From the Renaissance to the post-nineteenth century in less than 5 km.
Lower Bergamo is often synonymous with the modern, fast-paced city, and part of her really does sport that “futurist” slant on life; but, just like a prism, she has many other facets to show you.
Join us on this itinerary through its post-nineteenth-century neighborhoods, shopping streets, rush hour crossroads and Renaissance villages-almost a city within a city-with their theaters and majestic buildings suspended between the seventeenth century and Neoclassicism.
You’re in for a day of leisure somewhere between easy walking, cultural and poetic.
The starting point is Bergamo’s crossroads par excellence: Largo di Porta Nuova. Here you begin with an exceptional view, Città Alta framed by the Propilei, the two small temples that mark what in medieval times was the main entrance to the walls.
From here you continue along Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII, past the Monumento al Partigiano, and reach Sentierone. This tree-lined avenue is Bergamo’s promenade par excellence; take it and, shortly after, on your right you can admire the Donizetti Theater, built in the late 1700s and dedicated to the composer of the same name, one of the city’s most representative figures.
Instead, at the end of the avenue you encounter the 16th-century Church of Sts. Bartholomew and Stephen, which preserves the magnificent Martinengo Altarpiece, the largest painting made by Lorenzo Lotto.
To the right of the church begins Via Tasso, one of Bergamo’s historic streets, originally inhabited by the Waldensian community that moved here to trade from Switzerland. Walk all the way down it and, at the intersection with Via Pignolo, here is a second famous house of worship: the very special Santo Spirito church, which houses another masterpiece by Lotto.
Via Pignolo is the hub of the multifaceted Borgo Pignolo, where past and present coexist harmoniously among stately homes and artisan workshops.
Leave Santo Spirito behind and walk up the street to the intersection with Via Verdi: here, on the other side of the street, another exceptional church awaits you, S. Bernardino, with a single hall and neo-Gothic appearance on whose altar stands another splendid altarpiece by Lotto.
Continue up Pignolo Street and you will soon encounter one of the city’s most prestigious locations, Palazzo Agliardi, still inhabited by the Conti Agliardi family.
Almost opposite is one of three churches dedicated to Bergamo’s patron saint, St. Alexander of the Cross, which is definitely worth a visit.
Just beyond you find the sculptural fountain known as “del Delfino,” a short detour to see one of the city’s most picturesque little squares.
Turn back for a short distance and walk down Masone Street for a real journey through time, from ancient churches to the Institute of the Ursuline Sisters of Gandino, and back into modernity.
At the end of the descent, the twentieth-century Palazzo delle Poste, inaugurated in 1932 to a design by Mazzoni, awaits you.
Turn left and walk down Via Locatelli to the intersection with Via Monte Grappa: from here you have panoramic access to Piazza Dante, part of the large Piacentiniano Center designed in the 1920s by architect Marcello Piacentini. In the basement space you also find theex-Diurno, once an air-raid shelter and now, as in the post-war period, a meeting place thanks to the activities based there.
The itinerary continues in the other half of the Center: take the exit at the opposite end of Via Monte Grappa, cross the street and you will immediately find the Torre dei Caduti, followed by the beautiful Cloister of Santa Marta.
Just beyond rises Palazzo Frizzoni, once the palace of one of Bergamo’s wealthiest Protestant families, and now the town hall.
After Palazzo Frizzoni, turn right and walk down Via Borfuro.
This street, now largely modern thanks to stores and renovations, also has a long history, in part always linked to the Waldensian community that here, at no.
14, celebrated its worship inside the house of the Maritons, relatives of the Blondels to whom Manzoni would be linked by marrying Enrichetta.
The street converges halfway down St. Alexander Street, another historic street in the center.
If you turn right you can take a short detour and see not only the Renaissance convent of St. Benedict, still home to a religious community, but also theformer Church of St. Mary Magdalene, where exhibitions and cultural events are often held.
Lower St. Alexander Street awaits you for the last stretch of the route, full of liveliness among ancient arcades, stores, restaurants and cafes.
Reach Largo Rezzara, continue straight to the beautiful Piazza Pontida and reach Largo Cinque Vie.
You are in the heart of Borgo San Leonardo, the “star-shaped” suburb that has enlivened Bergamo with its liveliness for centuries thanks to its artisan and commercial vocation.
Music, parties and festivals such as Busker Night are just some of its attractions!
A curiosity?
This is also home to the famous “Duchy of Piazza Pontida,” a long-standing goliardic association that keeps the city’s culture, art and folklore alive.
To close the loop of the itinerary, after exploring to your heart’s content leave Largo Cinque Vie and take Via Zambonate to the first intersection; turn right onto Via Quarenghi and immediately onto Via Spaventa to discover more local stores and businesses.
Once back on Via Zambonate, you will soon reach Via Tiraboschi and Porta Nuova, from which to embark on new adventures!
