Once Upon a Time in Italy: Bergamo, Italy

By Richa Agarwal

 

Today, the entire world is facing and fighting Corona Virus, also termed as ‘COVID-19’. As I watched the news on TV about the situation in Italy which is ghastly at the moment, I recalled my trip to Milan last year in September for an official trip to Italy. After finishing my work, I had a weekend in hand which I wanted to utilize in exploring the places around. And what is better in a new place than catching up with some old friends who are local to the area.  Also, I think locals are always the best people to take you around the town in comparison to maps and books that is if you are not the adventurous type.

I got in touch with one of my Italian friends and she was more than happy to take me around the city where she lived, ‘Bergamo’. It is a city northeast of Milan. I was staying in Milan where she and her husband (who happened to be an Indian) came to pick me up. I was more than surprised and happy to see an Indian face. I guess the joy was more that I will be able to crack my ‘Hindi’ jokes during the trip and I was also curious to know their love story from India to Italy.

In case there is no one to pick you up from where you are staying, don’t panic folks, you have other options too. You can still reach Bergamo comfortably. There are multiple options from train to taxi and of course ‘Uber’, though the train would be the cheapest and safest option.

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The drive from Milan to Bergamo has lush green areas on both the sides of the highway making the trip refreshing. Bordering Switzerland, Bergamo is a small but beautiful city which was also declared as UNESCO world heritage site in 2017. We started with visiting, ‘Citta Alta’, an uphill location overlooking Bergamo where the city’s most prominent historical centres are located. It can be reached in three ways – approximately 20 minutes’ walk up the hill, cable car/funicular and drive up. We took the cable car ticket as it was told to be the best option to take the funicular and experience the beauty along the way. A funicular is a type of a fixed guide way transit system powered by a cable traction designed for steep inclines. The sitting space is limited in a funicular and you may have to stand but the experience is breathtaking when it goes up and comes down on the steep inclines.

As you arrive and take a little walk, you see a tall building standing in front of you in the corner of the center square. There are also some nice restaurants where people can be seen relaxing and enjoying their meal. Kids are seen playing around and tourists are busy doing the ‘touristy’ things, posing and clicking selfies. On inquiring I came to know that this building is the centerpiece of Citta Alta –Piazza Vecchia. The highlight is the Torre del Campanone, one of the tallest buildings in the city, which rises above the Piazza Vecchia and the Piazza Duomo to a height of 171 feet (52 meters). Hear the tower’s 10 p.m. bell used to signal curfew and the closing of the city gates. If you go all the way to the top of the tower you can get magnificent views of the entire city.

There are other historical buildings and churches around it with marvelous architecture and that is why it has often been referred to as one of the most beautiful piazzas (a public square or marketplace, especially in an Italian town) in all of Europe.

Trust me, the feel and vibe of this place is amazing and you would not get tired walking down the lanes. Other attractions include museums, church, art stuff, souvenir and beauty shops etc.

On the western side of the square there is a museum called ‘Palazzo del Podestà’ relating the Venetian impact on Bergamo. You can also enjoy the Contarini Fountain at the piazza’s center. One of the best things about Citta Alta is that you can walk around aimlessly and find beautiful views full of rich history at every turn. You can also enjoy some really amazing Italian dishes in the restaurants around while seeing this old beauty.

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Strolling down the main street, I clicked some pictures and shopped for some souvenirs to take back home…there are beautiful wooden art pieces of angel or mother child and wooden music boxes.

You would also find some amazing cookies of cartoon characters on it.

The clothes’ shops have latest and trendy stuff which Milan is famous for. Though the prices are more as compared to shops in the city, this being a tourist place, I couldn’t resist buying a really cool and trendy jacket. It’s a lace where a charming girl like me should be lost in window shopping for sure in these narrow lanes.

But be cautious while walking the street as there are some locals who will approach you for donation or would ask you to sign some survey but avoid as those are traps to rob you.

The return experience is equally amazing in funicular with excellent view of the heritage site with lush greenery all around. Make sure you stand on the side of the wall to enjoy the view.

Last but not the least, what impressed me was the warmth and generosity of the Italian people. The way they are always full of smiles, greet with ‘Ciao’ and exchange positive vibes made me look forward to coming back to Italy again.

I wish and pray that Corona crisis is over soon and I can again make a trip to Milan. Until then, Ciao…Ciao!!

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