Italian Treasure

ITALY is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, brimming with art, culture, history and natural wonders. Bergamo is yet another small but exquisite gem in the north, near the city of Milan.

A city dating back to ancient times, Bergamo oozes medieval charm. It has two parts connected by cable car — the historical upper city and the modern lower city. They are separated by Venetian defensive walls, which are recognised by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

The hilltop upper city wows with its grand buildings that remind one of the splendour of Renaissance art and architecture. The old stone buildings with red tiled roofs and winding cobblestone streets transport one to a bygone era.

The Bergamo Cathedral and the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore are two churches of stunning beauty. Their ornate Baroque stonework, masterful Renaissance paintings and beautiful tapestries are a testament to the creativity of the Italian artists. The Cappella Colleoni, a 15th-century church and mausoleum built in honour of a high-ranking family of Bergamo, is similarly richly decorated.

The lower city is home to many offices, restaurants, tree-lined avenues and parks. One of its most impressive buildings is the Teatro Donizetti, an opera house dedicated to Gaetano Donizetti, a leading music composer best known for his operatic works. One can admire the works of Renaissance and Baroque masters, at the art gallery of Accademia Carrara.

FYI

AUSTRALIA is a beach lover's paradise. With its coastline stretching over almost 50,000 kilometres, the island continent is home to 10,000 beaches, more than any other country in the world.