Car Rental - Bergamo

Bergamo was part of the Republic of Venice from the early 15th century for nearly 400 years. To this day, the ancient hilltop Citta Alta – or Upper Town – is still surrounded by three miles of Venetian Walls and overlooks the modern Citta Bassa – the Lower Town.

Park your Bergamo car rental and take the funicular, which has connected the two districts for more than 100 years and offers stunning views across the city.

When you arrive in the Upper Town, meander along the pretty cobblestone streets until you reach the center at the aristocratic Piazza Vecchia. Take a seat at one of the many trattoria and admire the 800-year-old Palazzo della Ragione at the very heart of Bergamo. At the center of the square you’ll find Contarini Fountain and, on the opposite side, Palazzo Nuovo. Take a seat, sip an espresso and watch the gentle buzz of Bergamo life go by.

There’s a wealth of art to discover in Bergamo. Visit Accademia Carrara and you’ll find Renaissance masterpieces from the likes of Botticelli, Mantegna, Bellini and Raphael. With everything from depictions of saints and classical landscapes to explorations of love, the museum depicts the development of a movement that changed art forever.

Bergamo is also the birthplace of Donizetti, one of the world's greatest opera composers, and his influence is still very much felt and celebrated here. Visit his house in the Upper Town and sift through his personal items – letters, scores and portraits – in the Donizetti Museum. His ornate tomb can still be seen in Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.

The 200-year-old theater, named in his honor, still regularly stages some of his most popular operas. Statues of composers guarding the entrance and a frescoed auditorium ceiling show the opulence of 19^th century Italian opera houses.

Peaks, valleys and forests are dotted with farms and villages in the nearby Alps. This vast and imposing mountain range is 50 miles long, with soaring summits up to more than 3,000 meters. Stretch your legs as you follow one of the many footpaths and breathe in the fresh air. The scenery is always changing, becoming wilder and more dramatic as you head towards the highest peaks.

Make sure you stop to see the impressive Serio Waterfalls. At 315 meters they’re the highest in Italy, sending cascades of foaming white water into a towering Alpine gorge. The trail there will take around an hour and a half and, if you journey on, you’ll come to Rifugio Curo, a mountain refuge overlooking a turquoise pool, which contrasts gorgeously with the dark green mountains in the distance.

Italian cities are renowned for their mouth-watering food and Bergamo is no different. Make your way to the Upper Town for some of the best restaurants and eat your fill of delicious fresh produce against a stunning backdrop.

Pork, particularly salami, is popular here as well as Alpine cheeses like taleggio. Tuck into a steaming bowl of casoncelli, stuffed pasta served in a simple but rich sauce of melted butter and sage, one of the most famous local dishes.