BBERGAMO

ITS PROVINCE

PROVINCIA DI BERGAMO

Bergamo and its province can quite rightly be considered an artistic,natural and cultural treasure chest. There are extraordinary monumentsand artistic expressions of uncommon beauty, major historical andcultural testimonies all set amid hills, mountains, plains, rivers andlakes in a harmonious and delightful continuity that is oftenaccompanied by the economic and industrial dynamism that has madethis land a rival to the most advanced regions in Europe.All those who, like Stendhal, wish to be chance tourists, as they strollthrough the city or roam the province, with no fixed itinerarydiscovering and tracing each route personally, will find this guidebook apractical and precious indication to what will enthral and fascinatethem, surprises and what deserves more attention and due exploration.If, on the other hand, you prefer to be led, you will find it containsnumerous itineraries, new ideas and suggestions on how to spend oneor more days visiting churches, mansions, museums, old villages,castles, farm estates and one of the most beautiful fortified cities in ItalyBergamo, where the Venetian east blends with the meditative severity ofthe Lombard landscape, exploring the great artistic heritage that hasbeen accumulated in centuries of history.You will also discover parks, enchanting holiday villages, nature oases,spa centers, ski resorts, picturesque lakeshores and riverbanks, solemnAlpine scenery and can regenerate with beneficial cures, participate in avariety of sports activities or enjoy the magical silence of nature.In this province, from prehistoric times to the present day, nature andculture have always been entwined, offering a multiplicity of touristattractions that – accompanied by the rediscovery of olt flavours andthe search for local food and wines still bound the changing seasonsand the land – will transport you far from the overwhelming pace ofcontemporary life and allow you at times to relive the atmosphere oftimes past, where the passing days and man’s work regain their fullmeaning.

Tecla Rondi Valerio BettoniProvince Counselor President

PROVINCIA DI BERGAMO

Nature, landscape and the environment

il TERRITORIO

The Bergamo plain

What landscape could be considered to most characterise theprovince of Bergamo? The plain dotted with densely populatedtowns or the pre-Alpine valleys? The remote farms or that of theskiing resorts? The river scenery or that of the rolling hills sur-rounding the provincial capital; the countryside or the indus-try? Certainly it is all these together and more. Because theprovince of Bergamo is a truly composite mosaic of differentenvironments, where nature has been painstakingly modifiedby the presence and activities of man.

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"Strada Francesca" is the name ofthe main communication routethat crosses the province ofBergamo linking Canònica d’Addato Palazzolo sull’Oglio. The oldroad, traced by the Romans and re-instated in the 9th century by theFranks - after whom it is named -marks a sort of boundary betweenthe visually differing northern and

southern bands of the plain.Extending to the north is the upperor dry plain, marked by morainicand, therefore, permeable terrain.Here the farming presence is limit-ed to the few sectors, with a pre-dominance of cereal crops (wheatand maize) and small farms, stillorganised in isolated cascine. Urban and industrial signs are

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clearly visible on the landscape,with large numbers of houses andfactories concentrated around themore densely populated centres.South of "Strada Francesca" thescene changes. This is the lower orirrigated plain, featuring clayey,impermeable terrain rich insources and karst springs. Thesenatural ‘plain springs’ flowing outwhere the surface of the terrain isso low that it reaches the waterbedare precisely the reason for thegood irrigation for the fields, withwater at a virtually constant tem-perature in every season. Agriculture is still widespread inthis band of the territory, with apredominance of large farming es-tates cultivating extensive areas offorage plants for stock rearing. Therivers that cross the Bergamo plainlongitudinally make highly unusual

environments and landscapes. TheAdda and Oglio rivers trace itswestern and eastern boundariesrespectively, and the River Serio al-most draws its median line. In 1985the Regione Lombardia set up the

The river Serio waterfalls at Valbondione

Upper Valle Brembana, huts at Laghi Gemelli

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nature, landscape and the environment

Parco Naturale del Serio to protectthe strips of terrain adjacent tothis river; the Park is spread over7500 hectares of land from Seriateto Montòdine, at the confluence ofthe River Adda. A separate sectoris that traditionally called Isola, asmall area, triangular in shape,that is wedged between the Addaand Brembo rivers. Bound to thenorth by a band of hills that culmi-nates in Mt Canto, the territoryowes the survival of its traditionalaspects to the fact that it lies in a‘peripheral’ position with regard

to the main axes of communica-tion and trade. The very specialcharm of the landscape is, on theother hand, due to the presence ofrivers - the Adda in particular -that flow low down in sunkenbeds.

The Bergamo hills

The rolling band of hills that ex-tends northwest of the provincialcapital to Mt Canto Alto was in-cluded in the Parco Regionale deiColli di Bergamo in 1977.

Everyday domestic items, worktools used in the fields, woods andvineyards and equipment for dairyproduction, woodworking andwool, linen and hemp weaving. A good way of learning about thetrades, crafts and folk traditions ofthe Bergamo valleys is to visit thesmall museums that have collecteddocuments and testimonies of lifein days past. See for instance theEthnographic Museum of theValley at Zogno, housed in a 16th-century mansion, the Museum ofthe Valley at Schilpario, set up in aformer water-driven sawmill dat-ing from the 19th century, or theMuseum of Upper Val Brembana atValtorta, in the 16th-century man-sion of the former VenetianMagistrate.Also of interest are the Museum ofthe Lujo Valley at Albino, in the

church of the S. Cuore, and the FolkMuseum of Verdello, in PalazzoComunale. The Carpentry Museum ofAlmenno San Bartolomeo, whichoffers a rare and comprehensivedescription of the woodworkingculture, is the only one of its kind inEurope.

Ethnographic museums

The Carpentry Museum

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The area presents many scenic,environmental and cultural val-ues, but the most striking aspectis the way the landscape changesimmediately outside the citywalls. Although Bergamo extendsto the east with suburbs that con-serve strong urban traits, theseseem to suddenly vanish here.So, close to the city, you willcome across secluded spots, soli-tary valleys and small quiet vil-lages.

Perhaps the ideal image of theLombard countryside should besought along the course of theRiver Adda. Rolling hills, patchesof vegetation reflected in tranquilwaters, isolated buildings thatbear witness to a nature tamed byman - it is a landscape of remark-able beauty and was chosen byLeonardo da Vinci as the back-drop to his Mona Lisa and other fa-mous paintings by him. The riverhabitat discovered along the wellsunken banks of the river or by cy-cling down dirt tracks remains ex-traordinarily intact. The most sur-prising thing is that, just a few k-ilometres from factories, roads

and major urban centres, the land-scape maintains its natural traits,with thick arboreal vegetation ofalder, white willow, black poplarand locust trees; nor is it a rare oc-currence to encounter blueherons hidden amidst the reeds orlittle white egrets on the edges ofthe river. The signs of man’s pres-ence are not lacking along this im-portant watercourse, the geo-graphical and historical boundarybetween west Lombardy, subjectto Milan, and east Lombardy, theBergamo portion of which is a re-minder of the outermost limits ofVenetian domination. Not only arethere old locks, hollows andcanals, but also power stationsbuilt at the end of the 19th centu-ry. On this landscape dominatedby nature, ‘constructed’ elementsmanage to live in perfect harmonywith the habitat.

Cycling along the Adda

Villa D’Adda, the ferry on the river Adda

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Lake Iseo at Predore

The pre-Alpine valleys

Although industry is the factor thathas most transformed the face of thestrip of land at the foot of the moun-tains, in more recent times tourismhas brought change to the upper andmiddle Bergamo valleys. Thus, theterritory in the more northern sectorof the province is also marked by aprevalence of modern tourist-resi-dential features, favoured by the p-resence of vast plateaus well suitedto skiing. There is, however, no lackof places and villages that conservethe original traits of this system ofvalleys arranged perpendicularly tothe Orobie Alps range. Upon leavingthe well-beaten tracks, you will dis-cover landscapes that are still intactand full of charm, where the riversform sheer waterfalls and woods offir trees surround villages of stone

and wood houses. An excursion tothe old refuge huts offers an oppor-tunity to rediscover the traditionalflavours and the most authentic feelof the Bergamo mountains. Onemust is the spectacular Enna gorgesituated at the point where the roadfrom Val Taleggio descends into theverdant San Giovanni Bianco hollow,in Val Brembana. Here the river flowsfor approximately three kilometresbetween high narrow rock walls, fur-rowed by vertical gorges. The best-known Alpine panoramas in the w-hole province are, nonetheless,those of the mighty Presolana range,with crags and harshly beautifulDolomitic rock faces. Good startingpoints for hikes and excursions areCastione della Presolana and thePresolana Pass, today these are busytourist resorts both in summer andwinter.

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nature, landscape and the environment

The first tourist resorts

Tourism is a consolidated tradi-tion in the Bergamo valleys, as isconfirmed by the presence ofhotel and reception structuresthat date from the first decadesof the 20th century. Those veryyears saw the birth of the spaand holiday resorts that trans-formed the economyof many villages, andled to the most re-cent success oftourism. Certainly, inthe beginning, it wasmainly the spas thatwere visited for re-generating holidays.At Sant’OmbonoImagna you can stilladmire the elegantdesign of hotels builtin the 1920s and1930s for a refined

clientele, drawn here by the p-resence of a curative waterspring. San Pellegrino Terme(see box) is, however, the truequeen of the ‘fin de siècle’tourist resorts, lying in a verdanthollow on both sides of the RiverBrembo. This town conserves

Naturally, the mountains are central to an itinerary given overto sport - synonymous with health and complete well-being.There are holiday resorts equipped for snow enthusiasts, butalso places where you can gain new strength on relaxing walksthrough woods, making excursions to explore spots where na-ture remains intact, or relax in the delight of doing nothing atall. A thousand possible itineraries mean it will not be difficultto find a dimension that responds to personal bents and pas-sions.

Sport and health

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San Pellegrino, Art Nouveau stained glass windows at the Casino

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sport and health

the Art Nouveau imprint of a re-fined ‘ville d’eau’ and its fame isbound to mineral water springsalready known in the 13th centu-ry but not exploited until the1700s. Trescore Balneario, themain town in Val Cavallina, is al-so known for its old springs ofcold sodium-chloride and sul-phurous water, which supply thelocal spas.

Skiing resorts in the Brembovalleys

The high peaks of the Pizzo deiTre Signori, Corno Stella andPizzo Arera tower majestically

over the mountain landscape ofthe upper Val Brembana.Furrowed by two main branch-es of the River Brembo whichflow together at Lenna, thisopens like a fan into a number ofpicturesque valleys that de-scend from the Orobie Alps.One of the most popular winterresorts is Fòppolo, lying in a hol-low in Val Brembana, betweenthe Orobie ridge and the spurs

Sumptuous reception rooms in theGrand Hôtel, walks along the river,porticoes, gardens, celebrationsand musical afternoons, SanPellegrino Terme bore all the marksof an elegant ‘ville d’eau’ andbecame a popular and renownedspa resort between the late 19thand early 20th centuries. Records ofthis successful period and preciousevidence of the tastes of the timesare to be seen in its Art Nouveau vil-las, immersed vegetation, andPalazzo della Fonte, featuring a lux-ury Pompeii-style drinking salon. Aportico joins this building in a sin-gle complex with the municipalCasino, which with its exuberant

decorations represents one ofLombardy’s most significant exam-ples of Art Nouveau.

San Pellegrino, the lady of art nouveau

S. Pellegrino, the Municipal Casino.The reception room (detail)

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of Pizzo del Vescovo. Ski lifts,hotels and a proliferation of hol-iday homes have radicallychanged the original face of thistown, which has now forgotten

All over the province ofBergamo polenta is of coursethe queen of the table - compactand yellow, it comes sliced asrequired by tradition. Cooked, ifpossible, over a wood fire in thecharacteristic copper caul-drons that give it a more deci-sive flavour, it can be servedwith butter and melted cheese,or admirably accompanied bybraised meat and "codeghì", thetastiest pork sausage. Even adessert mimics this dish - aring-shaped cake, yellow likepolenta, adorned with choco-late birds. Of the meat dishes"polsetto" (boiled veal) is one ofthe most characteristic and firstcourses must include "cason-sei", vegetable ravioli with theadded flavour of melted butter.Taleggio is only the best knownof the numerous cheeses thatare still produced in the

Bergamo valleys using tradi-tional skills. But also of note arethe formaggelle of Val di Scalveand Branzi, used in the prepara-tion of polenta taragna.Although less renowned for thisthan other parts of Lombardy,the province of Bergamo doesboast its own wine-producingarea, in the band of hills at thefoot of the mountains thatembraces the provincial capitalfrom Almenno to Sàrnico, onLake Iseo. Here the DOC winesare white Valcalepio, a dry wineused as an aperitif or to accom-pany light dishes, and redValcalepio, ruby in colour withan intense bouquet and a drylasting taste. This is the idealaccompaniment to richer dish-es, ripened cheeses and theever-present polenta. The localdessert wine is called Moscatodi Scanso, sweet and harmo-nious, and leaves a slightalmond aftertaste. The mineralwaters of the Berga-mo valleysare renowned the world overand they also produce excellenthoney here.

Traditional flavours

“Formai de mut” (Traditional mountain cheese)

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its traditional farming and craftvocations. From here, a detour off the roadthat rises from Branzi leadsquickly to the small skiing re-sort of San Simone. The roadthat climbs up the Mezzoldovalley, formed by the westernbranch of the upper RiverBrembo, will take you toPiazzatorre, another bustlingsummer and winter holiday re-sort. Cusio, in Val Bindo, is alsopopular for winter sports, al-though the recent tourist devel-opment has not totally erasedits traditional woodcarvingcraft. Among the old buildingsis the former Venetian Dogana(customs), a building of 15th-century origin that bears wit-ness to the role played by thisvalley as a place of commercialtransit.

Holidays in Val Seriana andVal di Scalve

A road branches off fromNembro, a large industrial townin the lower part of the valley, toSelvino, lying on the spur that di-

Schilpario, Cimon della Bagozza

Orobie Alps range, Pizzo del Diavolo

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sport and health

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Averara, the porticoed road

vides the Serio river valley fromthat formed by the RiverBrembo. Gromo is a pole of sum-mer and winter tourism in ValSeriana and, in its upper part,conserves the appearance of amedieval village. A scenic roadclimbs to the Piano degli Spiazzi,popular among skiers and hik-ers. The road along the upperVal Seriana ends at Lizzola, seatof the scattered commune ofValbondione, the most wide-spread in the Province. A sum-mer and winter holiday destina-tion, this resort has not lost itstraditional appearance and in-deed modern buildings stand a-longside old houses with slateroofs. From Clusone, ‘capital’ ofupper and middle Val Seriana,

the road leads to the PresolanaPass, a winter sports resort butalso the base for hikes andclimbs in the Presolana range.Once past Rovetta, lying on agently undulating plain, you willcome to Castione dellaPresolana, which together withthe nearby towns of Bratto andDorga and the Monte Pora ski s-lopes, forms one of the bestknown and most popular skiingdistricts in the province. A roaddescends steeply from the Passthrough beautiful scenery intoVal di Scalve, a sort of ‘corridor’between Valle Seriana andValcamònica. Once known for itsiron deposits and woods, it hasgradually been converted totourism, as is shown by the

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houses, hotels and sports facili-ties of Schilpario, the largestcentre in the valley.

Lakes Endine and Iseo

A natural and in many ways stillunaltered landscape surroundsLake Èndine, a small sheet of water(km2 2.3) formed by the RiverCherio in the flat open ValCavallina. Monasterolo delCastello, on the south shore of thelake, is named after the nearbymanor, which dates from the yearOne Thousand but was rebuilt sev-eral times. The delightful lake vil-lage features an interesting 18th-century construction that joinsthe two squares in the medievalold centre. Also on Bergamo territory is thewest shore of Lake Iseo - or Sebino- formed by the River Oglio in theterminal section of Valcamònica.Two interesting towns stand at the

end of the lake. To the north isLóvere, still with medieval areasand an important picture gallery,founded in 1828 by the benefactorLuigi Tadini from Cremona; to thesouth is Sàrnico, the compact oldcentre with lovely narrow streets,covered passages, loggias andporticoed houses.

Lake Endine

Lake Gaiano in Val Cavallina

sport and health

The old heart of Bergamo

Where Piazza Vecchia, the most repre-sentative space in Bergamo Alta, s-tands today there used to be medieval

houses and shops, of which a re-minder that can be seen at the base ofthe high tower of Palazzo del Comune.Adorned with an 18th-century foun-tain, the square is indeed aRenaissance space and was created inthe 15th century by demolishing thebuildings close to Palazzo dellaRagione - erected in the middle of the12th century but rebuilt in the 15thand 16th centuries. Also marking thesquare are Palazzo Nuovo, designed in1593 and redesigned in 1611, andPalazzo del Podestà, originally datingfrom 1340 but transformed in the 15thcentury. The loggia of Palazzo dellaRagione leads into the intact and se-cluded Piazza del Duomo, one of theloveliest squares in Lombardy. On thissquare stand the Duomo, dating fromthe 16th century, restructured in 1459by Filarete but revamped in 1688 andnot completed until 1886; the remark-able Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore, pre-

Romanesque churches, Renaissance mansions, baroquebuildings, neo-classical villas and Art Nouveau. The ex-traordinary wealth of the province of Bergamo makes it im-possible to concentrate an itinerary exploring works of artin a small area. A better idea is to start from the heart ofBergamo Alta and indicate just a few essentials and leavethe pleasure of discovering other ‘ideal tours’ to personaltaste and passions.

Masterpieces to be visited

ART and CULTURE

Bergamo, S. Maria Maggiore and the Duomo

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ceded by a Romanesque porch; andthe elegant Colleoni chapel, one of thefinest examples of LombardRenaissance art, built by BartolomeoColleoni as his personal mausoleum.The small octagonal Baptistery hasonly stood in front of the gardens ofthe Arcivescovado since 1898. When itwas constructed - in 1340 - it was in-side S. Maria Maggiore and there it re-mained until 1660, when it was entire-ly dismantled.

The other towns on the plain

The walls that used to surroundTreviglio no longer exist. Becauseof its position - midway betweenBergamo and Milan and at thejunction of roads to Crema andBrescia - it acquired the tradition-al role of a trade centre. In thecentral square, the collegiate of S.Martino tells an old story, thatcommenced with its foundationin the 10th-11th century, contin-ued in the 15th century with afirst remake and then again in the18th century, when it was givenits animated baroque façade.Worthy of note inside is a polyp-tych by Bernardino Butinone andBernardino Zenale (1485), con-served at the end of the righthand aisle. Romano di Lombardiaalso owes it function as a tradepole and the town’s traditionalvocation to the fact that it standsat a point where major roadsmeet. Besides the Visconti castle,

an indication of its long history isseen in the medieval Palazzo del-la Comunità, altered by theVenetians in the 15th century; al-

Bergamo, the Colleoni Chapel

Bergamo, Piazza Vecchia

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masterpieces to be visited

ART and CULTURE

There are truly many fine works tobe admired in the picture galleryof the Accademia Carrara inBergamo, founded in 1795 andconsidered one of the richestmuseum collections in Italy. Theapproximately 1700 paintings, byartists Italian and non-, datingfrom the 15th to the 18th centuryreveal a clear predominance ofthe schools of Bergamo, Lom-bardy and Venice, bearing witnessto the strong bonds between thevarious cultural circles of thetimes. Hence, although the refinedatmosphere of internationalGothic lives on in the tarot cardspainted by Bonifacio Bembo forFilippo Maria Visconti and thepassage of Leonardo can indeedbe seen in many 15th-century

Lombard painters, the influenceof the Venetian Republic is evi-dent in several works painted inBergamo and its province. Of noteamong these are - besides impor-tant paintings by Lorenzo Lotto -paintings by G.B. Moroni (por-traits from his early years to matu-rity), Evaristo Baschenis (fourpaintings showing musical instru-ments) and a large repertoire ofportraits executed by Fra’Galgario. The Accademia Carraraalso presents two interesting por-traits by Carlo Ceresa: to gaingreater familiarity with this 17th-century local painter you can fol-low the Itinerario Ceresiano, fea-turing 16 paintings in eightchurches in San Giovanni Bianco,his birthplace.

The treasures of the Accademia Carrara

Accademia Carrara, still life by Evaristo Baschenis

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masterpieces to be visited

so in the centre of the town is thepicturesque parish church of S.Maria Assunta, which containspaintings by G.B. Moroni. The tallbell-tower of the church of S.

Maria dell’Incoronata, erected inthe second half of the 15th centu-ry and adorned with 15th-16thcentury frescoes, heralds from a-far Martinengo, with its remark-able Piazza Maggiore featuringporticoed buildings and the 17th-century Palazzo del Comune

Val Seriana

The porticoed houses of AlzanoLombardo used to belong to the richsilk and wool merchants whobrought prosperity to this centre at

The romanesque country church of S. Tomé

Scholars agree that not only is thecountry church of S. Tomé one ofthe most important artisticexpressions in the whole province,it is also one of the loveliestRomanesque constructions with acentral plan in all Lombardy. Builtin the 11th or early 12th century inashlar stone, the small churchstands out in the countryside atthe foot of Almenno SanBartolomeo, in Valle Imagna. Thebuilding has a cylindrical mainbody to which was added the pres-bytery with a semicircular apse.The circular lines are also repeat-ed inside, in the two levels of theambulatory, in the women’s

gallery, in the niches in the wallsand in the presbytery, as well as inthe fine dome with annular vaults.

Almenno S. Bartolomeo, S. Tomé

Clusone - the Oratory of the Disciplini. The Death Dance (detail)

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the entrance to Val Seriana in the15th-16th centuries. Its imposingBasilica of S. Martino was com-menced in 1659 although it was notcompleted until the early 19th cen-tury. Inside it contains importantpaintings (G.B. Piazzetta, Palma theElder, Jacopo Tintoretto) and amonumental marble pulpit byAndrea Fantoni (1712), also respon-sible for the wood inlays in one ofthe three magnificent sacristies.Climbing up the Serio valley, thougha still intensely urbanised land-scape, you will come to Albino.Standing on its central square is thechurch of S. Bartolomeo, of 13th-century origin but remade in the15th and 17th centuries, and the19th-century parish church of S.Giuliano, which contains two paint-ings by G.B. Moroni, born in oraround 1523 in a local hamlet. Next comes Gandino, where the im-pressive Basilica of S. MariaAssunta, with its rich baroque inte-

rior, is a 17th-century reconstruc-tion of an existing church. The bestknown and most precious work is,however, to be found at Clusone,which because of its position at thecrossroads between Lake Iseo andValcamònica, was a major tradingvillage in Roman times. This is a cy-cle of frescoes beneath the porti-coes of the 15th-century oratory ofthe Disciplini, painted in 1485 byGiacomo Borlone and his work-shop.

Val Cavallina and Lake Iseo

Painting enthusiasts will discov-er fine works in centres in theopen and flat Val Cavallina,

Accademia Carrara, G. B. Moroni, Little girl of the Redetti family

S. Paolo d’Argon, the cloister of the monastery

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ART and CULTURE

formed by the River Cherio. Aswell as the frescoes by LorenzoLotto at Trescore Balneario, anessential stop is the Galleriadell’Accademia Tadini at Lóvere,which boasts major paintings ofthe 14th-19th-century Venetianand Lombard schools. While there also visit theBasilica of S. Maria in Valvendra,erected in the second half of the15th century perhaps byComacine masters. Of note onthe main altar is a 16th-centuryAnnunciation by Pietro Morone,enclosed in a monumental wood-en ancona. The tour then contin-ues in Val Calepio, lying betweenthe Cherio and Oglio rivers.Rolling hills will lead you toCredaro to visit a cycle of fres-coes by Lorenzo Lotto in the s-mall church of S. Giorgio.Frescoes by Romanino can be

admired in the commune ofVillongo; paintings for the 16th-century chapel of S. Rocco arenow on display in the adjacentCasa Bonduri. The tour ends atSàrnico, on Lake Iseo. Here thereare no precious paintings, butVilla Faccanoni, designed in 1912by Giuseppe Sommaruga, is a re-fined example of Art Nouveau ar-chitecture.

Sarnico, Villa Faccanoni (Photo by Giuseppe Zanchi)

Lovere, Accademia Tadini

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masterpieces to be visited

The environs of Bergamo

The monastery of Astino, in the green scenery of the Bergamo hills

Lying on the bottom of a silentvalley not far outside Bergamo,the monastery of Astino isreached along a steep and nar-row road that descends theeastern slope of the San Vigiliohill. Founded in the early 12thcentury by the monks of Vallom-brosa to house a holy relic

brought from Jerusalem by thefirst crusaders, the monastery(today abandoned) was exten-sively restructured in 1515 todevelop a larger and moresumptuous complex. The workscontinued for more than a cen-tury and added a deepRenaissance choir and a porti-

In a land where religious spirit is closely entwined withtraditional culture many places are linked to faith andpopular devotion. Sanctuaries visited by masses of belie-vers, secluded silent monasteries, churches that are thefulcrum of towns and old, solitary abbeys become stopson a journey through the province. A journey that seeksout the truest roots but also of some of the finest momentsin the path of art.

Sanctuaries, monasteries and abbeys

ART and CULTURE

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coed cloister, linked by an ele-gant loggia, to the church. Thecontrast between the agricul-tural landscape of the small val-ley and the city suburbs is great,as too is that between the oldmonastery and the church ofMaria Santissima Immacolata,built in 1962-65 at Lònguelo, ahamlet of Bergamo.

The abbey of Pontida

The oath of Pontida representsone of the most celebrated pagesin schoolbooks. Yet history doesnot confirm the tradition, accord-

ing to which it was in this oldabbey, on 7 April 1167, that therepresentatives of the LombardLeague made a pact to prevent theEmperor Federico I Barbarossafrom jeopardising the freedom of

Bergamo, the home of Donizetti

Musicians, lovers of good music andenthusiastic melomaniacs can fol-low a tour in Bergamo that retracesthe life of Gaetano Donizetti, bornhere in 1797. The composer wasborn in a humble house at No. 14Borgo Canale but the building inwhich he died in 1848 - PalazzoScotti - is a fine baroque construc-tion standing in the street namedafter him. A visit must be made tothe Donizetti Museum, set up in theformer Palazzo della MisericordiaMaggiore, of 15th-century origin butrevamped in baroque times. It hous-es hand-written manuscripts, firstprinted editions, documents andpersonal items, including the fur-nishings from his last bedroom andtwo pianos that belonged to the

maestro. The tour ends with theDonizetti theatre, founded in 1786and the venue for the FestivalDonizettiano, an important musicalevent dedicated every year by thecity to the illustrious composer,also celebrated by a nearby monu-ment by Francesco Ierace (1897).

Sotto il Monte, the abbey of S. Egidio at Fontanella

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sanctuaries, monasteries and abbeys

the Communes. What is certain,on the other hand, is that themonastery of S. GiacomoMaggiore, founded in the secondhalf of the 11th century and betterknown as the abbey of Pontida,was, in the Middle Ages, the eco-nomic and cultural centre of a vastarea in the Adda valley. Destroyedby the Visconti family in 1373, itwas rebuilt in several stages from1485 on. Of the 16th-century struc-ture it conserves two virtually in-tact cloisters (in the portico of theupper one, frescoes of popes ofthe Benedictine order and figureswho renounced high honour forthe monk’s habit), the chapter-house (early 16th-century fres-

coes) and three rooms that todayhouse the abbey museum. A mod-ern flight of steps climbs to thebasilica, its façade and bell-towerwere rebuilt in the early 19th cen-tury. The interior of the monasteryconserves, at least in its centralbody, the pointed forms of 14th-century architecture and two s-culpted stone panels inBurgundian art (late 11th-early12th C.) inserted in the modernmain altar, date from the firstchurch.

The home of the ‘good pope’

A few kilometres separatePontida from Sotto il MonteGiovanni XXIII, a rural centre fa-

Sotto il Monte, the home of Pope John XXIII

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mous because it was the birth-place of John XXIII - AngeloRoncalli in the world - Pope from1958 to 1963. His home is a desti-nation for pilgrims and many be-lievers also visit the commemo-rative museum set up in the Ca’Maitino that was the prelate’s

In the footsteps of Lorenzo Lotto

The thirteen years that LorenzoLotto spent in Bergamo were prob-ably the happiest of his long andrestless life. Valued by the powerfullocal families, this painter ofVenetian origin - today consideredone of the most fascinating artistsof the Renaissance - producedmajor works which exude a pro-foundly religious soul and a highlyunusual attention to details, whichoften become metaphors. Of thealtarpieces kept in the provincialcapital, the most famous is that ofthe Madonna, Child and Saints inthe church of S. Bartolomeo, betterknown as the "Martinengo altar-piece". Also of particular note arecycle of frescoes on the Life ofMary in the church of S. Michele alPozzo Bianco and the preciouswooden inlays designed for thechoir of S. Maria Maggiore. A citytour retracing the footsteps ofLorenzo Lotto cannot fail to visitthe Accademia Carrara, which dis-plays the predellas of the Mar-

tinengo altarpiece, the paintingdepicting the Mystical Marriage ofSt Catherine and the intensePortrait of Lucina Brembati.Paintings by Lotto can also befound around the province of Ber-gamo: an altarpiece in the parishchurch of Sedrina, a polyptych inthe 15th-century parish church ofSS. Vincenzo e Alessandro atPonterànica and frescoes in achapel in the church of S. Giorgio atCredaro. The frescoes portrayingthe life of the saint in the church ofS. Barbara at Trescore Balnearioare a veritable masterpiece inwhich the immediate narrativeinvention and wealth of detail con-firm the painter’s adhesion to tradi-tional Lombard naturalism.

Trescore, the Suardi Oratory. Frescoes by Lorenzo Lotto

23

sanctuaries, monasteries and abbeys

The Sanctuary of Madonna di Caravaggio

summer residence during his pe-riod as cardinal. In the hamlet ofFontanella stands the church ofS. Egidio, with a simpleRomanesque façade and 16th-century frescoes inside. It is allthat remains of the abbey ofFontanella, founded in the 11thcentury by Cluniac monks.

The sanctuaries of Caravaggio and Treviglio

Apparently, in far off 1571, this wasthe birthplace of MichelangeloMerisi, the restless and talentedmaestro known as Cara-vaggio whoemphasised the dramatic intensityof his paintings with light andshade. However, this old village

southeast of Treviglio is mainlyknown for the sanctuary of theMadonna di Caravaggio, built in oraround the 16th century on thespot where the Virgin Mary is saidto have appeared to a humble peas-ant woman. Visited by pilgrims, thegrand complex now presents theappearance of the reconstructionordered by Carlo Borromeo which,although commenced in 1575, wasnot completed until the early 18thcentury. Popular devotion also tellsof a miracle of the past in nearbyTreviglio. In 1522, the tears wept byan image of the Madonna are said tohave saved the centre of theBergamo plain from being sackedby French soldiers. On the spotwhere the miracle occurred build-

24

ART and CULTURE

Clusone, S. Lucio

ing commenced in 1594 of the sanc-tuary of the Beata Vergine delleLacrime, extended and trans-formed in the early 20th century.

A sanctuary in the Bergamo valleys

Although it derives from a com-mon church of the 11th century,the layout of the sanctuary of theMadonna del Castello atAlmenno San Salvatore datesfrom the 16th century. This oldcentre is situated on a rise to theright of the River Brembo, at thepoint where the Imagna valleyenters in Val Brembana. On theoutside the church features amarble portal, built in 1578; theunusual interior is divided in two

by a frescoed wall. The front parthas a ciborium of the 16th centu-ry and the inner portion, olderand decorated with frescoes ofthe 11th-16th centuries, houses aRomanesque ambo in sculpted s-tone.

Fraggio in Val Taleggio

25

sanctuaries, monasteries and abbeys

Old spinning mills, power stations and workers’ villagesbased on English models. An interesting chapter on the ori-gins of industrial Italy is written on the plain and in the low-er Bergamo valleys where, starting in the middle of the 19thcentury, the foundations were laid for the gradual develop-ment of production structures. This led to the industrialboom that in certain areas became ever more firmly rootedand radically changed the economy as well as the very ap-pearance of the territory.

Industrial archaeology itineraries

The roots of industry

The origins of local industriali-sation date from the periodwhen it was annexed by theVenetian Republic; this included

it in a larger economic circuitand encouraged the local crafttradition, based on spinning andweaving. One of the most signif-

The Esterle hydroelectric station on the right bank of the river Adda

26

the SIGNS OF MAN

icant memories of this industri-al vocation is to be seen atVèrtova, in lower Val Seriana.The oldest part of the villageconserves its characteristicwooden porticoes, called"ciodére" after the long row ofnails that served to hang out thewoollen cloths. Not, however,until the 19th century did the re-al and precocious industrialboom take place - favoured cer-tainly by an abundance of man-

power and the presence of wa-tercourses with a considerableflow and even gradient.

Factories in Val Seriana

The Swiss industrialist GioachinoZopfi built a spinning mill on thebanks of the River Serio, atRànica, in 1869. In little morethan a decade this had become

The old “Via Priula”

This road, built in 1590 by thePodestà Alvise Priuli (afterwhom it is named) was responsi-ble for the economic develop-ment of the upper Val Brembana,which from an outlying and iso-lated area in the 17th century be-came an important transit andcommunication route betweenVenetian Lombardy and theValtellina domain of the Leaguesof Grisons. You can still followthe 16th-century route, climbingthe west branch of the upperRiver Brembo from Lenna andpassing through the Mezzoldovalley. The village of Mezzoldowas the last Venetian post along"Via Priula" and the 17th-centurybuilding seen on the left as youenter the village is one of themany customs posts built by theVenetian Republic along the

trade routes. Once past the Ca’San Marco roadhouse, whichstill bears a winged lion, the sym-bol of Venice, you come to theSan Marco Pass (1985m), fromwhich you descend toMorbegno, in Valtellina.

Mezzoldo, the winged lion on Cà San Marco

27

industrial archaeology itineraries

a major manufacturing workswith 5,600 spindles and 640looms. The building that wasused for weaving can still beseen at the entrance to the vil-lage, along with a number ofservice blocks and workers’

houses with balconies. Clearlyrecognisable in the building fab-ric are the production, residen-tial and official buildings linkedto the presence of the Zopfi cot-ton mill, which transformed theold village into a sort of ‘mod-ern’ industrial one. As you trav-el through Val Seriana you willencounter more examples of in-dustrial archaeology, such asthe Crespi factory buildings atNembro, those of the Honnegercotton mill (1878) at the en-

Mining activities

LIron mines of Val Seriana, marblequarries and lead and zincdeposits in Val Brembana and ValSerina. As early as Roman times,the mineral wealth of theBergamo valleys was known andwas certainly instrumental in

their early industrial develop-ment. Today, all that remains of the min-ing industry are records and evi-dence kept in some interestingmuseums. The Ethnographic Mu-seum of Ardesio, in Val Seriana,illustrates the history of the silvermine discovered here in the 11thcentury. The Oltre il Colle Mu-seum of Minerals and the Mine, inVal Serina, has a collection of min-ers’ equipment and minerals fromlocal deposits. Tools and equip-ment used in the iron mines arealso exhibited at Schilpario, in theEthnographic Museum of theValley. This museum illustratingthe life and traditional activitiesof the local populations is set upin a former 19th-century water-driven sawmill.

The Museum at Schilpario

28

the SIGNS OF MAN

trance to Albino and those ofthe Cantoni (formerly Berga-masco and from 1910 De AngeliFrua) cotton mill at PonteNossa. Albeit greatly modifiedby alterations, there are evenexamples of old factories in theupper part of the valley. See, for instance, the buildingsof the Festi Rasini works and thePozzi Electa factory, with struc-tures dating from 1889, which liealong the right bank of the riverat Villa d’Ogna.

Industrial centres on the upper and lower plain

More than anywhere else in theprovince of Bergamo, it is atDàlmine that you will understandnot only the strong connection be-tween industry and territory, butalso the major impact that produc-tion structures often have on theenvironment. The large iron and steel complex -created in 1906 with the aid of for-eign capital and purchased byItalian industrialists in 1916 - isspread over a long series of shopfloors that line the main road andmotorway. Founded in 1965 in re-sponse to the decentralisation ofproduction and services fromBergamo and Milan, Zingònia is asort of ‘new town’, the originalproject of which was based on theconcept of a 19th-century work-ers’ villages. Another interesting

example on the Bergamo plaingoes back once more to the originsof industry and is that of Fara Gerad’Adda, where the LinificioCanapificio Nazionale (linen mill)was developed starting in 1870, ona total surface area of nearly50,000 square metres. The cre-ation of the vast manufacturingcomplex radically altered the ruralnature of the centre, which turnedinto a typical factory village, withservices, public assistance servic-es and houses for the workers.

Crespi d’Adda, the entrance to the cotton mill

29

industrial archaeology itineraries

Crespi d’Adda, an ‘ideal town’

A tree-lined avenue separates theproduction zone from the houses,

overlooking a chequer-board roadplan. On one side are the Cotton mill(1875), with its tall brick chimney,the Castello (1849-97), the eclectichome of the owner, and the build-ings used to accommodate unmar-ried workers (1880). On the otherside stand the houses of the work-ers with families (1889-94), com-plete with vegetable patch and gar-den, and, farther out, the houses ofthe office workers and directors.There is a church, a public wash-house, theatre, school, co-operativeshop and, beyond the sportsground, the cemetery. On theBergamo side of the River Adda iswhat can quite rightly be consid-ered one of the most interesting andbest preserved examples of a work-ers’ village, which combines Anglo-Saxon models with clear referencesto the socialist utopias of the times.Developed between 1890 and 1910

Crespi d’Adda, “The Castle”

Crespi d’Adda, windows of the cotton mill

30

the SIGNS OF MAN

thanks to the philanthropic designsof textile entrepreneurs, Crespid’Adda is still an extraordinaryrecord, not just of early industry inItaly but also of a train of thoughtthat sought to construct an idealcommunity that would strike a per-fect balance between workers’needs and the interests of the owner.

Following the River Adda

An itinerary based on the theme ofindustrial archaeology cannot failto climb the course of the RiverAdda. From Porto d’Adda (a ham-let of Cornate d’Adda) descend tothe Bertini hydroelectric station,built in 1898. For years one of themajor power plants in Europe, itwas then flanked in 1914 by theEsterle hydroelectric station, at n-earby Resega. The River Adda thenmeets the Paderno shipping canal,

conceived in the early 16th centu-ry to improve navigation betweenMilan and Lake Como, although itwas not built until the last quarterof the 18th century. Upstream fromthe canal the immense iron arch ofthe Paderno bridge, built in 1887-89, crosses the river.

The Paderno bridge acros the river Adda

Gromo S. Marino, the entrance to thehydroelectric station (detail)

31

industrial archaeology itineraries

The walls of Bergamo

A good starting point are thewalls that enclose Bergamo Alta,built by the Venetians in the 16thcentury to defend the old nucle-us of the town. Not only do themonumental gates, platformswith operating chambers andcannons, ramparts and hugebastions constitute a major ex-

ample of Renaissance wall enclo-sures, but they are also a funda-mental part of the urban land-scape. The complex and well-p-reserved fortified ring still en-closes the upper part of the cityin a sort of cornice, almost isolat-ing it in a timeless dimensionthat has conserved the medievalcharm of the centre. Baluardo diS. Giovanni is the best spot inwhich to gain an understandingof the complex bellicose geome-try. From the esplanade the viewsweeps as far as Baluardo di S.Giacomo, which constitutes thesouthern most spur of the forti-fied complex.

The Visconti castles

The plain to the south of the provin-cial capital is not lacking in examplesof military art, built on an area thatsaw a succession of different rulersfrom the early Middle Ages on - first

The struggles that set the Guelphs against the Ghibellines in theCommune period, the clashes between the Visconti family of Milanand the Venetians in the age of the Seigniories and the VenetianRepublic’s desire to protect its mainland possessions with a sort of for-tified bulwark. These needs to control and defend the lands lay at theorigin of the high walls built around the towns, the austere castlesused as military garrisons and the fortifications that on the territoryof Bergamo delineate an admirable itinerary visiting splendid exam-ples of military engineering.

Walls, castles and medieval villages

Bergamo, S. Giacomo’s gate

32

the SIGNS OF MAN

the Milanese, then the Venetians, theFrench, the Spanish and theAustrians. The Visconti domain wasresponsible for the castles built onthe territory to the north of Treviglio,between the Adda and Serio rivers.The lovely castle of Pagazzano is stillsurrounded by a moat and has a rec-tangular plan with high brick walls. Afew kilometres farther north, the cas-

tle of Brignano Gera d’Adda has lostits original appearance as it wastransformed in the 18th century intoa sumptuous country residence,with an Italian garden and roomswith rich baroque decorations.Although Cologno al Serio conservesonly part of its medieval fortifica-tions, reinforced in the 15th-16th cen-turies and demolished in the 1800s,

A medieval village

Originally this was a stronghold, oneof those unexciting austere ones thatwere commonly built on the top of ahill in the 14th century. Then the cas-tle of the Angeli, which dominatedthe small centre of Carobbio degliAngeli, situated a few kilometressouth of Trescore Balneario, was

turned into a convent for the monas-tic order of the Carmelites. Graduallya rural village grew up around the o-riginal nucleus, with stone houseshuddled one up against the other andwinding streets. Now, centuries later,they still create a scene of particularand unaltered delight.

The castle of Pagazzano

33

walls, castles and medieval villages

the Rocca di Urgnano remains intact.This austere castle with high crenel-lated walls was erected in 1354 byGiovanni Visconti, archbishop ofMilan, and passed in 1465 toBartolomeo Colleoni. The Viscontifamily also built the majestic castleof Romano di Lombardia, with itsfour mighty corner towers, but theLion of St Mark in the large courtyardconfirms a subsequent Venetian p-resence.

Bartolomeo Colleoni’s Palace

The castle of Malpaga is of 14th-century origin and situated a littleway outside Ghisalba, incorporat-ed in a vast farming estate near theRiver Serio. The present appear-ance of the complex is the work ofBartolomeo Colleoni, who pur-chased the manor in 1456 for useas his personal residence. After re-turning to the service of theVenetian Republic, the illustriouscondottiere felt the need for aplace of refuge that was bothpalace and fortress. For this rea-son, he strengthened the existingstructures but also decided onworks that would make life inthose austere rooms more pleas-ant, giving them features and deco-rations that also celebrated hisfeats of war. Hence, a large frescopainted by Romanino under theportico in the main courtyard illus-trates the battle of the Riccardina,his last military undertaking and

the walls of the large reception hallnarrate in the form of a long storythe visit made by Christian, King ofDenmark, to Colleoni on 12 March1474. The artist responsible forthis precious cycle of frescoes wasprobably Marcello Fagolino, al-though many critics see the handof Romanino here too.

Suardo Castle

During Venetian rule the Bergamovalleys became a strategically im-portant link between the VenetianRepublic and the heart of Europe.At the same time, they constitut-ed the outermost point of defencefor its mainland possessions andwitnessed the development of anew roads and village structure,with many of them becomingmarket centres and seats ofVenetian administration. The‘peace works’ implemented byVenice in the 15th century includ-ed the dismantling of the ValCavallina defence system, whichdated from medieval times.One of the few fortifications to re-

Farmstead at Olda in Valle Taleggio

34

the SIGNS OF MAN

main is the Suardo castle atBianzano, on the western shore ofLake Èndine. Dating from the 12thor 13th century, its perfectsquare, the double ring of walls,the drawbridge and the imposingtower rising above the entrancereflect the ‘cultured’ architectureof Lombard castles.

The Castle of Camozzi-Vertova

Medieval walls, Renaissance viewsand neo-classical decorations - thephases of a complex history - arevisible in the walls of the castle ofCamozzi-Vertova, which domi-nates Costa di Mezzate, still a farm-ing village in that hilly land called

Val Calepio, lying between theCherio and Oglio rivers. This spectacular complex consistsof buildings constructed in severalstages, from the 13th to the 18thcenturies, and restored in the1800s. A 13th-century tower on thehill that overlooks the castle is amemory of a lost medievalfortress.

Cornello, a remnant of the middle ages

Just a few minutes’ walk along thepath that branches off the main ValBrembana road slightly north of SanGiovanni Bianco will plunge youstraight into the Middle Ages. Stillremarkably intact is the village ofCornello, famous as the place of ori-gin of the Tasso family, which countsthe poet Bernardo and his sonTorquato, author of GerusalemmeLiberata, among its most illustriousmembers. According to tradition thisold family founded a postal service inthe 14th century and for many hun-dreds of years had a monopoly onpostal services in Europe. Whatstrikes visitors most, however, arenot the historical memories but the

delightful atmosphere created bystone houses, small paved court-yards, covered passageways andmansions adorned with coats ofarms. Cornello seems to be under asubtle spell that has cancelled thepassing of time and noise. Dominatedby the Romanesque church of Ss.Cornelio e Cipriano (12th C.), thissilent village is arranged around twostreets. The lower street, coveredwith porticoes, passes through anumber of rural courtyards, while theupper street is lined with the homesof the local nobles.

Cornello dei Tasso

35

walls, castles and medieval villages

Schilpario, Cimon della Bagozza

Museums, Galleries, Sightseeing

Castles and fortresses

Spa resorts

Skiing resorts

Tourist offices and addresses

Accademia Carrara - Piazza dell’Accademia, 82/ATelephone number: +39 (0)35/399643www.accademiacarrara.bergamo.it

BERGAMO

Closed on Mondays, 1 January, Easter Day, 25 December.Open: from 1 October to 31 March: 9.30am-1.00pm and 2.30pm-5.45pm.

from 1 April to 30 September: 10.00am-1.00pm and 3.00-6.45pm.Guided tours on demand.Admission free for students, teachers, retired (from 60), soldiers.Admission fee: € 2,58 adults; € 1,55 reduced, groups of 15 or more, Touring Club.

Notes: The Accademia Carrara, one of the most important art galleries in Italy, contains about1700 paintings among which works of art by Raphael, Mantegna, Pisanello, Bellini,Botticelli, Carpaccio, Tiepolo. Portraits by G. B. Moroni, Vittore Ghislandi (Fra Galgario), Lorenzo Lotto. Palma ilVecchio, Palma il Giovane, Cariani, Baschenis, Cavagna are also present.

Basilica St. Maria Maggiore - P.za Duomo - Telephone numbers: Sacristy: +39 (0)35/223327

Open: from November to March: from Monday to Friday: 9.00am-12.30pm and 2.30pm-5.00pm; Saturdays 9.00am-12.30pm and 2.30pm-6.00pm; Sundays and public holidays: 9.00am-1.00pm and 3.00pm-6.00pm.from 1 April to October: from Monday to Saturday: 9.00am-12.30pm and 2.30pm-6.00pm; Sundays and public holidays: 9.00am-1.00pm and 3.00pm-6.00pm.No visits during religious offices.Admission free

Notes: Romanesque church started in 1137 and completed in 1200; porches (1353) by Giovanni daCampione; flemish tapestries; monument dedicated to Donizetti by V. Vela; inlaid woodworkson the presbytery front designed by Lorenzo Lotto; artistic wood confessional by A. Fantoni.

Underground level of the Venetian walls St. Michael “Le Nottole”- Telephone number: +39 (0)35/251233

Open: from June to September, according to the programme “Estate, vivi la tua città”“(Summer, take part in your town life)”.Midweek guided tours are also available for groups of 15 people or more, uponreservation and with charge.

Notes: The perfect preservation of the inside allows to detect the imposing defensive sys-tem of the rampart.

Colleoni Chapel - Piazza Duomo - Telephone number:+39 (0)35/210061 (Colleoni Institute).

Closed on Mondays (in winter), 25 December and 1 January.Open: from November to February: 9.00am-12.30pm and 2.00pm-4.30pm.

from March to October: 9.00am-12.30pm and 2.00pm-6.30pmAdmission free

38

MUSEUMS, GALLERIES, SIGHTSEEING

Charitable Place “Colleoni” - Via Colleoni, 9/11 - Telephone number +39 (0)35/210061

Open: It can be visited only upon reservation. Admission free.

Notes: Once Colleoni’s town residence, it now houses the Charitable Institute founded bythe condottiere. Inside, 14th century frescoed rooms.

Church of “Saint Alessandro in Colonna” - Via S. Alessandro, 35Telephone number +39 (0)35/248022

Open: from Monday to Sunday: 07.00am-12.00am and 03.00pm-07.00pm. The church tower can be visited only on religious holidays.

Notes: The Church was founded by S. Grata in the “Vico Crotacio” and built in the placewhere the Saint Patron Alessandro suffered martyrdom. The building was trans-formed many times during the centuries. In the sacristy, a painting by LorenzoLotto, “Compianto su Cristo Morto” (Lamentation on dead Christ).

Church of Saint Bartolomeo - Largo Belotti, 1 - Telephone number: +39 (0)35/242705

Open: 10.30am-12.00am and 03.30pm-05.30pmNotes: The Church was named after the Saint Bartolomeo and Saint Stefano dominican

original church destroyed in 1561 by the Venetians, because located where theVenetian Walls were to be built. The present building was erected between 1603 and1642.Inside the church, painting by Lorenzo Lotto “Pala Martinengo” (after the patron).This masterpiece represents the Blessed Virgin Mary’s coronation and the Glory ofthe Saints.

Church of Saint Bernardino - Via Pignolo, 59 - Telephone number: +39 (0)35/230037

Open: from Monday to Friday: 08.00am-11.00pm and 04.00pm-06.00pmSundays and public holidays: 09.00am-12.00am; Saturdays and holiday eves: 08.00am-11.30am.Visits in different hours on demand.

Note: The church was built in the second half of the 15th Century, following the profoundlocal devotion for the Saint after his preaching in Bergamo. Inside the church thealtar-piece “Madonna on the throne with Saints” by Lorenzo Lotto.

Donizetti’s Home - Via Borgo Canale, 14 - Donizetti FoundationTelephone number +39 (0)35/244483; Fax number +39 (0)35/233488 Closed on restoration.

Notes: Donizetti’s home consists of some faithfully restored rooms recreating the musicianbackground between the end of the 18th Century and the beginning of the 19thCentury.

39

museums • galleries • sightseeing

Notes: The Chapel was designed by G. A. Amadeo between 1472 and 1476 as the funer-ary monument dedicated to Bartolomeo Colleoni. It is considered the most out-standing Renaissance example in Lombardy.Inside: statue by Sist of Nuremberg; graves of Colleoni and his daughter Medea;paintings and frescoes by Tiepolo.

Fontana del Lantro - Lantro Fountain - Via BoccolaInfo at “Gruppo Speleologico Bergamasco Le nottole” Ph. +39 (0)35/251233

Open: Free guided tours from June to September each first Sunday.Visits can be booked also in different periods, with charge and planned for 15 peo-ple or more.

Notes: This fountain dates back to the Middle Ages. It has been mentioned since 928 andhas still a big reservoir. It was used till the ‘50s for public purposes.The whole building was restored in 1991.

Contemporary and Modern art Gallery Via S. Tommaso, 53 - Ph. +39 (0)35/399528-9 or www.gamec.it

Opened in 1991, the GAMEC hosts temporary exhibitions.Open: During temporary exhibitions:

from Tuesday to Sunday 10.00am-9.00pm (Thursdays till 10.00pm). Closed onMondays. Open also in August 15 and 26. Guided tours for groups.

The permanent Modern art collection Spajani-Manzù can be visited:From October to March 9.30am-1.00pm/2.30pm-17.45, From April to September included 10.00am.1.00pm/3.00pm-6.45pmClosed on Mondays. Admission free.

Civic Natural Science Museum “E. Caffi” - Piazza della Cittadella, 10 info: ph. +39 (0)35/286011 Fax +39 (0)35/233154e-mail: infomuseoscienze@comune.bg.it - http: www.mcsnbg.it

Closed on Mondays. Guided visits for school groups with charge.Open: March to October 9.00am-12.30am/2.30pm-5.30pm;

April to September 9.00am-12.30am/2.30pm-6.00pm. Saturdays and Sundays 9.00am-7.00pmAdmission free.

Notes: The Museum measures 1800sm and its exhibition is focused on the morphologic fea-tures and reproduction strategies of a wide variety of animals. The section devoted toPalaeontology displays many important deposits gathered in the area of Bergamo.Among them the most ancient winged reptile: the Eudimorphodon ranzii.

Civic Museum of Archeology - Piazza della Cittadella, 9 ph. +39 (0)35/242839Fax +39 (0)35/3831889 - e-mail: museoarcheologicobg@libero.it

Open: From October to March, Tuesday to Sunday: 9.00am-12.30am/2.00pm-6.00pm;From April to September, Tuesday to Friday 9.00am-12.30am/2.00pm 6.00pm.Closed on Mondays. Admission free.

Notes: In 1960 the museum was housed on the ground floor of the Cittadella, originally theseat of the Venetian Captain. Today the Museum includes prehistoric collections,Roman, early Christian and Longobard finds, mainly collected in the area ofBergamo.

Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art Adriano Bernareggi - Via Pignolo, 76Ph. +39 (0)35/248772 Fax +39 (0)35/215517 - www.museobernareggi.it e-mail: info@museobernareggi.it

Open: 9.30am-12.30am/3.00pm-6.30pm. Closed on MondaysTickets: full € 3.00; concessions € 1,50 (school groups, guides, soldiers, elderlypeople over 60, children till 12 years, groups from 12 to 25 people with booking)

Notes: The Museum is housed in the beautiful palace Bassi Rathgeb.Pictures, objects and vestments were collected by Archbishop Adriano Bernareggiand enriched by subsequent donations.

40

Civic Tower - Piazza Vecchia - ph. +39 (0)35/247116

Closed on MondaysOpen: From November to March on demand (5 people or more)

Saturdays and Sundays 9.30am-4.30pm.From April to October 9.30am-7.00pm; Saturdays and Sundays 9.30am-9.30pmTickets: the same as for the History Museum.

Notes: This tower was originally built by a noble family of Bergamo, the Suardi-Colleoni,around the 12th century. In the following centuries it went through several changes.The big bell on the top strikes 180 strokes every evening at 10.00 o’clock to remindof the ancient curfew.

History Museum - 19th Century section - Piazzale Brigata Legnano, 12Ph. +39 (0)35/247116

Closed on Mondays.Open: From October to May 9.30am-1.00pm/2.00pm-5.30pm, closed on Mondays

From June to September 9.30am-1.00pm/2.00pm-5.30pm, Saturdays and Sundays 9.30am-7.00pm.Tickets: the entrance-fee is included in the History Museum ticket.

Notes: The Rocca is part of a defensive work strongly desired by Giovanni of Luxemburgbut finished under the Visconti domination. A round tower was added during theVenitian period. Its bastions are now used as a Memorial Park.

History Museum - Piazza Mercato del Fieno, 6/A - at Convento di S. FrancescoPh. +39 (0)35/247116 - Fax +39 (0)35/219128 - www.bergamoestoria.org

Closed on Mondays.Open: From October to May 9.30am-1.00pm/2.00pm-5.30pm.

From June to September 9.30am-1.00pm/2.00pm-5.30pm.Saturdays and Sundays 9.30am-7.00pmAdmission fee: € 3.00; groups € 2.00, free till 18 years

Notes: This new Museum is the direct development of the existing “Museo del Ri-sorgimento e della Resistenza”; the exhibition is focused not only on the Risor-gimento events but also on the economic, social and town planning history. Interactive displays for explaining the development of the town.

Matris Domini Monastery Museum - Via Locatelli, 77 - ph. +39 (0)35/3884885www.matrisdomini.org

Open: Thursdays and Sundays 9.30am-11.30am; Saturday 3.30pm-5.30pm.Book in advance for visits in different days.Admission free. Offers are welcome.

Donizetti Museum - Via Arena, 9 - Ph. +39 (0)35/399269-247116

Open: From October to May 9.30am-1.00pm; Saturdays and Sundays 9.30am1.00pm/2.00pm-5.30pmFrom June to September 9.30am-1.00pm/2.00pm-5.30pmClosed on Mondays. The ticket is valid also for the History Museum

Notes: The Museum has been housed since 1903 in the palace of Misericordia Maggiore ( anancient religious foundation) and it is also the seat of the School of Music.Manuscripts, autographs, letters, documents, theatre and music publications belong-ing to Gaetano Donizetti are set out in a large hall beautifully decorated.

museums • galleries • sightseeing

41

Botanic Garden “L. Rota” - Scaletta Colle ApertoTelephone number: +39 (0)35/286060www.comune.bergamo.it/ortobotanico

Open: from March to October:March: 9.00am-12.00am and 2.00pm-5.00pmOctober: 9.00am-12.00am and 2.00pm-5.00pm. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: 9.00am-7.00pm.from April to September: 9.00am-12.00am and 2.00pm-6.00pm. Saturdays and Sundays: 9.00am-7.00pm.Open also Easter Day, Easter Monday, 25 April, 1 May, 15 and 26 August.

Open: For guided tours contact the Museum of Natural Sciences (telephone number: +39 (0)35/399466)Admission free.

Notes: The Botanic Garden contains more than 600 different species spread on 1357 sqm.,with a special attention to the most typical of the Lombard region. Other plants are from the Mediterranean area.

Temple of S. Tomè - Ph. +39 (0)35/640241 (Library)

ALMENNO S. BARTOLOMEO

Open: From October to April: Sundays and holidays: 10.00am-12.00am and 2.00pm-5.00pmMay to September: Saturdays 2.30pm-6.00pm Sundays and holidays 10.00am-12.00am and 2.30pm-6.00pmFor visits in different hours contact the Associazione Amici del Romanico:ph.+39 335/7238605 - +39 340/5281132 or +39 (0)35/548617Admission free.

Seat of the “Antenna Europea del Romanico” and “Centro Internazionale di Studi”Ph. +39 (0)35/553205

Notes: The church dates back to the 12th century and has a circular body. Inside, thestairs, built in the thickness of the walls, links the women’s gallery to the ambula-tory. The central hall is covered by a dome. In the women’s gallery there are thinand beautifully decorated columns.

Km. 6,5 from Bergamo

The Carpentry Museum by Tino SanaVia Papa Giovanni XXIII, 3 - Ph. +39 (0)35/554411

Open: Saturdays: 3.00pm-6.00pmSundays: 09.30am-12.00am and 3.00pm-6.00pmGroups can book visits on demand Tickets: full € 6 - reduced (under 14 years) € 3

Notes: Work-tools, as well as woodwork machinery are displayed in different roomstogether with the carpenter’s shop and the wood-carver shop, wood-turning lathesof the 17th, 18th, 19th century.Traditional rural works are represented and a special section gathers puppets.

42

Sacred Art Museum S.Martino and Fantoni’s SacristiesBasilica di S. Martino - Piazza Italia, 8 - Ph. +39 (0)35/516579 info@museosanmartino.org - info@museosanmartino.org

Open: Guided tours on Sundays at 4.00pm.Holidays 3.00pm-6.00pm. Visits on other days or hours on reservation.Tickets: (guide included) € 4 each for group, € 5 single.

Notes: A real masterpiece of allegoric figures full of expression. The Fantoni and Canianajoiner workshops created here wonderful inlaid and carving woodworks.

ALZANO LOMBARDO Km. 6,5 from Bergamo

Ethnographic Museum of Alta Valle Seriana (Seriana valley)P.zza del Santuario - Ph. +39 (0)346/33035 - 33232

Open: From June to September:Weekdays 4.00pm-6.00pmSundays and holidays 10.00am-12.00am / 4.00pm-6.00pmFrom October to May:Saturdays 4.00pm-6.00pmSundays and Holidays 10.00am-12.00am / 4.00pm-6.00pmClosed on MondaysVisits for groups on demand Tickets: € 2 full - € 1 reduced

Notes: A collection of several tools as evidence of the wool, silk and hemp weaving of thearea. Other items are connected to the mine equipment and to traditional works.

ARDESIO Km. 38 from Bergamo

Tasso family Museum - Ph. +39 (0)345/43543 (municipality) - Ph. +39 (0)345/43329 (keeper)

Visits on booking only.

CAMERATA CORNELLO Km. 33 from Bergamo

Open: For info, bookings and guided visits contact the Municipality of Capriate or phoneto Villaggio Crespi Cultural Association (morning)Guided visits also in English.

Notes: The village, built on the bank of the river Adda, takes the name from its founder. Thefamily Crespi were cotton manufacturers, coming from Busto Arsizio, another tex-tile area in Lombardy. Crespi d’Adda is the most outstanding example of workers’village in Italy, both for its perfect preservation and for its urban layout.

CAPRIATE S. GERVASIO

Workers’ Village - Included in UNESCO World Heritage List since 1985Comune di Capriate S. Gervasio - Ph. +39 (0)2/920991231Villaggio Crespi Cultural Association - Ph. +39 (0)2/90987191www.villaggiocrespi.it - E-mail: sede@villaggiocrespi.it

Km. 16 from Bergamo

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museums • galleries • sightseeing

Open: Every day from March to September; closed on Mondays.In August always open, in the evening too. From October to February, open on Saturdays and Sundays.Tickets: March to November €16,50/12,50; other months €7,00/5,00.

Notes: The park spreads on a 200.000 sm surface including a fun park and a reconstruc-tion of a miniature Italy. Cloakroom and sandwich rooms are available.

Fantasy World - Minitalia - Via V. Veneto, 52 - Ph. +39 (0)2/9090169 - 9091341Fax. +39 (0)2/90.96.34.69 - www.fantasyworld.it

Open: Summer: Weekdays 6.30am-12.00am 2.00pm-7.00pmSundays and holidays 6.30am-7.00pmWinter: Weekday 6.30am-12.00am 2.00pm-4.30pmSundays 6.30am-6.00pm

Notes: In the 17th and 18th centuries Pellegrino Ribaldi rebuilt the original 15th century build-ing. Many pilgrims still visit the Sanctuary especially on May 26th, anniversary of theapparition. Juvara, Cavenaghi, Meriggia and Cavedoni works of art are inside.

CARAVAGGIO

S. Maria del Fonte Sanctuary - Portici Santuario, 10 - Ph. +39 (0)363/3571

Km. 26 from Bergamo

Open: In summer (June, July, August and September) open on Saturdays and Sundays10.00am-1.00pm/2.00pm-6.00pm. Closed from November to February. In March, open on Sunday afternoon 2.00pm-6.00pm. In April, May and October openon Saturdays and Sundays afternoon 2.00pm-6.00pm.Guided visits and didactic laboratories for groups and school students on demand andonly in weekdays (25 people each maximum €45 per hour per group)

Notes: The most important finds of Cene are kept inside the museum, among them severalunique fossils. A big paleo-environmental reconstruction of “Bergamo 220 millions ofyears ago” represents the territory and its inhabitants during the Triassic age.

CENE

Palaentological Park - Via Bellora - Ph. +39 (0)35/751686 or +39 (0)35/729318 Fax +39 (0)35/755185 - www.triassico.it - E-mail info@valleseriana.bg.it

Km. 17 from Bergamo

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Astronomic Clock of Pietro Fanzago - P.zza dell’Orologio - Ph. +39 (0)346/21113 (Pro Loco)

CLUSONE

Open: Free guided tours to the Astronomic clock, Palazzo Comunale (town hall), Oratoriodei Disciplini, Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta in July and August. (Chiesa del Paradiso on demand only).On different days the visit costs € 52 each group.

Notes: The Clock, placed on the south side of Town Hall, is a masterpiece of mechanical art;Pietro Fanzago, who was a mechanical engineer, invented and constructed it in 1583.

Oratory of Disciplini - Disciplini parish

Open: Guided visits on demand. For information contact Turismo Pro Clusone ph. +39 (0)346/21113

Notes: Beautiful frescoes dating back to the 15th century placed on the external wall; themost famous represents is the Danza Macabra (Dance of Death).

Km. 34 from Bergamo

45

San Patrizio Sanctuary - Ph. +39 (0)35/711512 (Parish church)

COLZATE

Open: Open: every day from 2.00pm to 5.30 pm and on Sundays during church services.Open on March 17th “San Patrizio Day”, and the second Sunday of September whenthe village of Vertova pays its homage to the saint. From the second Sunday afterEaster to the second Sunday of September, the sanctuary is open on Sundays from9.00am to 12.00am.

Notes: Many pilgrims still visit the sanctuary. Its enchanting location dominates thewhole village. The original part of the church dates back to the 14th century,when it was built around an ancient mortuary chapel. The frescoes have beenrecently restored.

Km. 21 from Bergamo

Crib Museum - Via XXV Aprile, 179 - Ph. +39 (0)35/563383www.museodelpresepio.com - e-mail: info@museodelpresepio.com

DALMINE località Brembo

Open: From February to November: Sundays and holidays only, from 2.00pm to 6.00pm.December and January: Weekdays 200pm-5.00pmSundays 9.00am-12.00am and 2.00pm-7.00pmVisits after hours on demand.Ticktes: full € 3.50, reduced € 2.50.

Notes: The Museum spreads on 1200sm, and displays about 800 different cribs and hun-dreds of figures of every style and dimension. Among them, an interesting exam-ple of the 18th century Neapolitan tradition.

Km. 9 from Bergamo

Km. 34 from Bergamo

Museo della Basilica - Piazza Emancipazione - Ph. +39 (0)35/745425 or +39 (0)35/746115 - Cell. +39 320/1190233 or +39 349/3868675

GANDINO

Open: The Museum is open on demand; the 1st and the 3rd Sunday of every month (from3.00pm to 6.00pm) as well as December 26, January 2005 1, January 6, February20 and 21, March 6,March 27 and 28, April 4, April 17, May 1, 29, June 5 and 19th,July 17, August 7 and 21.Tickets: full, including the guide and the Crib Museum fee, € 5; reduced, for elder-ly people and groups also including the guide and Crib Museum, € 3. Free till 18 years.

Notes: The Museum gathers many objects belonging to the Basilica and others churchesin Gandino. The most interesting collection is formed by liturgical vestments andhangings: they date back to 1500 and are preciously made of silk with golden andsilver embroideries.

Crib Museum - Piazza EmancipazionePh. +39 (0)35/745425 or + 39 (0)35/746115 - Cellphone +39 320/1190233-349/3868675

Open: Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from December 4 to January 9: 3.00pm-600pm.Also open December 8, January 1, January 6.Tickets: € 2.

museums • galleries • sightseeing

San Bernardino Church - Piazza Vittorio Veneto, 2 - Ph. +39 (0)35/691078 (Parish)Ph. +39 (0)35/691065 (Town hall)

LALLIO

Open: From April to September: Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 3.30pm-6.00pm. From October to March: Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 3.00pm-5.00pm. For visits in different periods contact “Associazione S. Bernardino” ph. 035/200822or 035/690830. Guided visits every first and third Sunday at 4.00pm in summer and3.30pm in winter.Admission free

Notes: This beautiful church dates back to 1450 and it is part of the National Heritage. Insidecycles of frescoes (XVth and XVIth centuries), partly painted by Cristoforo Baschenis,Gerolamo Colleoni and Lorenzo Lotto’s school. A rare example of a completely fres-coed church in Lombardy.

Km. 5 from Bergamo

Tadini Academy of Fine Arts - Piazza Garibaldi, 3 - Ph. +39 (0)35/96278

LOVERE

Open: From April 25th to October 25th weekday s 3.00pm-6.00pmSundays and holidays 10.00am-12.00am /3.00pm-6.00pm.Closed on MondaysEntrance fee: full € 5, reduced € 3.

Notes: The Academy is housed in a neoclassic building overlooking the lake. It was found-ed in 1828 by Earl Luigi Tadini (1745-1829) and includes the picture- gallery, theMuseum and School of Music and Arts.

Basilica di S. Maria Assunta in Valvendra - Via F.lli Pellegrini, 7Ph. +39 333/2796975 Mr. Belotti

Open: The church is open every day, Monday to Saturday, from 10.00am-12.00am/4.00pm-6.00pm.Visits after hours and in different periods on demand upon 15 days notice.

Notes: The church was built between 1473 and 1483; the apse facing the lake and the frontwith pilasters look out the ancient communication route leading to the ValleCamonica. Inside the church is divided in twelve altars and enriched by frescoesand paintings due to Carpinoni, Barbelli, Cavagna and Moretto.

Km. 43 from Bergamo

Hammer Museum - Ph. +39 (0)35/704473 - Fax +39 (0)35/704682 (Town hall)E-mail: associazione.magli@tiscali.it

PONTE NOSSA

Open: The Museum can be visited on demand; in July and August open in fixed days.Entrance fee: € 0,52

Notes: The Museum has a collection of ancient water-mauls used in iron manufacturing:one of them is still working. Inside the museum there also are several tools madeby the maul.

Km. 25 from Bergamo

Benedectine Abbey Museum - Ph. +39 (0)35/795025

PONTIDA

Open: The Monastery can be visited every day 9.00am-12.00am/4.00pm-6.00pm upon notice.

Notes: The Benedectine monks still live there.

Km. 16 from Bergamo

46

47

Fondazione Fantonum de Rascarolo “I Fantoni” - Via Fantoni, 1 - Ph. +39 (0)346/735523

ROVETTA

Open: From July 1st to September 30th 3.30pm-5.30pm.Groups can visit the Museum after hours on demand. Closed on Mondays.Tickets: full € 3.00- reduced and groups € 1.50.

Notes: The Museum is located in the Fantoni family home, the most famous carvers inLombardy during 15th century.Several rooms have been preserved as to give a real atmosphere of every day life in acarver-shop. A large collection of drawings, sketches, and models is also laid out .

Km. 37 from Bergamo

G.Bellini Picture - Gallery - Via S. Paolo, 8 - Ph. +39 (0)35/912165

SARNICO

Opening From June to September Saturdays 9.30am-12.30am/5.00pm-7.00pm/9.00am-11.00pm.Sundays 10.00am-12.00am /5.00pm-8.00pm; from October to May Saturdays 9.30am-12.30am/3.50pm-7.00pm, Sundays 10.00am-12.00am/3.30pm-7.00pm.Tickets: full € 3.00 reduced € 1.50Guided tours for students aged 3 to 13.

Km. 27 from Bergamo

Arlecchino Home - Ph. +39 (0)345/43262 (Library)

S. GIOVANNI BIANCO (fraz. Oneta)

Open: From November to March 10.00am-12.ooam/2.00pm-5.00pm. From April to October 10.00am-12.00am/3.00pm-6.00pm.Closed on Mondays. Admission free.

Notes: The building dates back to 15th century and stood for the controlling of the ancient“Via Mercatorum”. The house belonged to the Grataroli, a powerful and rich familyof the valley.

Km. 29 from Bergamo

Ethnographic Museum - Via dei Goi, 6 - Ph. +39 (0)346/55393

SCHILPARIO

Open: every day 9.00am-12.00am/2.00pm-6.00pmClosed on Mondays. In July and August open on Mondays too. Guide on demand.Tickets: full € 2.50 - reduced € 1.50

Notes: The Museum collects several items, tools, pictures, documents illustrating the life andthe traditional activities ofthe local population.

Km. 66 from Bergamo

Old Mine MuseumMiniera Berbera at Fondi - Località Fondi

Open: Open in July and August (weather permitting) every day 9.00am-6.00pm; duringother periods open on Sundays 9.00am-12.00am/1.00pm-5.00pm.Visits for groups of ten people can be booked in different periods or hours contact-ing the contacting the Ethnografic Museum Ph. +39 (0)346/55393 or Mr. Capitanio Ph. +39 (0)346/55367 Tickets: € 5.50 adult; groups and children € 4.50

museums • galleries • sightseeing

Old Mine MuseumMiniera Gaffione - (using the mine train) - Ph. +39 (0)346/55393

Open: On Saturdays and Sundays the whole year 9.30am-12.00am/1.30pm-6.00pmTicket: full € 6.00; reduced € 5.50; cumulative € 10.00

Municipal Casino - Via B. Villa, 16 - Ph. +39 (0)345/21404

S. PELLEGRINO TERME

Open: Visits on demand only Tickets: full € 1.60 reduced € 1.00

Notes: The Casino dates back to 1907. It was erected on a design by Romolo Squadrelliand Luigi Mazzocchi. The builiding is a very interesting example of Art Nouveaustyle. Since the closure, the Casino has been reconverted into a meeting and con-gress centre.

Km. 24 from Bergamo

48

Pope John XXIII Museum - Ph. +39 (0)35/792956 - Località Camaitino

Pope John’s home - Missionari del PIME - Via Colombera, 5Tel. +39 (0)35/791101

SOTTO IL MONTE

Open: Every day 8.30am-11.30am/2.30pm-5.30pm. In summer open until 6.30pm.Closed on Mondays.Admission free but offering is gratefully received.

Notes: The museum collects several objects that belonged to Pope John XXIII.

Open: From October to March 8.30am-5.30pm. from April to September 8.30am-6.30pmAdmission free but offering is gratefully received.

Km. 14 from Bergamo

Cappella di Villa Suardi - Via Suardi, 20 - Ph. +39 (0)35/944777 (Ufficio I.A.T. - Pro Loco)

TRESCORE BALNEARIO

Open: Guided visits on demand.Contact local Tourist Office from Tuesday to Saturday 9.00am-12.00am.Wednesdays 9.00am-12.00am/2.30pm-5.00pmTicket: single € 6.00 - for groups of 15 people € 6.00; for groups exceeding 15 people (with or without the guide) € 3.00

Notes: Inside a complete cycle of frescoes by Lorenzo Lotto (15th century) dedicated to StBarbara.

Km. 14 from Bergamo

Basilica di S. Martino e S. Maria AssuntaPiazza Manara - Ph. +39 (0)363/49348 - (Parish)

TREVIGLIO

Open: From Monday to Friday 7.30am to 12.00amSaturdays and Sundays 7.30am-12.00am; 3.00pm-6.30pmAdmission free.

Notes: Inside the marvellous polyptych by B. Butinone and B. Zenale (The Virgin with Saints - 1485)

Km. 21 from Bergamo

V

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Faunistic Park «Le Cornelle» - Via Cornelle, 16Ph. +39 (0)35/527422-527640 - Fax +39 (0)35/528285

VALBREMBO

Open: From October to March every day from 9.00am to 5.00pm From April to September open from 9.00am to 7.00pmTickets: full € 9.00 - reduced € 6.00.

Notes: The park spreads on a large and green area hosting wild animals.An original habitat allows visitors to observe the animals at their best.

Km. 7 from Bergamo

African Village Museum - at Basella - Via G. Peruzzo, 142 Ph. +39 (0)35/894670 - Fax +39 (0)35/894819 - www.museoafricano.it

URGNANO

Closed on Saturdays. School and group visits after hours are allowed on demand.Open: From Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00; Sundays 2.00pm to 6.00pm

Tickets: full € 5.00, reduced € 2.50 (3 years to 14).

Notes: The Museum has two exposition halls for temporary exhibitions and for the per-manent collection of African art.

Km. 12 from Bergamo

Vicariate Museum - Parrocchia di Zogno - Chiesa di San Lorenzo - ph. +39 (0)345/91083

ZOGNO

Open: Thursdays and Saturdays 3.00pm - 6.00pm on demand.Admission free

Notes: The Museums collects items of the local devoutness.

Km. 18 from Bergamo

Fuipiano Imagna, the hamlet of Arnosto

museums • galleries • sightseeing

50

CASTLES AND FORTRESSES

The FortressThe Rocca is a part of a stronghold, which had been built during the government of John ofLuxemburg and was finished under the Visconti family dominion; then under the Venetian rule anew cylindrical tower was added. Its bastions are now used as a memorial park.Info at Historic Museum +39 (0)35/247116.Closed on Monday.Open from October to May: 9.30am - 1.00pm / 2.00pm - 5.30pmFrom June to September: 9.30am - 1.00pm / 2.00 - 5.30pmSaturdays, Sundays and public holidays 9.30am - 7.00pm

San Vigilio CastleRuins of the old fortress that dominated the whole town. Beautiful landscape from the park situ-ated on its bastions.Open from April to September 9.00am - 8.00pm October and March 10.00am - 6.00pmFrom November to February 10.00am - 4.00pm

BERGAMO

CAVERNAGO MALPAGA

Castello di Malpaga This is a good example of a Renaissance residence; it can be visited on Sundays or other publicholidays from 2.30pm to 6.30pm (December and January excluded). Visits during the week ondemand phone +39 (0)35/840003(20 people minimum).Tickets including the guide: full € 5.00; reduced € 2.50 (children 6 to 12 years).

BIANZANO

BRIGNANO GERA D’ADDA

CASTELLI CALEPIO

Castello dei SuardiIt is a private property (contact Mr.Faglia Ph. +39 (0)39/380374 or Mrs. M.Suardi +39 (0)35/814086)Guided visits in July and August on Thursdays and Saturdays 5.30pm - 6.30pm.Open the whole year for schools only calling +39 (0)35/814086.For other groups visits on demand.Ticket: full € 3.00 reduced € 2.00.

Palazzo Visconti CitterioKnown since the 12th century and transformed into private residence during the 18th century, thispalace is a very interesting example of noble villa. The first floor is decorated by many beautifulfrescoes. The public part can be visited on application to be addressed to the Mayor of BrignanoGera D’Adda; Ph. +39 (0)363/815011 - e-mail info@comune.brignano.bg.it.

The castle is a private residence and it can be visited every Sunday from March to October from3.00pm to 6.00pm; the ticket includes the guide (€ 3.00 or € 1.50). During other periods, the visits are on demand, (contact Mr. Ugo Belotti Ph. +39 (0)35/847395, or Mr Zerbini +39 (0)35/847006).

Km. 26 from Bergamo

Km. 25 from Bergamo

Km. 20 from Bergamo

Km. 15 from Bergamo

51

castles and fortresses

COSTA MEZZATE

Castello Camozzi VertovaThe Castle is a private residence and it can be visited in fixed periods: during the summer in July,in autumn from September 10 to October 15. Visits are allowed only on demand (better to haveown guide) and giving previously the list of participants. Groups exceeding 20 people are not allowed.Tickets € 5 each, with guide included € 7.Tickets including coffee or aperitifs € 10, with guide € 12.

GROMO

Palazzo GinamiThis castle was built by the Ginami family and dates back to Middle Age.It has been restored during the 20th century and it is now converted into a restaurant.Visits are free and are limited to few rooms, on demand phone Ristorante Posta Castello +39 (0)346/41002;the restaurant is closed on Mondays, always open during the summer and Christmas period.

Km. 15 from Bergamo

Km. 41 from Bergamo

Km. 41 from Bergamo

Km. 25 from Bergamo

Km. 12 from Bergamo

The Castle is a private property and is a part of a wine farm called Azienda Vitivinicola TenutaCastello. The Castle is open every Sunday from April to October from 3.00pm to 6.00. During otherperiods, visits are allowed on demand, as well as visits to the castle and winery with tasting.Ticket with testing 2 wines € 7.50Ticket with testing 3 wines + typical cheese € 10.00Ph. +39 (0)35/4420817 - +39 348/3036243E-mail: info@castellodigrumello.it - www.castellodigrumello.it

GRUMELLO DEL MONTE

ROMANO DI LOMBARDIA

The FortressThe Visconti family fortified this existing castle during its domination on the region. It was under theVenetian and the Sforza rule and then was owned by Bartolomeo Colleoni. Now it houses the locallibrary. It can be visited during the whole year the phone +39 (0)363/901875 (Mr. Sergio Cometti). Groups need a reservation. Admission free. For further information during the weekend contact Punto Informazioni Turistico Culturali - Via ColleoniPh. +39 (0)363/902390 Saturdays 10am -12am, 4pm-6pm; Sundays 10am-12am.

URGNANO

The CastleAlso known as Rocca of Visconti, the building dates back to the 14th century when a castle waserected deriving from precedent ruins. It was transformed into a sumptuous country residence,with a square plan and two entrance towers, surrounded by a moat and with high walls. The roomsconserve 16th century frescoes with goddesses.Visits to the castle are allowed upon application Ph. +39 (0)35/898250.Ticket € 3.00 each, for groups exceeding three people € 2.00 each. Schools € 0.52 each.

S. PELLEGRINO TERME

San Pellegrino Terme is a spa resort located in the Brembana Valley, 24 km away from Bergamo.Spa water cure establishment: sulphate-bicarbonate-alkaline waters.Treatments available: hydropinic treatments, inhalations, irrigations, baths, mud-baths. Thiswater is useful to treat kidney diseases, as well as those which afflict the digestive tract, theliver and breathing organs.

Opening periodThe spa establishment is approximately open from May to September.

Contact: Terme di San Pellegrino, Via Taramelli, 2 - 24016 San Pellegrino TermeBergamo - Telephone number: +39 (0)345/22455 - Fax number: +39 (0)345/23497E-mail: terme.sanpellegrino@sanpellegrino.it

alt. m. 354

TRESCORE BALNEARIO

Trescore Balneario is a spa resort located in the Cavallina Valley, 14 km away from Bergamo.Spa water cure establishment: sulphate-chlorinated-sodic waters. Treatments available: The water is used for inhalations, in order to treat diseases which afflictbreathing organs, and for mud-baths, to treat rheumatism and arthrosis.

Opening period:The spa establishment is open the whole year round, except for a month closure from themiddle of December to the middle of January.

Contact: Terme di Trescore - Via Gramsci - 24069 Trescore Balneario - BergamoTelephone number: +39 (0)35/4255511 - Fax number: +39 (0)35/941050Web site: www.termeditrescore.it - E-mail: info@termeditrescore.it

alt. m. 271

GAVERINA TERME

Gaverina Terme is a spa resort located in the Cavallina Valley, 26 km away from Bergamo.Spa water cure establishment: sulphate-bicarbonate-alkaline waters. Treatments available: the water is useful to treat gastroenteric diseases, as well as kidneytroubles and chronic bronchitis.

The spa establishment is closed.

Contact: Fonti Gaverina Via Fonti - 24060 Gaverina Terme - BergamoTelephone number: +39 (0)35/810110 - Fax number: +39 (0)35/811443

alt. m. 511

S. OMOBONO IMAGNA

S. Omobono Terme is a spa resort located in the Imagna Valley, 23 km away from Bergamo.Spa water cure establishment: sulphureous waters. Treatments available : The water is useful for inhalations and irrigations, as well as to treatdiseases which afflict the digestive system, the liver and breathing organs.

Opening periodThe spa establishment is open the whole year round, except for:- From 8 to 26 December- From 10 January to 10 February

Contact: Terme di S. Omobono - Via Alle Fonti, 117 - 24038 S. Omobono Terme Bergamo - Telephone number: +39 (0)35/851114 - Fax number: +39 (0)35/851148

alt. m. 462

SPA RESORTS

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GS

CH

OO

L

DO

WN

HIL

LS

KI

SC

HO

OL

SN

OW

BO

AR

DS

LOP

ES

BRANZI m. 900●

CARONA Comprensorio Brembo Ski m. 1100/2140con Foppolo e S. Simone ● ● ● ● ●

CASTIONE DELLA PRESOLANA m. 1200/2140Loc. Cantoniera e M. Pora ● ● ● ●

CLUSONE m. 650/1150●

COLERE m. 1020/2200SKI Area 2200 ● ● ● ●

COSTA IMAGNA m. 1000/1400● ●

CUSIO m. 1650/1800Loc. Monte Avaro

FOPPOLO Comprensorio Brembo Ski m. 1500/2000con Carona e S. Simone ● ● ● ● ● ●

GANDINO m. 552Loc. Montagnina ● ●

GROMO m. 1200/2100Loc. Spiazzi ● ● ● ● ● ●

OLTRE IL COLLE e SERINA m. 1100/2000● ● ● ● ● ●

ONORE m. 750● ●

PIAZZATORRE m. 900/1900Loc. dotata di Palazzo del ghiaccio ● ● ● ●

RONCOBELLO m. 1000●

SCHILPARIO m. 1134/1800● ● ●

SELVINO m. 1000/1400Loc. Monte Poieto ● ● ●

VALBONDIONE m. 1250/1930Loc. Lizzola ● ● ● ● ●

VALLEVE Loc. San Simone m. 1650/2200Comprensorio Brembo Ski con Carona e Foppolo ● ● ● ● ● ●

VALTORTA PIANI DI BOBBIO m. 1350/1993● ● ● ● ● ●

COLLI SAN FERMO m. 1.300Comune di Grone ●

ZAMBLA ALTA m. 1.250● ● ● ● ●Comune di Oltre il Colle

Temporarily closed

Temporarily closed

SKIING RESORTS

SNOW PARK

53

TOURIST OFFICES AND ADDRESSES�BERGAMO UFFICIO I.A.T. - CITTÀ BASSA

Viale V. Emanuele, 20 - 24121 BergamoTel. +39 (0)35/210204-213185 - Fax +39 (0)35/230184www.provincia.bergamo.ite-mail: aptbg@apt.bergamo.it

BERGAMO UFFICIO I.A.T. - CITTÀ ALTAVicolo Aquila Nera, 2 - 24129 BergamoTel. +39 (0)35/232730-242226 - Fax +39 (0)35/242994e-mail: iat.bergamo@apt.bergamo.it

ALMENNO UFFICIO A DENOMINAZIONE I.A.T. PRO LOCOS. BARTOLOMEO Via Papa Giovanni XXIII - 24030 Almenno S. Bartolomeo

Tel./Fax +39 (0)35/548634 - e.mail: iatvalleimagna@virgilio.it

LOVERE UFFICIO TURISTICOPiazza XIII Martiri - 24065 LovereTel. +39 (0)35/962178 - Fax +39 (0)35/962525e-mail: turismo.lovere@apt.bergamo.it

MARTINENGO UFFICIO A DENOMINAZIONE I.A.T. PRO LOCO Via Tadino - 24057 MartinengoTel. +39 (0)363/986006-987771 - Fax +39 (0)363/987765e-mail: info@comune.martinengo.bg.it

S.PELLEGRINO UFFICIO I.A.T. - VALLE BREMBANATERME Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII, 18 - 24016 San Pellegrino Terme

Tel./Fax +39 (0)345/23344 - e-mail: iat.vallebrembana@apt.bergamo.it

SARNICO UFFICIO A DENOMINAZIONE I.A.T. PRO LOCO Via Lantieri, 6 - 24067 SarnicoTel. +39 (0)35/910900 - Fax +39 (0)35/4261334e-mail: proloco.sarnico@tiscali.it

SELVINO UFFICIO I.A.T. DELL’ALTOPIANO DI SELVINO - AVIATICOCorso Milano, 19 - 24020 SelvinoTel. +39 (0)35/763362 - Fax +39 (0)35/761707e-mail: iat.selvino@apt.bergamo.it

SOTTO IL MONTE UFFICIO A DENOMINAZIONE I.A.T. PRO LOCO GIOVANNI XXIII Via IV Novembre, 1 - 24039 Sotto il Monte

Tel./Fax +39 (0)35/790902e-mail: info@prolocosottoilmonte.it

54

BERGAMO GRUPPO GUIDE CITTÀ DI BERGAMOPresidenza Tel. +39 (0)35/249553 - Tel. e Fax +39 (0)35/344205www.bergamoguide.ite-mail: info@bergamoguide.it

BERGAMO GUIDE A.G.I.A.T.Tel. +39 (0)35/262565-252021 - Fax +39 (0)35/262566e-mail: guideagiat@excite.it

REGIONE LOMBARDIADirezione Generale IndustriaPiccola e Media Impresa - Cooperazione TurismoVia Taramelli, 20 - MilanoTel. +39 (0)2/67656296 - Fax +39 (0)2/6765-6255

PROVINCIA DI BERGAMOServizio TurismoVia Borgo S. Caterina, 19 - BergamoTel. +39 (0)35/387621-622 - Fax +39 (0)35/387606www.provincia.bergamo.ite-mail: segreteria.turismo@provincia.bergamo.it

AGENZIA PER LO SVILUPPO E LA PROMOZIONE TURISTICA DELLA PROVINCIA DI BERGAMOVia Torquato Tasso, 8 - 24121 Bergamo Sede operativa: Via Milazzo, 12 - 24124 BergamoTel +39 (0)35/230640 - Fax +39 (0)35/230960www.turismo.bergamo.it - e-mail: info@turismo.bergamo.it

UFFICIO AEROPORTO ORIO AL SERIOVia Aeroporto,13 - 24050 Orio al Serio (Bg)Tel. +39 (0)35/320402 - Fax +39 (0)35/312369www.turismo.bergamo.it - e-mail: orio@turismo.bergamo.it

55

TOURIST GUIDE ASSOCIATIONS

TRESCORE UFFICIO A DENOMINAZIONE I.A.T. PRO LOCOBALNEARIO Via Suardi, 20 - 24069 Trescore Balneario

Tel./Fax +39 (0)35/944777 - e-mail: iat.trescore@tin.it

TREVIGLIO UFFICIO A DENOMINAZIONE I.A.T. PRO LOCOVia F.lli Galliari, 6 - 24047 Treviglio Tel. +39 (0)363/45466 - Fax +39 (0)363/595559e-mail: info@prolocotreviglio.it

Cartografia del Touring Club Italiano. Autorizzazione del 6 ottobre 2004.

Fraggio in Val Taleggio

Lovere, Accademia Tadini, Lorenzo Veneziano, Vergin of Humility

Nature, landscape and the environment............................3

Sport and health ..............................................................................................8

Masterpieces to be visited...............................................................14

Sanctuaries, monasteries and abbeys ...............................20

Industrial archaeology itineraries...........................................26

Walls, castles and medieval villages ....................................32

Museums, Galleries, Sightseeing ..............................................38

Castles and Fortresses..........................................................................50

Spa Resorts .........................................................................................................52

Skiing Resorts...................................................................................................53

Tourist offices and addresses ......................................................58

The Territory

Art and Culture

The signs of man

Tourist Information

INDICE

Fuipiano Imagna, the three beeches

TextsTouring Club Italiano, from “La Provincia di Bergamo - carta 1:175.000 e guida turistica”, Touring Editore, 2000

Photographs Circolo Fotografico Marianese (Dalmine)

Tourist Information Ufficio I.A.T. del territorio

Editorial ManagerSandro Ghezzi

Editorial Assistants Roberto Belotti, Liliana Moretti,Rosalisa Paris, Giuseppe Zambaiti

Layout and Art Director Videocomp, Bergamo

PrintLitostampa Istituto Grafico, Bergamo

© Provincia di Bergamo - 2005

Covers:Lake IseoBergamo, S. Maria Maggiore e DuomoBergamo, Piazza VecchiaPhotographs by Tino Rovetta

PROVINCIA DI BERGAMOCulture & Tourism

Via Borgo S. Caterina, 19 - 24124 BergamoTel. 035 387604/621 - Fax 035 387606

www.provincia.bergamo.itsegreteria.turismo@provincia.bergamo.it