Reached via car or the funicular from Viale Vittorio Emanuele, the ancient historical town of Bergamo lies on top of a hill. Bergamo was originally a Celtic settlement but was built over by the Romans. Now "upper Bergamo" or the High City, lies within defensive walls that were already extant at the time of the Romans and which were later rebuilt several times and renewed by the Republic of Venice in 1556. The walls and the gates are still visible while gardens and avenues give an overall view over the modern part of the city, referred to as "lower Bergamo". The narrow streets inside the historical center wind around the beautiful buildings: the central Piazza Vecchia is overlooked by the Cathedral, the Palazzo della Ragione, and the City Library. The quaint city is studded with numerous architectural gems. The historical center is also open at night with a number of restaurants and bars in the pedestrian streets and visitors can follow the entire circle of the walls starting from Porta Sant'Agostino (the city's main entrance).
For every avid fan of Gaetano Donizetti, a visit to the Donizetti Museum is a must. This tiny treasure house stores a plethora of personal memorabilia of this celebrated opera composer. A stroll through the museum will let you have a glimpse of the musician's music sheets, notation books and his piano as well. You also get to see the deathbed where Donizetti breathed his last. Call for further details.
Considered as one of the finest architectural monuments of the region, the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is a grandiose church that dates back to the 12th century. The Romanesque church boasts of a stunning facade, beautiful interiors, frescoes and awe-inspiring reliefs that keep you spell bound. Apart from that, the Basilica also houses the tombs of Bergamo's celebrated artist Donizetti and his teacher.
Santuario della Madonna del Castello is located in the town of Almenno San Salvatore, Italy. The present church was built in the year 1560 over an abandoned church after a fresco of Mother Mary with baby Jesus was unearthed here. The new church, built inspired by Romanesque architecture is now a national monument and is open to visitors.