Province of Bergamo

The province of Bergamo also overlooks Lake Iseo; its shores are also dotted with charming villages, such as Riva di Solto and Lovere. The latter, itself listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, has a magical atmosphere. We recommend visiting the Basilica of Santa Maria in Valvendra and climbing the Civic Tower to admire the view from above.

Between the hills that separate the Orobie Mountains from the Lombard plain lies Bergamo, divided into the Upper City, the older part, and the Lower City, the more modern. The two parts of the city are connected by a funicular railway or, for sportsmen, by long stairways. All its historical importance can be felt in the cobblestone alleys of the Upper Town: here, time seems to have stopped in the Middle Ages, amid noble palaces, churches and squares of great splendor.

The historic area is enclosed by the Venetian Walls, built in the 16th century, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking on the walls, you can enjoy a splendid panoramic view, sweeping over the city and the surrounding plain.

Piazza Vecchia, on the other hand, is the heart of the Upper Town. Bordered by historic buildings, such as the Palazzo della Ragione and the Palazzo Nuovo, it is the perfect place to savor and taste the real atmosphere of the city. At the top of the Civic Tower, the great bell rings one hundred chimes every evening at ten o'clock: this was the ancient warning that the city gates were closing. This square is also home to the city cathedral, with its neoclassical facade, dedicated to St. Alexander the Martyr. Pope John XXIII, the "good pope," is buried here.

Adjacent to the cathedral are the Romanesque basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, which, despite its simple exterior, beyond its famous lion portals hides a rich interior, including tapestries, frescoes and inlays; and the Colleoni Chapel, a masterpiece of the Lombard Renaissance, frescoed by Lorenzo Lotto. Impossible for your gaze not to be drawn to the profusion of decorations on its facade; then on the gate is a coat of arms depicting the attributes of the condottiere Bartolomeo Colleoni, who is buried here. Touching them brings good luck; so if you need it, do not hesitate!

Other places we recommend you visit are theAccademia Carrara, an art museum with a rich collection ranging from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century, with focus on important artists of the sixteenth century, such as Botticelli, Bellini, Raphael, Titian, Lotto and Moroni; the Donizettiano Museum, i.e., the house museum of the famous Bergamasque composer Gaetano Donizetti; and the E. Caffi Museum of Natural Sciences, where you will find a giant mammoth to welcome you!

Many of the most scenic and picturesque hiking trails in the province of Bergamo wind in the vicinity of Lake Iseo. Here are some of them:

• the Monte Clemo loop trail, which skirts the Valle del Freddo Nature Reserve and offers views of both Lake Iseo and Lakes Endine and Gaiano;
• the La Panoramica trail, a loop itinerary that, from the municipality of Solto Collina, explores the Valle del Freddo Nature Reserve;
• the itinerary on the tracks of the Battle of Fonteno, a loop that explores the sites of this August 1944 battle, which was one of the first wartime actions conducted by partisans against the Germans;
• the itinerary of the five peaks of Parzanica, namely Monte Creò, Punta del Bert, Monte Mandolino, Monte Cremona and Saresano, again with views of Lake Iseo;
• the Tour of the Hills, a loop starting in the town of Vigolo, in Piazza Fontane Vecchie, which touches Mount Cremona, Col de Ru, Col Mandolino, Col Trei, Colle Cargadura and Colle Martinazzo.

The province of Bergamo is also crisscrossed by some fascinating stage walks, which start right from the capital city:

• theAlta Via delle Grazie, which, in thirteen days of walking, leads to the discovery of the Seriana Valley, the Orobian Alps and Lake Iseo;
• the Way of Charlemagne, which, in twelve stages, leads from the Upper Town to Madonna di Campiglio, in the province of Trento; it is a challenging route, suitable for those who are trained;
• the Via delle Sorelle, which connects Bergamo to Brescia, crossing Lake Iseo and the hilly area of Franciacorta.

Water is also the protagonist of bicycle routes. Starting, for example, with the splendid loop around Lake Iseo, which runs along the entire lake perimeter, ascending northward from the Bergamo side and descending through the Brescia side. Or by choosing one of the two mountain bike loops around the northern part of the lake, the Bossico area, namely the Lovere - Bossico - Ceratello route, with great scenic and historical beauty, and the Black Bossico route, which offers splendid views but is suitable only for experienced cyclists.

Finally, we recommend an itinerary that starts from the lake, specifically from Sarnico, and goes into the discovery of Val Calepio, in a hilly area covered with vineyards and dotted with villages, shrines and castles.