Bergamo High City, Bergamo

Reached via car or the funicular from Viale Vittorio Emanuele, the ancient historical town of Bergamo lies on top of a hill (369m). Bergamo was originally a Celtic settlement but was built over by the Romans. Now "upper Bergamo" lies within defensive walls that were already extant at the time of the Romans and which were later rebuilt several times and renewed by the Republic of Venice in 1556. The walls and the gates are still visible: you can follow the entire circle of the walls starting from Porta Sant'Agostino (the city's main entrance) while gardens and avenues give an overall view over the modern part of the city, 'lower Bergamo'. The narrow streets inside the historical center wind around the beautiful buildings: the central Piazza Vecchia is overlooked by the Cathedral, the Palazzo della Ragione and the City Library. The quaint city is studded with numerous architectural gems. The historical center is also open at night with a number of restaurants and bars in the pedestrian streets.