Continuation of the trip starting on Feb 6th (here)
Today was our 3rd and last night in Bergamo. We absolutely loved
this more relaxed but as interesting small town, if not more then Milan.
The weather became, once again much friendlier. Thus, the morning walk up, from our Relias St. Viglio's hotel to, the Vigilio Castle at the top of the Vigilio hil, anl just next to hotel. was a great way to start this sunny clear sky day,
From the hotel
A symbol of power, the majestic San Vigilio Castle's ground, which was still covered with yesterday's snow, had been the residence of Bergamo’s numerous rulers throughout centuries..
At the Castle ground,
Located strategically, 496m above the sea level, on top of the hill of the same name, it overlooks the Città Alta, and aimed to prevent attacks.
The ruins of a castle with its defensive towers, case-mates and embrasures, built over a tangled underground network of galleries and secret passages, served as the last outpost protecting Bergamo and its territory..
Then, instead of taking the funicular ride, our walk continued down on a narrow trail, , to the upper town (below the hotel) which, That had elevated our spirits, and helped also to shade off, some surplussed calories, definitely gained, with all this Italian dinning
The views from the down walk trail
Panoramic view of the Lower Town from the top
A visit to a Museum
Before heading toward the Accademia Carrara Museum, our Corona testing, was required 24 hours, prior to the flight's departure. It was done at a designated pharmacy.
the one on the Pedestrian XX Settembre St, in the Lower Town. In 5 minutes, only we got our negative results, for 15 Euro each, and our worries dissipated.
Visiting, again the lower town's center, gave us another opportunity to enjoy some more
of the town's grand architecture
Begmamo's Municipality
Other Buildings
"Anima Mundi" - Soul of the World
Bergamo's born sculptor Ugo Riva , situated by the Credito Bergamesco Building
The 3 days funicular pass, we purchased upon arrival , included also all bus rides around Bergamo, so it was easy to get fast frequent bus ride service, from the Lower City's center, also to the museum.
Accademia Carrara Building
The museum is located a way from the town center, in a shabbiest part of town, that we saw until now.
Officially named Accademia Carrara di Belle Arti di Bergamo, the museum is an art gallery and an academy of fine arts in Bergamo,
Established in about 1780 by Giacomo Carrara , who was a Bergamasco collector or conoscitore of the arts,
he left in his will from 1795, his entire estate to the gallery and art school he had founded. These were to be managed by a five-member commission, of which the first five were chosen by him. He died the next year.
In 1810, a new building in the neoclassical style was constructed
Among the greatest art pieces on view are those of:
Bellini, Raffaello Botticelli, Lott0 Tiziano and Battista
The Accademia showcases 2000 paintings ranging from the 14th- 19th c and belonging to the major Italian schools, as well as the Flemish, French, German and Spanish schools.
Portrait of Young Maria Callvaresi with her Mother, (1853) by Tallone Cesare
Via San Tomaso up to Pignolo St.
Up from the Academia Carrara,.the walk on via San Tomaso St. leads to Pignolio a picturous winding steep street, papered with elegant old palaces mostly of 16 c and churches.
It is recommend to walk along.
St Agostineo Gate
The bus drivers perform great acrobatics, each time they manage to pass through the narrow St. Agostino Gate which leads from the lower town to the upper one, The gate is by the Italian Gothic style Sant’Agostino's cloister/church. The monumental buildings date back to the Middle Age.
Returning back to the Upper Town,
Strolling again through Via Bartolomeo Colleoni main street, stopping to view, along the way the following:
Citadel Square
Cittadella Viscontea
The square houses a roman road, medieval gate, 14c portico and Romanesque arcade.
Main legacy is left by Visconti rule in Bergamo from 1333-1428, who built it in 1379 as barracks for the troops.
The Visconti family, head of Milan’s Duchy and Bergamo’s ruler , was in power when the town fell to the Venitian republic .
The portico with the arches was restored in 1958.
The citadel now houses Museum of Natural science and museum of Archeology
The core of Città Alta, which been the heart of political power for centuries.
It keeps being one of the most popular place for local's socializing at the beautiful
square’s restaurants or cafes,
The square includes:
“Palazzo della Ragione”, (the oldest municipal seat in Lombardy) as well as the Torre Civica -Civic Tower, and “Campanone” - bell tower. in the middle of the square is located the Contarini Fountain, also the social theater, Colleoni Chapel Buptisery, S.N Maggiore Basillica, and Cathedral's Museums and Treasurers, Palazzo Nuovo (“New Palace”), which served as Bergamo’s Town Hall until 1873 and is today housesf the Angelo Mai Library. More about the medieval upper town
Dinner at - Barreto San Vigilio
Baretto di San.Viglio - Restaurant
This most charming restaurant, a small "Montmartre gourmand", located at the top of the San Vigilio hill, right at the exit across of the historic funicular station
and 3 minutes from the hotel.
Thus "small bar" named restaurant offers great food, and in warm weather also great views, from the out-doors dinning section, where the 3 bears and me joining, demonstraeted
The last Evening in Bergamo under a Full Moon
To be continued....