Bergamo is a little gem of a city and a wonderful place to visit. Citta Alta, which is the old part, consists of cobbled streets, lovely shops, bars and restaurants, and has a lovely feel to it. If walking, there are several options to get there - up the old steps (which are very steep), the funicular or the long road which has a much lower gradient. The lower part of the town consists of larger shops, bars and restaurants and where the bus/tram/train stations are situated. It doesn't matter where you eat, from a small bar to large restaurant, the food is always good. One thing I particularly like is that you can pop into bar in the evening and have either a coffee or a drink and you will always get a warm welcome. I always feel safe in Bergamo, whether out walking during the day or night. One place I would recommend to visit is Selvino. Take a tram then a funicular to this lovely village with beautiful views of the mountains beyond.

To be completely honest it took me a bit by surprise. It was well beyond my expectations. Citta Alta is charming little medieval town and probably the Christmas decor made it more special. Warning: if you're going up on foot its a steep incline that will put your heart through a good test. There are some good restaurants where the italian culinary culture is still a dominant factor. However I must say as well that I found it a bit pricey compared to other Italian cities with a much better reputation. The authorities will do well to keep things under check as they are certainly thriving on the budget airline opportunities esp Ryanair. Airport and public transport are good. And the big shopping complex next to the airport is a haven for shopaholics.

Bergamo offers the historic Citta Alta, a hilltop medieval town with fabulous views, especially if you use both cable cars to reach the top. One also has the opportunity to see some great Art Galleries, e.g. Accademia Carrara and Galleria d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea. For those who wish to do some shopping, apart from the main shopping street just off Porta Nuova, one may also visit the Orio Shopping Centre which is situated just opposite the Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport. You may reach the shopping centre from central Bergamo by using the Airport Bus line and walking from the airport, or alternatively using Bus Line 1C which stops in front of the shopping centre (best to see the bus timetable for schedule). Bergamo's football team is Atalanta who play in the top level Serie A, and if you are lucky you may get to see a great game at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia in Bergamo. If you wish to get out of town, Bergamo railway station is well connected with the rest of Lombardia by trains for Milan, Lecco, Brescia, etc..

The whole of Alta Citta is scenic and intriguing. Go to the top of the Camponone or Gombit towers and see it from above. The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is fantastic. While the majority of the interior was transformed to baroque, it is unique due to the use of tapestries on much of the nave walls and the fine woodwork, inlaid and carved.

The Città Alta is incredible, but there are also some interesting sights in the Lower City. We enjoyed taking our time on various walking routes provided by the tourist office, and stopping off in shops and cafes. The food of Northern Italy is amazing, and there are many great restaurants to choose from.

Citta Alta, Castle and the restaurant at Via Al Castello, 1with an amazing view, Funicolare Citta Alta, Osteria della Birra, The Civic Tower of Bergamo, Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, GAMeC (Malevic exhibition).