Places to see in ( Bergamo - Italy ) Castello di San Vigilio
Places to see in ( Bergamo - Italy ) Castello di San Vigilio
Representing a clearly visible symbol of power, San Vigilio Castle has been the residence of Bergamo’s numerous rulers for centuries. It is located 496 meters above the sea level, on top of the hill that gives it its name, overlooking the Città Alta: that’s why it used to have a strategic role in case of attacks. From its top, you can see the Mount Bastia nearby and the villages of the old Breno valley (called Valbrembo and Paladina today), along with the Almenno plain, also known as Lemine, once renowned for being an important trade centre, and the hamlets located all along the street leading to the Brembana valley. This spectacular and vast landscape also embraces a significant part of the pre-Alps. The circle plan of the building resembles a star, featuring the four towers called Castagneta, Belvedere, Del Ponte and San Vigilio. Its basements are very tortuous: a tunnel (accessible in part) was also found, connecting the Castle directly to the northern side of the hills fortification, inside the San Marco Fortress.
The first news about a fortification on the Hill dates back to the VI Century after Christ, even if we can’t rule out the presence some previous Roman buildings. In 889, the future king of Italy Arnolfo di Carinzia decided to conquer it, sending away the religious community inhabiting it since the VI Century, which had built a small fortress called Castello della Cappella (Chapel’s Castle), dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene.
The structure thus became a strategic military post, to the extent that in 1166 Bergamo Town Council decided to build a bigger castle. Thanks to the work of Milan’s Duchy in the XIV Century and mostly of the Republic of Venice in The XV Century, San Vigilio Castle underwent further enlargements and reinforcements. Many changes were carried out, including the four fortified towers provided with casemates and embrasures connected one another by a defensive wall and a protection moat.
During the XVI Century the Castle endured numerous sieges by the French and the Spanish. Therefore, a massive defensive wall was built, while the central medieval tower was demolished in order to let more garrisons get in; besides, the castled was equipped with the soldiers’ accommodations and the castellan’s house.
In the end of the XIX Century, the Castle begun to be seen as touristic attraction: the entire historical complex was purchased by the Soregaroli family to open a restaurant. It was a kind of premonition, as today the San Vigilio hill, with its two fancy restaurants, is considered one of the best places to have a romantic dinner. The San Vigilio funicular, established in 1912 to connect the hill to Sant’Alessandro Gate, also enhances the charming atmosphere
Later, the Castle was bought by Bergamo’s Municipality and opened to the public in 1962, while the funicular (closed since 1976) was reactivated in 1991. Currently the secret passage linking the San Marco Fortress with the Castle can be visited, thanks to the activity of a speleological group called “Le Nottole”, which arranges guided tours on request.
( Bergamo - Italy ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Bergamo . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Bergamo - Italy
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Bergamo Italy - Città alta
The town on the hill, Bergamo is a really nice Italian town in Lombardy close to Milan. The upper city, Città alta, or actually the older part of the city lies on a hill and is surrounded by old venetian walls from the 17th century. In the video we follow the small narrow streets of Via Gombito to the old square, Piazza Vecchia. From here we pass the cathedral and arrives at the walls by Saint Giacomo Gate by the Palazzo Medolago and head out to see the grand view over the surroundings and Città bassa, the lower city. The video ends with a few clips from late night looking up on Città alta and then a short visit to Via Gombito.
See a video from Castello di San Vigilio overlooking Città alta:
MINITALIA LEOLANDIA (2011)
Minitalia Leolandia (Bergamo, MI) nella stagione 2011 --- The 2011 season of Minitalia Leolandia, near Milan --- Parksmania.it The first Italian Internet portal about amusement park --- Parksmania.it il primo portale italiano dedicato ai parchi divertimento. parksmania.it