I was excited to visit Bergamo because of Gitty’s experience here several years ago as she headed to Padua for her watercolor workshop. She stayed in the modern city but ventured up the funicular to the ancient Roman upper Citta Alta and stumbled into a wine tasting exhibition in the main square of Piazza Vecchia.

*We love the details of this church entrance*

We drove directly to our lodgings in upper Bergamo for four nights where we parked our rental in a reserved garage space for the duration.

Narrow streets in the upper city

everywhere you turn there's signs of Roman occupation

there's nothing more fun than getting lost in the maze of an old city map

Tourists crowded the cobbled streets while artists performed music for money during the day, but in the evening the upper city quieted as the people and musicians faded away.

*Their performance reverberated enchantingly within the arches of this building*

Our hotel was a short walk from the central square, where we would dine and drink daily.

Fountain in Piazza Vecchia

Waiting for our afternoon Aperol Spritz in Piazza Vecchia

View of Campnone, now a museum with a lift to a viewing platform at the top of the tower

We loved the town in the evening after all the day tourists departed

I really enjoyed just roaming the streets, eating at the osterias, and sketching or having an aperitif while absorbing the language. I was so excited to finally be back in Italy. Bergamo was a great place to start our tour of Italy.

There are lots of churches in the Citta Alta

We took a second finucular to the highest point where you could get a great view of Citta Alta

Old Bergamo is just a beautiful town

We drove into San Pellegrino valley for a day trip outside of Bergamo. It was one of several valleys nearby and the namesake and factory site for the sparkling water.

We visited San Pellegrino with this old hotel building - important for the town's appearance but empty and unused ( for us it made us think of a Stephen King's novel)