Tag: holidayideas

Welcome to Monza

Published on by Amparo's travels & musings1 Comment

Ciao a tutti!

A little over a year ago, my boyfriend and I moved to Monza; a city northeast of Milan. It’s a beautiful city filled with pastel-coloured buildings with art nouveau details, cute café’s and an incredible park which was honestly the reason we chose to move from Milan to Monza. Like I mentioned in my previous post, Day trips from Milan; this is a great place to spend the day café hopping, enjoying an aperitivo in town by the Duomo or in the park, or if you’re lucky, you might stumble upon one of the many cultural events organised by the town hall and locals.

A 10 to 15-minute train ride from Milan will take you straight to the centre of Monza and everything is within walking distance. There are two stations, the first being Monza station and the second Monza Sobborghi.

Monza town centre – historic centre

Top 10 things to see and do in Monza;

  1. Palazzo dell’Arengario
  2. Duomo – Monza Cathedral
  3. Ponte dei Leoni
  4. Parco di Monza
  5. Reggia di Monza – Villa Reale
  6. Rosetto “Niso Fumagalli”
  7. Autodromo Nazionale Monza
  8. Capella Reale Espiatoria
  9. Food and Drinks
  10. Santa María in Strada – Via Italia and shopping

1.Palazzo dell’Arengario

In the very centre of town you’ll find the Arengario, on Piazza Roma. It was built in the XII century and was used as the town hall, nowadays it’s used as an exhibition centre. Every summer, there are several concerts and shows that take place under the arches and on the piazza and it’s wonderful to see everyone out and about in town enjoying themselves.

Next to the Arengario there’s a café/bar called Moderno which offers light lunch options, afternoon tea and aperitivo with outdoor seating. They have an interesting selection of macarons but it’s the cakes and pastries that lure you in.

Moderno café

For dinner, Trattoria Caprese is just on the other side of the Arengario and is always very popular. It´s a neapolitan chain restaurant and it is always packed. Check the menu here.

2. Duomo – Monza Cathedral

Just 2 minutes from the Arengario you will find Monza’s beautiful cathedral and the cathedral’s museum. The first time I entered the cathedral I was shocked by how stunning it is on the inside. I wasn’t expecting it at all. The Cathedral is open Tuesday to Saturday from 09:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 18:00. Sunday 14:00 – 18:00. The museum is open from 09:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 18:00, for ticket options check here.

Go for a wander around the back of the cathedral to the left and you will find the Teodolinda tower next to the museum as well as some very interesting houses.

There are several café’s and bars around this area as well as restaurants so walk around and explore.

3. Ponte dei Leoni

Built over the remains of a roman bridge, Ponte dei Leoni leads to another very colourful street and to a couple of my favourite café’s.

Parliamo di Thé which is a lovely tea shop that also serves bubble tea, hot drinks, pastries and cake. If you go you have to try their hot chocolate with merangue, it’s divine. Hot chocolate in Italy is basically a dessert and I’m not complaining.

QB Monza is my go to for tea and cake when I’m meeting friends. Great for breakfast and an afternoon pick me up.

Panificio Crivelli is great if you just want to pick up some baked goods to eat on the go. A week doesn’t go by without a visit to this bakery to get some freshly made brioches. I have tried most bakeries in the city centre and this one always wins.

photo taken by Mila – Milaprophoto.com

4. Parco di Monza

Open everyday from 07:00 until 21:30 it is one of the largest enclosed parks in Europe. Here, you’ll find the beautiful Villa Reale as well as several other smaller villa’s, farmhouses and mills. And of course, the famous Formula 1 Autodrome.

The best way to see the park is by bike or rickshaw; you can rent them from Cascina Bastia.

Take a break at the Padiglione Cavriga (Bar Al Cavriga); a beautiful café near Porta Monza and also one of my favourites! they have a great selection of cakes and pastries made in-house. My go-to is the strawberry tart accompanied by a nice cool peach tea.

For lunch we always go to Osteria Del Dosso for some great relaxed Italian home cooking. They have both outdoor and indoor seating and it’s very popular with the locals. It’s usually packed at weekends. There are several other cafe’s and restaurants you can enjoy that are also within the park:

  • Cascina Frutteto – part of the Scuola Agraria del Parco di Monza (agricultural school). A beautiful venue which also offers wedding and event services. The restaurant offers a seasonal menu and is open Mondays from 12:30 until 14:30 for lunch and Tuesday to Sunday for lunch (12:30 – 14:30) and dinner (18:30 – 22:00).
  • Saint Georges Premier – another beautiful venue offering weddings and event services as well a working restaurant with outdoor seating. The restaurant is open for lunch from Wednesday to Sunday 12:30 until 14:00 and for dinner Wed – Sun from 19:00 onwards.
  • Ristorante Al Campo – situated on the sporting grounds of the park, it’s open daily for lunch.
  • Chiosco della Montagnetta – an outdoor café near the Vedano al Lambro entrance.
  • Chiosco di Villasanta – an outdoor café by the entrance to Villasanta.

5. Villa Reale

Open Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 to 18:30; tickets are 10€ per person and 8€ for those between the ages of 3 to 26 and anyone over 65 years old.

This neoclassical palace was built as a summer residence for Maria Teresa of Austria’s son Ferdinand Karl, Archduke of Austria-Este. It’s so beautiful inside and definitely worth the visit.

Villa Reale and royal gardens.
Villa Reale entrance and Roseto

6. Roseto “Niso Fumagalli”

Roseto was inaugurated in 1970 with the presence of Grace of Monaco. A collection of around 400 varieties of roses and the perfect place to relax after a long day of walking. The rose garden is open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 until 20:00.

Roseto “Niso Fumagalli”.
Royal gardens, open 07:00 until 20:00 everyday.

7. Autodromo Nazionale Monza

Located in Monza park, it is the home of the Italian Grand Prix. The Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio d’Italia 2022 will be taking place at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza from the 9th to the 12th of September. You can book tickets here.

8. Capella Reale Espiatoria

Just a few minutes walk from the Villa Reale is the Cappella Espiatoria (Expiatory Chapel), which was commissioned by Vittorio Emanuele III, King of Italy, son and successor of Umberto I. It was built to commemorate the place in which the anarchist Gaetano Bresci killed his father on 29 July 1900.

The Greek cross-shaped crypt is entirely decorated with precious mosaics showing a star-dotted sky and the Savoy house emblems. The chapel is also decorated with glass mosaics portraying angels, busts of saints and blessed figures of the Savoy dynasty while the floor is covered in coloured ancient marble.

It is open to the public on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 09:00 until 14:00. Open on Friday and Saturday from 09:00 until 19:00. Free entry.

9. Food and drinks

My favourite part! Food! There are so many great places to eat in Monza and so many I am still yet to try but here are a few we love with links.

  • UOVA & FARINA – They sell freshly made pasta and also have a restaurant – open Monday to Saturday. Check link for opening hours.
  • La Cucina di Via Zucchi – fine dining and great selection of wines. Open Monday to Sunday 12:00 – 14:30. Tuesday to Sunday 19:30 – 22:30.
  • Bove Lover – For any meat lovers out there. Open Monday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.
  • Spalto Dieci – Great pizza. Indoor and outdoor seating. Open Tuesday to Sunday.

For drinks, there are several places on Via Bergamo which are really nice and the atmosphere along this road is great. It can get quite busy in the summer.

  • Paulpetta
  • Gren
  • Paloma
  • Pita Mia
  • Qualunquemente
  • Alla Stanga

If you want to stick to the centre you can go to Piazza San Paolo, Gomez cocktail y Mexico is good and has great music.

BMonza on Piazza San Pietro Martire is another of my favourites and they often do jazz nights and is always packed.

If you fancy some gelato you have to go to Gelateria La Romana, with any luck the queue isn’t too bad but it’s worth the wait.

10. Santa María in Strada – Via Italia and shopping

Santa María in Strada is a beautiful church on Via Italia built in the XIV century. The name “in Strada” means “in the street” and it comes from the fact that the church was built on the road that led from the city of Monza to Milan.

If you look up, the figure of the Virgin Mary is actually a fake; a copy was made to prevent damage to the original statue. The original statue can be found in the Museo e Tesoro del Duomo di Monza which if you have time, is worth visiting.

There are so many more things I could write about Monza but that would make this post way too long! It’s a lovely city to explore and I hope this post inspires you to visit.

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it! Until next time!

Day trips from Milan

Published on by Amparo's travels & musings3 Comments

Buongiorno!

Before moving to Milan, I had never been to the city. I know! why would you ever move to a city you’ve never been to and even worse, hardly knowing the language! Except for a beginner’s course in Italian and reading endless blogs about Milan, I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into. But as soon as I arrived in Milan, I fell in love with it. A few weeks after moving, we went into lockdown and you all know how that went… Silver lining? Not having a job gave me the time to explore some of the most beautiful places in Italy and that’s what I would like to share with you.

In no particular order, here are some of my favourite day trips from Milan.

Como

Como is a beautiful city to explore, no matter what time of year it is. With its vibrant cafe culture, gorgeous villas, stunning views of Lake Como and impressive Gothic Cathedral; there’s something for everyone.

The best thing to do whilst in Como is to take the traghetto (ferry) and do a tour of the lake. You can buy a ticket to Cernobbio for example and just remain on the boat so you can enjoy the views and the lake. If you do happen to stop in Cernobbio and fancy some lunch, Osteria del Beuc is a great place to eat. Try to get a table outside by the lake, it’s great, especially in summer.

Villa Olmo
Duomo
George Clooney is that you?

Getting there – You can get the Trenord from Milano Centrale Railway Station to Como San Giovanni Train Station. It’s a 39-minute train journey going through Monza, Seregno and Como Camerlata. You want to take the train towards Chiasso.

Check out my post called a hidden gem in Como for a beautiful little café and antique jewellery shop.

A few more places around Lake Como that I absolutely love are Bellagio, Menaggio, Tremezzo and Varenna which are further up but if you’re in Como will be easy to reach.

Piani dei Resinelli – Belvedere Parco Valentino

This place is just breathtaking, it feels like time slows down and the peace you feel is just incredible.

The best way to reach this place is by car, there’s free parking on Via Escursionisti
(full address, Via Escursionisti 23821 Abbadia Lariana  Loc. Piani Resinelli). From the car park, it’s a half-hour walk up to the belvedere. It’s a very easy walk.

A great place to eat whilst here is Dal Tusett, we ordered the tasting menu at 30€ per person, it was so much food! and absolutely delicious.

Bergamo

Bergamo is another beautiful city you should visit if you have time. It’s under an hour away from Milan and can be easily reached by train or car. I previously wrote about Bergamo Alta which is the old part of the city, have a look at the below post for more details on what to do.

A day trip to Bergamo Alta

Monza

This post wouldn’t be complete without mentioning my beloved Monza! I moved to Monza a year ago and love it. If you love Formula 1 then you will have heard of this city. It’s only 14 minutes on the train from Milano centrale which is great for a day out, especially with kids.

In Monza, you’ll find one of the largest enclosed parks in Europe and the stunning Villa Reale with its beautiful rose garden. The Duomo in the centre of town is a must, its interiors are spectacular.

Villa Reale
F1 Monza
Villa Reale
inside the Duomo di Monza

For food, there are so many choices. Via Bergamo is a great little street which during the warmer months and especially in summer has an amazing atmosphere. I’ll be uploading another post all about Monza and where to eat soon.

Brescia

A 40-minute train journey from Milano Centrale; Brescia, is situated at the foot of the Alps and not far from lakes Garda and Iseo. A beautiful and colourful city filled with hidden gems, amazing UNESCO World Heritage and archaeological sites.

Have a wander around Via dei musei and visit the Capitolium, Tempio Capitolino and Roman theater. Once you’ve finished there, head over to the Duomo Nuovo and visit the Rotonda which is the old cathedral, it has the most interesting shape and interior. Next, head over to Piazza della Loggia with its beautiful Venetian influences.

Tempio Capitolino
Inside the Rotonda next to the Duomo Nuovo
Tempio Capitolino
Brescia’s castle
View from the castle

There are so many places to visit but I don’t want to make this post too long, so I’ll do a series of posts and maybe divide them by distance? Or type of trip? Let me know.

If you reached the end of this post, thank you for sticking with me! I hope you enjoyed it and found it useful. Have an incredible day!

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Check out my previous posts

  • 5 days in Puglia
    Hello!! A couple of months ago, I visited the beautiful region of Apulia in southern Italy (Puglia in Italian) and it was amazing! If you’re looking for a budget-friendly holiday destination with fantastic food that… More
  • A 4-day getaway to Lake Garda
    A quick getaway to the east coast of Lake Garda.
  • Bellano, Lake Como
    Bellano is a charming little town located on the eastern shore of Lake Como in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. Known for its beautiful scenery, historic landmarks, and lively cultural events, Bellano is a… More
  • Truffles and wine tasting in Le Langhe
    It’s truffle season! White truffle season is from September to December when they grow wild in the forests around Alba. So of course, being in Lombardia, we had to take a trip to Le Langhe in Piedmont. This area is… More
  • Autumn in Italy – Varese
    Visiting Varese Hi! How are you? A couple of days ago, we took a little trip to Varese which is a city in northern Italy known for its art-nouveau villas and parks. It’s about an… More
  • From Rome with love
    A four-day itinerary in Rome The first time I visited Rome was in 2017 and I will never forget that trip. It was, after all, my first time in Italy! It was everything I had… More

All things Nice

Published on by Amparo's travels & musings2 Comments

A weekend spent wandering around Nice

There’s a reason why artists such as Matisse, Chagall, Picasso, and Renoir fell in love with Nice.

We visited Nice last month and the weather was perfect. Of course, being February, the sea was absolutley freezing but that didn’t stop people from running and jumping in for a quick swim! And let’s not forget how amazing french boulangeries are. Is there anything better than the smell of freshly baked bread in the morning? Actually yes, croissants straight out of the oven… just the thought makes me want to get on a plane to France. Honestly, how can you not fall in love with this place!

View from Castle Hill (Colline du Chateau)

Is there anything better than breathing in the salty sea air and dipping your feet in the cold sea after a long walk around the city? If you walk along the Promenade des Anglais towards the #ILoveNice sign you’ll find yourself on the Rauba Capeu Sundial at the foot of Castle Hill (Colline du Chateau). This is a great place from which to start your trip.

Rauba Capeu Sundial

Take the stairs across the road from the #ILoveNice sign up to the Bellanda Tower and you’ll be able to enjoy beautiful views of the city and French Riviera coastline. At the very top, from Castle Hill, you’ll be able to see the old town, the port and beyond.

From Castle Hill you can also see the cours Saleya Market. Head over to the market and try their Pissaladiere (onion tart – really good) or you can try Socca which is a pancake made with chickpea flour. And when in France… eat all the bread, pastries and cakes because life is too short and they’re the best.

Cours Saleya Market
Cours Saleya Market

Time to wander around vieux Nice! I love how charming this part of the city is, I could get lost here for hours. If you’re looking for unique gifts there are so many beautiful boutiques around here. One of my favourite shops was; Le Palais d’Osier, which sells wicker baskets, bags, chairs…I wanted to buy everything! And the Parapluies shop which is just beautiful to look at.

Vieux Nice

There’s no shortage of beautiful buildings and streets in Nice. Make sure to visit the St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral, it is incredibly beautiful.

Basilique Notre-Dame de l’assomption
St Nicholas Russian Orthodox cathedral

And the most exciting part? The CARNIVAL! We were lucky enough to see some of the structures built for the carnival and even got a little sneak peek at some of the performances. The Nice Carnival is one of the world’s major carnival events, alongside the Brazilian Carnival, Venetian Carnival, and Mardi Gras in New Orleans. It’s held annually in February and sometimes early March in Nice. If you want to see more of the carnival, I’ll leave the link to the main website here.

I will defintely be visiting again, absolutely loved it.

If you are planning on travelling to Nice for more than a weekend, I recommend visiting Menton and Cannes which are quite easy to get to. Menton is 37 minutes on the train and Cannes is 30 minutes away.

Moving around Nice is really easy, you can reach all sites on foot which also means you get to really experience and fully immerse yourself in Nice life. If you feel tired, there is a little train that takes you on a tour of Vieux Nice. It’s called the mini-train tour and lasts around 30 minutes.

The mini-trains leave every 30 minutes from Promenade des Anglais (in front of Hotel Le Meridien). Make sure to take cash with you, it’s around 10 euros per person.

I hope you enjoyed this post, would love to know what you think. And if you have already been to Nice, would love to know what your favourite places were.

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Venice, the floating city

Published on by Amparo's travels & musingsLeave a comment

400 bridges connecting 118 little islands to form the beautiful city of Venice. No wonder it’s known as the city of bridges! Every step, every turn leads to another bridge. How long do you think it would take to cross them all?

Venice was one of our last stops on our month-long road trip across Italy last year. It’s as if Venice knew and it welcomed us with the darkest of storms. We hid in a nearby cafe and almost gave up. People were running trying to find shelter; street vendors replaced selfie sticks with umbrellas and the plastic ponchos were out in full force. This was not your typical storm… just as quickly as it had started it disappeared and with that most of the tourists as well! 

There are so many beautiful places to see and I will list them below, but the most important thing when visiting Venice is to wander. Forget about maps and itineraries for an hour or two and just wander the streets of Venice. I recently came across a quote by Ella Maillart that says ‘One travels to run away from routine, that dreadful routine that kills all imagination and all our capacity for enthusiasm’. Enjoy getting lost for a little while.

Now, if you are limited on time and only have a day to explore the city, here are my top places to visit.

Piazza San Marco

This is the heart of Venice and where you will find some of the most famous buildings in the city.

Campanile di San Marco

First stop, Campanile di San Marco. The views from the top are incredible and can be reached via the lift.

Basilica di San Marco

Next stop is St. Mark’s Basilica. This is probably one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen. More than 8000 square metres of mosaic cover the walls, vaults and cupolas of the Basilica. The extensive use of gold in the background of the mosaics and the ever changing light that streams through the windows of the Basilica make it an incredible sight. Make sure to head up to the balcony for a brilliant view of the Piazza San Marco and to see the stunning sculptures that decorate the Basilica.

Doge’s Palace

Once you’re done at the Basilica head over to the Doge’s Palace but be warned the queues to enter are quite something so get there early.

Doge’s Palace

Bridge of Sighs

Next to the Doge’s Palace you will find the Bridge of Sighs which got its name from the cries and lamentations of prisoners who were transported from the Doge’s Palaces’ criminal courts to the prison just over the bridge.

Stroll along Riva degli Schiavoni and enjoy some lunch or a ‘spuntino’ whilst you enjoy the view of the waterfront.

Ponte di Rialto

Now let’s head over to Rialto Bridge, grab a gelato on your way there at Gelatoteca Suso. Ice cream here is delicious! The Rialto Bridge is especially beautiful at sunset so you might want to come back later but be prepared for large crowds. 

Follow the signs to Rialto

If you like visiting churches you came to the right city, there are so many to choose from and you will find dozens along your way. 

Murano and Burano

If you still have time or have more than one day, make sure to visit the islands of Murano and Burano. You can access them via water bus from Piazza San Marco as well as from Fondamente Nove.

Murano

The island of Murano, is best known for its glass and you can take a tour of one of the factories as well as go to the Museo del Vetro (glass museum). When buying glass items in Venice make sure it has the official ‘Vetro Murano Artistico’ trademark, always try to support local businesses.

Burano

Next is Burano which you will have probably seen a million times on social media and for good reason. The colourful fishing village of Burano is famous for its beautiful lace but more than anything you will have heard about Burano due to its incredibly colourful houses. The origin of the colourful houses is unknown but some say it was to help fishermen returning from the sea. Due to the heavy fog, fishermen had trouble recognising their homes and so they decided to paint them with different colours which I guess makes sense but I’m not sure how true this is. Either way, enjoy this colourful and cheerful island and make sure to eat at one of the local fish restaurants.

Getting around Venice

Venice is small enough for you to be able to walk to all the main attractions and if you’re tired you can take a Vaporetto (water bus) which is always fun.

Where to buy tickets

AVM/Actv tickets can be purchased from the following sales channels:
•    Venezia Unica point of sale throughout the historic center of Venice and on the mainland 
•    authorized retailers
•    automatic ticketing machines at the main AVM/Actv public transport arrival terminals and waterbus stops
•    AVM Venezia Official App 
•    on line on www.veneziaunica.it
•    on board waterborne services 

If the weather is bad or your time in Venice is very limited, then you can buy a ticket valid for 75 minutes for €7,50 or a time-based travel card which allows free circulation on all the ACTV vaporetto lines around the city and to the lagoon islands, as well as free circulation on the urban Mestre and Lido land-bus and tram lines (except for travel with origin or destination at Marco Polo airport – see the official ACTV fares for full details) and use of the People Mover:

  • 20,00 € – 1 DAY TRAVELCARD
  • 30,00 € – 2 DAYS TRAVELCARD
  • 40,00 € – 3 DAYS TRAVELCARD
  • 60,00 € – 7 DAYS TRAVELCARD

Where to store your luggage

There are luggage facilities at the three main transport hubs in Venice. You’ll see the sign Deposito Bagagli which are the luggage storage offices. Piazzale Roma – across from the ACTV office and next to the People Mover station.

Enjoy your trip to Venice!

Hope you enjoyed this blog post, give it a like/ thumbs up if you did or leave a comment. 

Have an amazing day!

A day trip to Bergamo Alta

Published on by Amparo's travels & musings1 Comment

Hello from beautiful Bergamo!

I love visiting Bergamo, specially Città Alta (the upper city). It’s a charming medieval walled city full of winding roads and beautiful architecture. Despite how busy it can get during the weekend, it still feels quite peaceful.

Usually, to get to città alta we would take the funicular from Bergamo Città Bassa (lower city); but this weekend, as the queue for the funicular was so long, we decided to walk. If you plan on doing this, wear comfortable shoes! I thought my sandals would be fine but because of the material my foot kept sliding all over the place and I had to walk at a snails pace!! You see, città alta is on a hill and walking up, there are parts that are REALLY steep, BUT the views are worth it. It’s like something out of a movie.

I wouldn’t advise walking up to Città Alta in the middle of summer as it is way too hot, so definitely take the funicular; but during spring and autumn it’s perfect. Something that I absolutely love about this time of year in Italy, is that jasmine flowers are in full bloom and they smell incredible. Walking up to the old town they were everywhere and I think that’s what kept me going. Make sure to take breaks to take photos and stay hydrated!!

Our first stop was the Piazza Vecchia – the heart of Città Alta!

Here, you’ll find restaurants, café’s and some of the most important buildings in Bergamo.

Piazza Vecchia – Palazzo della ragione
Piazza Vecchia in the evening seen from the other side

If you walk to the back of Piazza Vecchia, past the arches you will find the beautiful Cappella Colleoni and right next to it the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, which is definitely worth visiting. The beautiful and ornate interiors of the basilica were designed by Lorenzo Lotto, mostly known for his perceptive portraits and mystical paintings of religious subjects.

Capella Colleoni – Piazza del Duomo
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

To the left of the basilica is the Duomo, also known as the Cattedrale di Sant’Alessandro; and opposite the Duomo you will see the Battistero di Bergamo.

Duomo – Cattedrale di Sant’Alessandro
Battistero di Bergamo

Make your way back to the funicular for Upper Bergamo and go up Sant’Eufemia hill, it’s a 6 – 7 minute walk from the Piazza Duomo up to the Rocca Fortress which has some amazing views. Best place to enjoy the sunset in my opinion.

View from the Rocca Fortress in winter

Another great spot, not just for photos but for some great food is San Vigilio Hill. You can take the funicular up there and it only takes a few minutes.

Funicular to San Vigilio

Once you’re done in San Vigilio you can take the next funicular down to Città Alta and continue exploring the medieval town through its endless maze of cobblestone roads. Also, don’t miss the panoramic views from the Punto Panoramico di Colle Aperto, you can see the Orto Botànico from here as well as the mountains.

Comune di Bergamo – Piazza della Cittadella
Street view
Palazzo Medolago Albani
Torre Civica – Campanone
Street view

What to eat

There are so many brilliant little bakeries and café’s you really can’t go wrong.

The two things that you should try whilst you’re here are the Casoncelli Bergamaschi which are pasta filled with a mixture of bread crumbs, egg, parmesan, ground beef, salami or sausage. These are usually served in a butter and sage sauce and are quite a simple dish but full of flavour. You’ll find this at pretty much every restaurant. Another thing to try is the polenta cake which I found a bit too sweet for me but still nice. If you like marzipan you will love this.

Another dessert to try, is the stracciatella icecream from La Marianna, it is where it was first created and they continue to make it in the same way.

La Marianna

Getting around

The funicular is the best and quickest option but you can also take the bus, numbers 1 and 1A take you to upper Bergamo. From Bergamo airport, you can reach the city by taking the Airport bus.

Upper Bergamo as well as the centre of Lower Bergamo are limited traffic areas. On Sundays and public holidays car traffic is prohibited from 10am – 12pm and 2pm – 7pm. With daylight savings time, access is also banned Friday and Saturday from 9pm to 1am.

Information point – the office is on Via Gombito, 13. It is open from Monday to Thursday 9am – 1pm and 1:30pm to 5:30pm; and Friday to Sunday from 9am – 5:30pm.

Hope you enjoyed this post! Happy exploring!!