A Bastion of Old World Charm

The arrival point of low-cost airlines with cheap flights to Milan, beautiful Bergamo is a tourist destination in its own right. In the foothills of the Alps, the city is spread over 2 levels. The main sights are in the upper level, or Città Alta, where sloping, cobbled streets open into pretty squares.

One such square is Piazza Vecchia with its sidewalk cafés, beautiful library and elegant Palazzo della Ragione. Through its arches is the Cappella Colleoni, an impressive chapel with an ornately sculpted façade and even more ornate interior. The nextdoor Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore has awe-inspiring frescoes.

Surrounding streets contain several Bergamo old town hotels and B&Bs, while surrounding the whole upper city are 17th-century Venetian walls. There are still remains of the Rocca, the castle that guarded them, and there is also a castle in San Vigilio, a hilltop village reached by a cable car.

A cable car also descends to the modern town, Città Bassa. Nearby is the Accademia Carrara, a fine art gallery, across from the GAMEC modern art museum. The Serie A club Atalanta FC plays in a stadium to the northeast, while southwest is the train station where buses to Orio al Serio Airport depart.

Booking.com has several Bergamo hotels near the airport and the neighboring Orio Center shopping complex.