Bergamo is an Italian city located in the alpine Lombardy region northeast of Milan. It has a really beautiful older upper district, called Città Alta with typical narrow streets, surrounded by Venetian walls. Due to the well-connected international airport many tourists arrive to Bergamo and head directly to Milan or Venice without exploring the region, which is the hidden gem of Lombardy. In 2023 Bergamo and Brescia will be the Italian Capital of Culture.
I am very lucky, because my Italian friends come from Bergamo region and thanks to them, I could enjoy this part of Italy like the locals do. I even managed to learn some words in their dialect called Bergamasco. To my surprise, a lot of places that I am going to mention in this article are not popular among tourists, but they are so incredible that I hope you will visit them one day.
San Pellegrino Terme (SPA resort)
Have you already tried the famous San Pellegrino water? Because of its taste and multiple health benefits it became really popular in the whole world. Even Leonardo da Vinci visited the source to sample the miracuols water. Nowadays you can order a bottle of San Pellegrino all over the world.
Did you know that San Pellegrino i s bottled in a town just 20 km from Bergamo Central Station? It can be reached by a local bus in only 40 minutes. Apart from the beverage company, San Pellegrino is also a beautiful SPA resort called San Pellegrino Terme, where you can spend a relaxing day enjoying multiple indoor and outdoor pools, saunas and relaxing rooms.
The ticket price starts from 44 euros and you can decide if you would like to spend there the whole day or just arrive in the morning or if you prefer in the evening. To check the current offers feel free to visit their website.
I would recommend you to book your tickets in advance.
For an extra fee you can also try an Italian buffet brunch. I need to admit that the restaurant location is pretty amazing and the quality of the buffet was also really good. It was a great experience.
The beautiful hall of QCterme San Pellegrino belonged before to the Municipal Casino.
Lake Endine (Lago di Èndine)
This little but beautiful lake is another hidden gem of Bergamo. Located in the narrow valley between high peaks, it was classified by the authorities of Lombardy as the “area of remarkable environmental interest” and it is under protection. This is a perfect location for a sunday walk. If you feel like you can also rent a boat to explore the lake. Sometimes in winter people local people skate on the frozen Endine lake. Protected by the valley, the lake stays all the time in the shadow and this is why the ice does not melt fast.
Another thing that you should definitely do is to order a cup of coffee at the lakeside cafe and simply enjoy the breathtaking view. Do not forget to try delicious local pastries!
Restaurant Il Circolino di Città Alta
Eat like locals and support elderly and homeless people.
Located in a old monastery of Sant’Agata in the historic center of Bergamo (Città Alta), this restaurant and at the same time a social company, does not only offer great food and amazing wine selection, but it also supports for example homeless and elderly people. Cooperativa Città Alta is also involved in many other cultural and social projects. The places is really authentic and raw medieval paintings on the walls create an amazing atmosphere.
If you want to try something regional I would recommend you to order Casoncelli alla Bergamasca that are kind of ravioli filled with meat and served with a butter and sage sauce and sautéed Italian Speck (or Pancetta). If you do not like meat you can also ask for its veggie alternative.
Pasta shop Al Pastificio artigianale Del Borgo (Borgo di Terzo)
If you are looking for the best home made pasta in Bergamo or you want to purchase other local products, you should definitely visit this place. Amaro and his mom create their pasta masterpieces with love, incredible talent, passion and Italian tradition. All ingredients are selected really carefully and the pasta factory is located directly in their shop. It also means that they prepare it by themselves.
