Santa Maria Maggiore Bergamo ceiling

From Bergamo to Milan: Weekend Getaway

Bergamo and Milan – Experience the Finest Lombardy

Surely a weekend getaway is too short to experience Lombardy, but with limited annual leave and bank holiday per year, a weekend break to Italy’s finest region could be a fantastic treat!

It was on late June, when me & my husband looking at the map of Italy and wondering where we can escape in the next bank holiday – in August. With a great flight connection from London, and of course the short route into Milan, Bergamo it is then the choice where we spent our Summer bank holiday.

So here we go, we book flights from London Stansted to Milan Bergamo (in style) by Ryanair *uhm…*

So here is our itinerary:

Day 1: London Stansted – Bergamo

Day 2: Bergamo – Milan – Bergamo

Day 3: Bergamo – London Stansted

Once we landed into Bergamo Airport, we buy a bus ticket to Bergamo Citta Alta – the bellissima upper city of Bergamo.

Bus ticket from Bergamo Airport to Bergamo City Centre or the Old Towrn
Bus ticket from Bergamo Airport to Bergamo City Centre or the Old Town

We got into the Upper Town in about 20 minutes. And we headed straight into our hotel: Relais San Lorenzo. The hotel is just yards away from this beautiful Lombardy Venetian bell.

Bergamo Venetian style Bell
I can see the top of the bell from our hotel room
Relais San Lorenzo Bergamo
Relais San Lorenzo Bergamo: sleek luxury hotel
Relais San Lorenzo View from room
View from the room

Special thanks to my husband who treats me to this wonderful hotel. Hint: this hotel is built on the Roman ruins. Hence the historical value of staying in this hotel is.. priceless!

Relain San Lorenzo Bergamo
Nice big room!
shower room relais san lorenzo
The shower room!

The breakfast at Relais San Lorenzo is fab! As the restaurant hotel is surrounded by the Romain ruins!

Breakfast at Relain san Lorenzo Bergamo
Breakfast by the Roman ruins: what more can you ask for?
Breakfast by the Roman Ruins Bergamo
Our yummy table overlooking the Roman ruins!
What a great view! Breakfast on top of Roman ruins
What a great view! Breakfast on top of Roman ruins
Relais San Lorenzo Breakfast
The selection of cheese & ham
Made by Relais San Lorenzo chef
And the Chef will cook the egg of your choice

And it’s time to explore the Old Town! No one can’t deny that Bergamo Citta Alta is located in panoramic hills. Other way to go up to Citta Alta is using funicular or cliff railway. It is like a small and short version of sky lift.

Funicular ticket
Funicular ticket

Here in Citta Alta, you can’t miss the 15th Century Colleoni Chapel built by the Colleoni family. The artistic design of the Chapel is just epic!

Colleoni Chapel 15th century
The iconic Colleoni Chapel
Baptistry of Colleoni Chapel
Baptistry of Colleoni Chapel: just beside the Chapel

Then of course come inside the magnificent Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and experience its Baroque style on the interior ceilings and paintings.

Santa Maria Maggiore Bergamo ceiling
Breath-taking ceilings!
One of the paintings Bergamo santa maria maggiore
One of the paintings: is that Saint Anthony of Padova?
Santa Maria Maggiore Bergamo
The main altar view
Bergamo Cathedral
The side altar view

And if you are into Romans, don’t forget to visit the Archaeological Museum in Bergamo.

Bergamo Archaeological museum
Entrance to Bergamo Archaeological museum
Roman mosaics found in Bergamo
Here you can see Roman mosaics found in Bergamo

The main square is Piazza Vecchia, where it is believed to be built on top of Roman forum.

Piazza Vecchia
Piazza Vecchia
Piazza Vecchia where ancient Roman forum was built
Piazza Vecchia where ancient Roman forum was built

If you fancy a fine dining restaurant, head back to Relais San Lorenzo, where you can enjoy Italian food lush in a Roman-ruins setting.

We did try the lunch at the Relais San Lorenzo and it was just perfect!

Starter: A dash of creamy fish egg
Starter: A dash of creamy fish egg
Part of starter Relais san Lorenzo
With extra bread
Main: Spaghetti with squid in a spinach sauce
Main: Spaghetti with squid in a spinach sauce
Dessert: yummy chocolate, jelly, and Italian macaroon
Dessert: yummy chocolate, jelly, and Italian macaroon

On the second day, we off to Milan by train from Bergamo Station. So we bought a return ticket from Bergamo to Milan. It is quite cheap, only 11 Euros return.

Bergamo to Milan train ticket
Bergamo to Milan train ticket
Milan to Bergamo Train
Milan to Bergamo Train ticket

In Milan our first stop is the Milan Naviglio Grande Antiques Market. So we off to use the Milan Metro: from Milan Centrale into Porta Genova. Please see here my full review of the Milan Antiques Market. The Metro is very convenient to use and it’s only 1.50 Euro for a single journey.

Milan Metro ticket
Here is the Milan Metro ticket, you can get it at any Tabacchi shop

From Porta Genova, we then hop off using the Metro again to go to Duomo. The Metro stop for Milan Cathedral is Duomo. It is a very much obliged place to see when you are in Milan.

Milan Cathedral
The magnificent Milan Duomo from the front.
Milan Cathedral with very big pillars
Mlan Duomo: Amazing pillars!
Milan Cathedral from the East side
Inside the Cathedral: west-side view

For only 2 Euros you can see this grand Cathedral and its museum too. Be prepared to be in a long queue.

Ticket to Milan Cathedral
Ticket to Milan Cathedral
Mass at Duomo di Milano
The Cathedral’s main altar
Mass at the Milan Cathedral
Mass at the Milan Cathedral
Wow its size and architecture is just amazed me
Wow its size and architecture is just amazed me
Piazza del Duomo di Milano
Piazza del Duomo di Milano
Piazza del Duomo and the Galleria
Clear blue sky, typical Italian summer!

We had a fresh orange juice at a nearby cafe. It is a nice cafe with the view of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the Cathedral. As our time in Milan is limited, we had to say goodbye for now to Milan, and back to Metro again going to Milan Centrale. We then have an hour return journey to Bergamo.

Once we arrive to Bergamo Citta Alta, we choose an open air dinner restaurant: Donizetti Bergamo.

Open air summer dine
Open air summer dine
Donizetti Bergamo Citta Alta
Donizetti Bergamo Citta Alta
Dinner at Bergamo Citta Alta
My Spaghetti Salmon

In the next morning, we have to catch our flight back to London Stansted. It’s sad that our holiday come to an end. But we are sure to be back in Italy next year!

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *