Bergamo is a great base for exploring Northern Italy. Flights into Orio al Serio airport can be very reasonable and while most passengers are happy to transfer directly from the arrivals hall to the Milan shuttle waiting outside the terminal building, the city of Bergamo itself is well worth a weekend visit and is ideally placed for a road trip to the Italian Lakes or to the towns of Emilia Romagna.
Start Point and Finish Point: Bergamo
Duration: 4 Nights
BERGAMO -SIRMIONE-LAZISE-VERONA
BERGAMO
The city of Bergamo is located just a few kilometres from the airport. The local bus takes around 20 minutes to travel into town. If you do intend renting a car, don’t bother with it yet – get a 24 hour Bergamo Card (also available for 48/72 hours) which includes the airport bus and unlimited travel on ATB buses, trams and funicular railways as well as typical offers and discounts.
OUT AND ABOUT
Bergamo is structured on two levels – the lower modern city – Citta Bassa – and the upper medieval historical centre – Citta Alta. The amount of time you have will dictate what to see and do. Most people head straight for Citta Alta but leave time if possible to look around the lower city. Here’s a few suggestions to start with…
Ride the Funicolore
Walk the narrow streets of the old town
Have something to eat or drink in Piazza Vecchia and enjoy the architecture and fountain.
See the whole city from the top of the Campanone
Visit Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore and the Duomo
Admire the marble and decorations of Capella Colleoni
Look at the collection of Italian masterpieces in the Accademia Carrara
SLEEPING
People may argue in favour of the atmosphere of the Citta Alta. We were happy to stay in the lower town and opted for Hotel Arli which was conveniently placed close to the airport bus stop and about a 10 minute walk to the funicular.
FOOD AND DRINK
At lunchtime, in the Citta Alta, select a slice of pizza from Il Fornaio
(Window display, Il Fornaio)
For dinner, La Bruschetta is close to Hotel Arli. It has a nice atmosphere and a well priced menu.
(La Bruschetta)
MOVING ON:
Head back to the airport on the shuttle and pick up your rental. Get onto the A4 and head for Lake Garda.
SIRMIONE
Sirmione may scream ‘tourists!!’ but we decided to stop here because having spent several summers camping on Lake Garda, we could never face the crowds that flood the town in July and August. Now we were returning to the lake off season – just before everything shuts down for the winter.
The only land access to the old town is via a drawbridge and vehicles need a permit to enter. This permit will be furnished by your hotel if it is located within the walls and has parking facilities.
OUT AND ABOUT
View the lake from the ramparts of Rocca Scaligera
Walk out to the excavated ruins of Grotto di Catullo on the tip of the peninsula
Examine the frescoes in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore
Wander the streets
Lunch in the main square.
Have an ice cream!
SLEEPING
We stayed in Hotel Corte Regina in the old town. I went on ahead across the moat to locate the hotel before venturing in with the (small!!) car. There was limited parking space but the hotel will arrange parking outside the walls -which is probably a better option.
FOOD AND DRINK
Trattoria la Fiasca is a family run restaurant tucked away on a side street.
LAZISE
There are plenty of lakeside villages and towns around Garda to enjoy but on a short trip, one doesn’t want to spend all the time in the car. The walled town of Lazise is located between the more popular resorts of Bardolino and Garda but is worth a stopover. The centre is almost fully pedestrianised with the usual narrow streets and piazzas.
OUT AND ABOUT
Walk along the lakeside and around the small harbour
Photograph the medieval fortified walls and gates. (The castle itself is privately owned and occupied).
Spend an evening browsing the shops.
SLEEPING
We chose Hotel Le Mura as it had parking facilities.
FOOD AND DRINK
Not everywhere was open so we opted for Classique Lazise. Try and get a table with a view of the lake.
VERONA
Verona deserves more than a half day sprint but the city is fairly compact and most sights are within walking distance of each other. It’s a lovely city to stroll around and worth even a short visit.
OUT AND ABOUT
Start with these favourites and enjoy:
Piazza delle Erbe
Arena
Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore
Castelvecchio
Arche Scaligere
Check out the graffiti in the courtyard of Casa di Giulietta – and get that balcony photo if you can’t live without it!
Enjoy lunch before heading back to the airport.
Have one last ice cream
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MORE TIME?
Stay on in Verona and enjoy the city. If it’s opera season then the experience should not be missed. Bring a cushion!!
or
Explore the lake region. You could drive around Lake Garda in a day or take a car ferry. Stop for a night or two in the resort towns.
or
Continue on to Venice from Verona.
SMALL STUFF
Check opening days and hours for sights and museums
If booking hotels, make sure you know about parking facilities and charges
Find out about market day
A lot of hotels and restaurants around the lake are seasonal and close from October
If you’ve a few hours to kill at the airport, but don’t want to risk heading into Bergamo, there’s a shopping mall across the road from the airport.
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Photo credit: Tuomo Lindfors on Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-SA