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In the green heart of Bergamo |
Bergamo has a green heart. The city’s regional park, which extends along the entire system of hills on which the old town sits, was set up in 1977 to protect a vast area that includes the oldest part of Bergamo and the villages surrounding the northern slopes, but also to safeguard an environment that is highly valued for its unique diversity. In addition to the medieval city, the park, which extends from the hills to the beginning of the Orobie mountain chain, includes places of particular natural and scenic interest. In order to learn more about this little known but interesting and complex part of Bergamo, we suggest combining a tour of the city in discovery of its artistic and monumental treasures with an itinerary through the park, which begins immediately after the walls.
There are several routes to choose from. The easiest and closest is the one that leads to the top of San Vigilio Hill (you can also use the funicular railway). Once at the top, the castle offers an amazing 360° view of the park and reveals a mosaic of vegetable plots, gardens, cultivated fields, villas and farms.
If you have more time and would like to enjoy a pleasant walk, we suggest, once you have left the funicular station (you can always include a visit to the castle), continuing along the road (Via San Vigilio) that winds along the ridge of the hill. If, after a few hundred metres, you take the road that descends on the left (Via San Sebastiano), you’ll be able to admire a landscape of unique beauty (which recalls the hills around Florence) and at the same time discover a part of the hilly area that has remain almost unchanged since ancient times. The old cultivated fields have disappeared, but the intricate network of alleyways and flights of steps that cross the slopes, proceed to the hills and descend between the valleys have remained. This network was used by farmers and market gardeners at a time when the hills supplied the fruit and vegetable markets of Bergamo on a daily basis.
The most striking flights of steps are the ‘Scorlazzino’ and ‘Scorlazzone’, along which couples in search of a romantic spot and locals attracted by the beauty of the place stroll. Bound by a characteristic dry stone wall, the steps climb between gardens and vegetable plots towards Borgo Canale and on towards the hill of San Vigilio. If you are not easily tired and are looking for an unforgettable experience, we suggest that you leave upper Bergamo through Sant’Alessandro Gate, and descend along Borgo Canale (between beautiful buildings and views) and then go in discovery of lesser-known Bergamo, beginning at the rustic steps of the Scorlazzino. Once on the hill of San Vigilio, you can return to the old town with the funicular railway.
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