"The function of a museum should be not to show us things, but to allow us to see ourselves through things, to measure ourselves in relation to the objects on display." - J.M.G. Le Clézio, French writer
Visit Bergamo - The term museum originates from ancient Greek mythological figures: nine were in fact the Muses daughters of Mnemosyne, goddess of memory, and Zeus, father of the gods and god of wisdom. They were considered protectors of all the arts and were said to be called to the banquets of the gods and heroes to enliven them with dances and musical performances. As daughters of Mnemosyne and Zeus, they also preserved the human ability to learn, know and remember.
Visit Bergamo: the most important museums in Bergamo
L'ICOM, the international association founded in 1948 to protect and enhance the world's cultural heritage, explains the meaning of museum reality.The museum is "an environment capable of acquiring, preserving, sharing and exhibiting the records of humanity for the purposes of study, education and enjoyment." The purpose of this institution is therefore discover or rediscover a taste for learning and understand how the world, history and human civilisation works.
Over the years, Bergamo has always sought to offer visitors educational services and recreational facilities. The aim is to help people educate themselves in a playful and engaging way. Today we decided to write an article on 'Visiting Bergamo' and draw up a list of the most important museums in Bergamo. These buildings not only remind us of the local culture, but allow us to appreciate the beauty of art, science, technology and music. We begin our tour from the beating heart of the Upper Town: Piazza Vecchia!
Visiting Bergamo - Attractions in the Upper Town
Among the most beautiful attractions in the Upper Town is the Civic Tower called by all the Bell. Located at Piazza Vecchia 8, the bell tower is open every day except Monday and can be visited free of charge. The Civic Tower has been the scene of countless festive stories, with its ritual bells celebrating visiting sovereigns. Even today, the bells of the Upper Town mark the striking of the hour and the famous 10 p.m. chimes remind us of the ancient closure of the village gates. Also in this area, but at 13 Via Gombito, we find the famous Gombito Tower with its panoramic terrace offering a wide view of the lanes. We would like to point out that we only accept visits (free of charge) by appointment by calling 035 242 226.
Archaeological Museums in the Upper Town
Moving towards Piazza Cittadella 9, we encounter the Archaeological Museum in which Celtic, Roman and Longobard remains found in Bergamo and its province can be admired. Stone weapons, decorative ornaments, tombstones, sculptures and mosaics of exquisite workmanship: all this and much more awaits you inside the museum rooms.
Heading towards Piazza Duomo, we can make a stop at the Cathedral Museum and Treasuryopen every day except Monday. Through this museum, the Diocese of Bergamo is committed to making the history of its church known. A guided tour illustrates the complex excavation campaign that took place between 2004 and 2012 and the events surrounding the Cathedral and the life of Saint Vincent. This is also thanks to the display of sacred objects and the reconstruction of significant episodes.
Art Museums in the Lower Town
The Art Museum GAMeC at Via San Tomaso 53 in Lower Bergamo, open every day except Monday, offers various works by world-famous international artists as well as projects produced by local artists. GAMeC's repertoire includes:
- the Spajani Collection, consisting of around forty masterpieces of modern art (including works by Balla, Boccioni, de Chirico, Kandinsky, Morandi)
- the Manzù Collection, donated by the sculptor to the city of Bergamo (sculptures, paintings, drawings and engravings)
Via Pignolo 76 hosts instead the Adriano Bernareggi Museum where one can observe marvellous pictorial and sculptural decorations from the 16th century, located in the palace owned by the ancient Cassotti family.
Monothematic Museums in Bergamo
For music lovers, a stop at Via Arena 9 is a must. Here we can find the famous Donizettiano Museum dedicated to the musician from Bergamo Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848). Inaugurated in 1906, the museum houses a unique collection of memorabilia owned by Baroness Giovanna Ginevra Rota Basoni Scotti. In addition, this museum houses various testimonies to the life and artistic activity of the musician.
If you move back to via Borgo Canale 14, you can retrace the main stages of the artist's life by visiting his Christmas Houseopen on Saturdays and Sundays, and during the week by appointment only. For further information, please call 035 52 96 711.
Nature museums in the Upper Town
E. Caffi' Natural Science Museum in Bergamo
The 'E.Caffi' Natural Science Museum located in Piazza Cittadella 10, also in the Upper Town, offers various collections dedicated to a varied publication: typical specimens of Bergamo fauna, archaeological finds discovered in our territory, and palaeontological evidence from the Orobie area. To learn more about rates and opening hours, please visit the website: Bergamo Science Museum
For nature lovers, we suggest a visit to theLorenzo Rota' Botanical Gardenlocated at the base of the Open Hill Steps. In 2014, this museum attracted an impressive 20,155 visitors. Away from the noise and city traffic, the garden is an ideal space to relax and deepen one's knowledge of botany. Here you can discover the cataloguing of plants, thanks also to the use of tactile panels designed for the blind and visually impaired. In addition, the Botanical Garden of Upper Town manages several collaborations with schools in Bergamo and its province; during the year it supports various projects for research, protection and sharing of botanical knowledge.
History Museums in the Upper Town
Certainly, some of the most fascinating traces of Bergamo's history can be found in theformerly–convent of St Francis, in Piazza Mercato del Fieno 6/A in the Upper Town. Built between the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 16th century, the building is a remarkable example of medieval convent architecture.
Piazza Vecchia instead hosts the innovative Historical Museum of the Venetian Era - the '500 Interactive, a project that aims to recount Venetian domination over the Lombard territories through a multimedia narrative, thus remixing the traditional division between past and present, antiquity and modernity.
Finally, Piazzale Brigata Legnano encloses the ancient fortress, with the Bergamo Museum of Stories. The aim of this initiative is to provide a global vision of the period 1797-1870 using different languages and testimonies. Through environmental reconstructions, multimedia panels and audio recordings, and testimonies from both museum and private collections, the route offers the possibility of discovering the city's past.
If, after reading the article 'Visiting Bergamo', you would like more information on prices, events and timetables of the Bergamo's main museums, we advise you to consult the VisitBergamo page: Museums in the province of Bergamo
