The heart of the Upper Town, reachable via the San Vigilio funicular, is Piazza Vecchia which overlooks the most evocative sculptural and architectural masterpieces of Bergamo: The "Campanone", the civic tower of the city; the octagonal Gothic Baptistery; the Palazzo della Ragione, the ancient town hall and the Contarini fountain. Dedicated to the captain of fortune Bartolomeo Colleoni is the majestic Colleoni Chapel, a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance. Inside the equestrian statue of the leader, the sarcophagi inlaid in marble and the tomb of the beloved daughter Medea.
Located nearby is the sumptuous Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, whose red and white marble lions majestically guard the entrances. Frescoes, stuccos and tapestries designed by Lorenzo Lotto, decorate the building which houses the monument to Gaetano Donizetti, the famous Italian composer. Surrounding the fortified city are the sixteenth-century Venetian Walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from which it is possible to enjoy a breath-taking view of Bergamo and the gunboat of S. Giovanni, a precious testimony of military technique in Bergamo under Venetian domination.
Bergamo and its mountains
Val Seriana is the ideal combination of nature, history and millenary tractions: There are numerous alpine tourist resorts that dot the area. An oasis of peace is Selvino, a few km from Gazzaniga. Numerous activities and offers are available in the area. From Monte Purito to nature trails up to the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Perello, from mountain bike excursions, to the famous mini walk organized for children up to the numerous paths of the Adventure Park.A few kilometres away also the famous Terme di San Pellegrino attracts visitors. Not far away on the plateau that stretches from Monte Cimiero to Pizzo Formico and then to Presolana, stands Clusone, a well-known tourist resort known for its numerous aided paths through verdant pine forests and the most demanding hikes in the Pre-Alps and Orobic Alps.
Crespi D’Adda, strolling through a workers' village of the late nineteenth century.
Crespi D’Adda, less than 20 km from Seriate, is the only example of industrial archaeology classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as an illustrious example of a workers' village, an environmental and architectural jewel. A day at the Crespi D’Adda cotton mill is a dip into a place out of time, the unique opportunity to identify with the life of the last century.
Abbazia Sant’Egidio in Fontanella, the charm of the Middle Ages
About 30 km from Seriate in the woods of Mount Canto stands the Abbey of Sant'Egidio. Founded a thousand years ago in Romanesque style and embellished with wonderful frescoes and a mysterious sepulchre it is an enchanting place to relive an era of knights and crusades.
Lake Iseo and its islands
Pearl of rare beauty nestled between the Prealps, from the Bergamo to Brescia shores, Lake Iseo is a destination that conquers all year round thanks to the mild climate and the varied offer of activities offered by the territory.
From cultural tourism to naturalistic, seaside and sports, from wellness to spa, from food and wine tours to the numerous events organized for families with children. Recognized as one of the "most beautiful villages in Italy", Montisola is the pearl of Lake Iseo, characterized by a timeless atmosphere and the absence of car traffic. It is possible to walk the paths surrounded by olive trees to discover the characteristic fishing villages of Peschiera Maraglio, Carzano and Novale, until you reach the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Ceriola, a sacred place and a panoramic point from which to enjoy the surrounding landscape.
