We are a young couple from Norway stopping by Bergamo for two nights (Friday-Sunday). We were really hoping for some tips, maybe from locals, about what to do in the city. We would like something fun, different or weird to do, and also tips on how to best get to “know” the city (aka not just a hop on/hop off tour). Maybe some weird guided tour, or maybe a cool bar, a biking route or museums one must see. Also, and this is very important, where do we get the best coffee in town? Are there any food we must try? What is Bergamo’s specialties?
We love to try new things! So anything is of interest. Also, if anyone’s visiting Norway we would love to trade some tips and tricks.
Città Alta has already been recommended, but I'll be more specific: don't take the funicolare but get the nearby stairs ; be sure to visit Piazza Vecchia , where every night at 10.00 the bell tower toll 100 times , the Duomo, maybe Sant'Agostino monastery (which is a university now), ad to take a walk on venetian walls ("le mura venete") Less popoular places are the church of Santa Grata inter Vites, which has interesting/weird frescoes, the former prison "Sant'Agata" (ex-carcere di Sant'Agata, but it's not always open) and Porta San Giacomo (my personal favourite door of the higher city)
I also love San Vigilio, higher than Città Alta and reachable by another funicolare (take the funicolare this time, it's strenuous by foot): the castle's park has the best 360 view of the city
In Città Bassa the area between via XX Settembre and Fontana Gaetano Donizetti is a tourist and local classic for walks and shopping, it also includes a piazza with an obelisk at its centre; piazza Pontida and its surroundings are also very typical. The cemetery is an unusual place to visit but I like it, expecially the entrance.
For what concerns the museums: Accademia Carrara (Botticelli, Bellini, Raffaello, Moroni) and GAMeC (modern and contemporary art)
Coffee is pretty much the same everywhere I think (obviously espresso like in every part of Italy); eat casoncelli (typical dish from Bergamo) at Giuliana's trattoria and get drunk at Circolino "basso", a bar usually crowded with working-class people and students. Do not confuse it with the Circolino "alto", a fancy place for tourists in Città Alta (but go also there, if you want to).
That's all it comes to my mind for now. Have a nice holiday and let me know what you liked the best!
EDIT: I tried to make words into links but I can't; isn't it [word](link)? Btw i'll leave them below. Sorry for that.
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u/Emilseen Jul 11 '18
Hi there!
We are a young couple from Norway stopping by Bergamo for two nights (Friday-Sunday). We were really hoping for some tips, maybe from locals, about what to do in the city. We would like something fun, different or weird to do, and also tips on how to best get to “know” the city (aka not just a hop on/hop off tour). Maybe some weird guided tour, or maybe a cool bar, a biking route or museums one must see. Also, and this is very important, where do we get the best coffee in town? Are there any food we must try? What is Bergamo’s specialties?
We love to try new things! So anything is of interest. Also, if anyone’s visiting Norway we would love to trade some tips and tricks.
All the best, Erica and Emil