The Key to Bergamo #031

Gardens and vegetable plots are distributed throughout the city. The oldest are those belonging to the historic residences in the “borghi” (districts), which are laid out along the main roads that once connected Bergamo to t h e c i t i e s o f L o m b a r d y.

For this reason it is almost impossible to see them as they are hidden behind the façades of the buildings. But a visit to the upper part of Via Pignolo is still well worth while, if only to see the sixteenthcentury buildings built by the city’s noble families along this road. On this stretch of road lies Palazzo Suardi, which once had a very large garden.

Last century, part of this garden became the property of the Municipality of Bergamo and was turned into the city’s first public park. Not far away, another two historic city parks open to the public can be found: the park of Palazzo Marenzi, on the same Via Pignolo, and Caprotti Park, in Via Torquato Tasso.

To admire the gardens and cultivated areas around Bergamo and, at the same time, enjoy a pleasant walk, we suggest following one of the itineraries that lead to Città Alta and its hills. Here are some suggestions. Start your tour from the tourist information office near the train station (Urban Center), and walk up Viale Vittorio Emanuele, passing through Porta