The Walls And The Gates

When work on the walls began in August 1561, General Sforza Pallavicino discovered he had made a calculation error. The original plan was to build simple defences against a surprise attack by the Spanish who had taken control of Milan, but this idea was abandoned and it was decided to build fortifications capable of withstanding an army equipped with the most modern firearms of the time. As a result, the walls, which should have been finished in a matter of months, were not completed until 1588. The work was extremely expensive, and the appearance of the city and the hill changed irreversibly. To make way for the fortification, nearly a third of the houses were demolished, as was one of the most important monasteries, the San Domenico Monastery, and an entire quarter, San Lorenzo, which was crossed by the road leading to the Brembana Valley. The walls were built with four gates, each corresponding to the main roads of communication with the surrounding area and other cities: Sant'Agostino Gate, with its beautiful marble fountain, located on the road to Brescia and Venice.

Piazza Vecchia

Piazza Vecchia's architecture plays a subtle trick on the eye, making the square appear larger than it is. This area, which is the heart of political and administrative life in Bergamo and the surrounding area, began to take shape in the fifteenth century with the demolition of a group of houses in front of Palazzo della Ragione. This central area acquired its Renaissance form and dimensions at the start of Venetian dominance, particularly when the building on the western side was transformed into the seat of the Venetian Podestà. Bramante, one of the most famous artists of the time, was commissioned to decorate the façade with frescoes in 1477. The Town Hall on the east side of the square gave the square its definitive appearance in 1604. The architect Vincenzo Scamozzi was entrusted with this project, but due to a lack of funds, the building was not completed according to the original design. The building, which is clad in white marble, now houses the Angelo Mai Civic Library, which preserves a valuable heritage of parchments, illuminated codices, incunabula, and archives that tell the story of the city.

Palazzo della Ragione

The façade of the thirteenth-century Palazzo della Ragione has been stripped of numerous coats of arms of Bergamo's rectors and "podestà." For 350 years, the lion of St. Mark, which towers above the central balcony, was a symbol of Venetian dominion. The original marble lion was destroyed in 1797 when the French arrived, and the current marble lion is a copy donated by the city of Venice in 1933. The arcade beneath the old municipal building serves as a filter between Piazza Vecchia, the seat of civil power, and Piazza del Duomo, the seat of episcopal power. Overlooking the city are the Cathedral, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Colleoni Chapel (the only secular presence - to some extent), the Baptistery, and the Bishop's Palace.

Duomo

The construction of the Duomo di Pisa began in 1063 under the architect Buscheto. Its architecture shows signs of Byzantine and Moorish influence, which points to Pisa's international ties as a former sea power. Some essential artwork inside the cathedral is the mosaic of Christ in the apse, the pulpit by Pisano, and the golden ceiling. The cathedral also contains the tomb of St. Rainerius, the patron saint of Pisa and all travelers.

Battistero

The third primary sight, the former site of the Battistero, or baptistry in English, dates from 1152. Nevertheless, the tower was remodeled and extended more than a generation ago by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, while it was only finished in the 14th century. Climbing to the top gallery to hear the incredible acoustics of the dual dome, which the custodians regularly display, is one of the greatest things anyone can do here. There is a religious site on the Piazza Dei Miracoli after leaving Battistero.

Palazzo Del Podestà

From the beginning of the thirteenth century to the first half of the sixteenth century, the Palazzo del Podestà was the seat of the Podestà (Chief magistrate or Governor) and various municipal functions. It is linked by a footbridge to the adjacent Palazzo della Ragione, where the architect Pietro Isabello created a single magnificent room known as the Sala delle Capriate during restoration work after the devastating fire of 1513. During the last century, the Palazzo del Podestà was used for purposes that were not in keeping with its historical significance, having been used in various ways under Venetian and Austrian rule.

Teatro Sociale

The Teatro Sociale reopened to the public in the spring of 2009, two centuries after its original opening in 1808, with a full calendar of shows and performances by renowned artists. This was made possible by the exceptional restoration work done on this magnificent structure. Leopoldo Pollack, a Piermarini pupil who rose to fame after constructing the Arch of Peace in Milan and the Villa Reale in Monza, designed the theatre. Pollack used an area occupied by a part of the Venetian Palazzo del Podestà, destroyed by fire on the initiative of a group of aristocrats who formed a "society." The theatre was successful for several decades until it began to decline in popularity after competing with the Riccardi Theater (the current Donizetti), which was preferred because of its location on the plain; it was still used for operas until 1929.

Cittadella (CITADEL)

The Cittadella is the only surviving part of a fortification built by the Visconti family during their reign in Bergamo. On the hill of San Giovanni (where the Seminary now stands), a fortress was originally constructed, to which a large building ("Hospitium Magnum") was added to house the garrison, armoury, and storerooms. However, this complex was used to guard the city rather than defend it against external enemies. The Cittadella was then transformed into the residence of the Venetian military commander, but its large rooms were still used to store cereals and as a warehouse. Its military use continued under the French and Austrians, but the building began to deteriorate gradually. Between 1958 and 1960, it underwent renovation work, during which time a portion of the building was restored to its original state. The Enrico Caffi Museum of Natural Sciences and the Civic Archaeological Museum are now housed there.

Church Of San Bartolomeo

Santi Bartolomeo e Stefano is a Bergamo Baroque church. The church was built between 1613 and 1642, next to the San Bartolomeo monastery, which belonged to the Humiliati religious order. After the suppression of this order, this convent was given to the Dominican order, with whom it is still associated today. The church houses a large canvas, Pala Martinengo, or Martinengo Altarpiece, by the well-known painter Lorenzo Lotto.

Monza

Monza is located on the Lambro River in northern Italy, about 15 kilometers from Milan. Monza is an important economic and industrial centre in the Lombardy region of the country. The city is known for its rich cultural heritage and historical buildings, as well as the iconic Autodromo Nazionale Monza race track, which hosts the Formula One Italian Grand Prix.