Bergamo’s Lower Town (Città Bassa) is the modern and elegant face of the city, a vibrant center of active life, dynamic yet never frenetic.
The nerve center is Porta Nuova, from which you can enjoy an exceptional view of Upper Town (Città Alta), framed by the Propylaea, two temples that once marked the main entrance to the city in medieval times.
From here, the elegant neighborhoods of the city center branch out, dating back to the post-twentieth century, the historic districts, shopping streets, and nightlife. Like a prism, Lower Town offers multiple facets, all waiting to be discovered.
Walking through the heart of the city, you come across the Piacentiniano Center: an elegant architectural complex designed in the early twentieth century by the Roman architect Marcello Piacentini.
Locals love strolling along the Sentierone, especially on Sunday mornings. They stop for a breakfast with cappuccino and pastry or a delicious cake in the elegant quadriportico, then browse the shop windows in search of the latest trends.
Near the Sentierone is the renovated Piazza Dante, with its harmonious geometries and perspective games. The Palazzo della Procura and the Palazzo della Camera di Commercio face onto it. In the center, the beautiful Triton Fountain by Gian Battista Caniana. Under the square lies the former Diurnal Hotel, born as an air raid shelter and become a popular meeting point after the war, now restored to its former glory as a cultural and recreational hub.
The adjacent square is dedicated to Vittorio Veneto. Here stands the Tower of the Fallen, a monument to the memory of World War I. Inside, along the stairs leading to the panoramic terrace, the history of the Piacentiniano Center is told. The view from the top is breathtaking, offering a 360-degree view of the city and its surroundings.
Extending towards the plain or valleys, there are five main historic districts that, like the fingers of a hand, branch out from Upper Town in different directions, each with its own distinct character.
Borgo Pignolo is the aristocratic suburb, with its ancient palaces, artisan shops, and art galleries.
Borgo San Tomaso, which connects the city to the Seriana and Brembana valleys, along with Borgo Santa Caterina, are lively neighborhoods: the former hosts art museums, while the latter, also known as the Golden District, has been named one of Italy’s most beautiful villages and fully embodies the spirit of Bergamo, from the vibrant colors of the shop windows to the aromas of the gastronomies, from nightlife to historic buildings.
Borgo San Leonardo, a historic crossroads of five important roads and a place of worship in Bergamo, with its Piazza Pontida, is the ideal place for an aperitif.
Borgo Sant’Alessandro is encountered descending through the homonymous gate, whose upper part, austere and elegant, leads to a riot of shops, in the heart of city shopping.
Not to be forgotten is Borgo Palazzo, with two souls divided by Piazza Sant’Anna: one more traditional, with typical restaurants and artisan shops, and one more multicultural, colorful and rich in exotic shops and venues.
Between Via Sant’Alessandro, Via Borfuro, Via Sant’Orsola, and Via XX Settembre, you’ll find the “fashion quadrilateral” of Bergamo.
Here you can find everything: from the boutiques of major international chains to shops with a more refined taste. Shopping also concentrates in Via Tiraboschi, Via Tasso, and Via Pignolo, and extends to Via Borgo Santa Caterina and Via San Tomaso.
In addition to fashion, there are also numerous historic shops, linked to the territory by a long family tradition, and artisan workshops, where you can discover true treasures of “handmade” craftsmanship.
