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ITALY TRAVEL, HOTEL, HOLIDAY & ACCOMMODATION GUIDE
HOTELS IN BERGAMO, LOMBARDY

Bergamo at Dusk, Lombardy, Italy, Europe
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Bergamo Featured Hotels

Lake Como Featured Self-Catering

Lombardy Self-Catering Accommodation

Touring Italy's Lombardy Region

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I Love Touring Italy - Bergamo and Lake Como   by Levi Reiss

Bergamo Featured Hotels  /  Lake Como Featured Self-Catering

If you are hankering for a European vacation, why don't you consider the city of Bergamo and Lake Como in the Lombardy region of northern Italy? Depending on your particular interests, this beautiful area might be an ideal vacation spot. You can savor classic Italian food, and wash it down with fine local wine. It is hardly undiscovered, but that shouldn't stop you from going. With a little effort you should be able to find some relatively untouched spots. Be sure to read the companion articles in this series that present Milan, small town Lombardy outside of its capital Milan, and the Lake Garda district with its interesting political past.

We start our Lombardy tour at Bergamo east of the capital Milan. Then we head northeast to the shores of Lake Como and tour the lake in a counterclockwise direction exploring Bellagio, Villa Melzi, and Como at the southern tip of the lake and then head back up north stopping at the island of Isola Comacina, and then finishing our tour at Tremezzo with its centerpiece Villa Carlotta. For those who want to tour still more of this lovely region head west to Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta. You won't be disappointed.
 
Bergamo, population about 120,000, was founded by the Celts well over two thousand years ago. It is the only city mentioned here that is not on or near a lake, but really that shouldn't stop you from visiting. This medieval city, tucked behind ancient walls, overlooks or perhaps we should say underlooks the Alps. It is divided into two sectors connected by funiculars (cable cars); the older Bergamo Alta (Upper Bergamo) and the modern Bergamo Bassa (Lower Bergamo). Can you guess which Bergamo I prefer?

The large Romanesque Church of Santa Maria Maggiore was started in the Twelfth Century but its construction went on for centuries. The Torre Civica (Bell Tower) was completed near the end of the Fifteenth Century. The church sits right on the Piazza Vecchia (Old Square) in Bergamo Alta. Climb to the top for a great view of the Old City.

Bergamo was the birthplace and home of Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848), composer of some 75 operas including the famous Lucia di Lammermoor, 16 symphonies, and a multitude of other musical works. He is buried in the Santa Maria Maggiore Church. If you like opera visit the Museo Donizettiano (Donizetti Museum.)

Clock Tower Detail in Hilltop Medieval Town, Bergamo, Italy
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The Cathedral of San Vincenzo and Battistero are both situated on Piazza Duomo (Cathedral Square), the old heart of the medieval city and in all likelihood the heart of the Roman city way back when. Their more beautiful neighbor is the Fifteenth Century Renaissance Capella Colleoni (Colleoni Chapel).

Lake Como is a glacial lake shaped like an upside Y. It is about 28 miles (54 kilometers) long and at most 2 miles (3 kilometers) wide making it the third largest lake in Italy. Lake Como is one of the deepest lakes in all Europe.
 
Entrance to Duomo, Bergamo, Italy
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Bellagio, population three thousand, sits at the center of Lake Como's Y. It was a tourist center even in the days of the Romans. The famous composers Liszt and Schubert vacationed here, as did the writers Pliny the Elder (Classical Roman), Longfellow, and Shelley. This town is so special that Las Vegas has honored it with a hotel. I don't need to see both Bellagios to know which one I prefer. Try to get here outside the high season of July and August.

Be sure to see the Villa Serbelloni surrounded by acres and acres of gardens laid out in a multitude of styles. It is now an international conference center for scholars and artists.

Back in 1801-1803 Count Francesco Melzi d'Eril was Vice-President of Napoleon's Italian Republic. Several years later, perhaps to drown his sorrows over the Republic's brevity, he built the Neo-Classical Villa Melzi in the south end of Bellagio right on the lake. Its garden, the only part of the Villa open to the public, is probably the oldest English garden on Lake Como. The garden includes a Japanese pond with waterlilies surrounded by Japanese maples and cedars, Egyptian sculptures, and Roman statues.

Como, population about sixty thousand, is situated at the very southern tip of Lake Como. Can you believe it took Lombardy's capital city Milan almost a decade to defeat little Como way back in the Twelfth Century? Not very long afterwards, Frederick I, the Holy Roman Emperor, destroyed Milan and built several defensive towers ringing Como. Only the Bardadello Tower still remains. Climb up it and get a great view of the entire lake.

Like most Italian cities, Como has a fine series of old churches to tour. Here are some of them: The Duomo (Cathedral) a Fourteenth Century Renaissance-Gothic structure with statues of two of the city's most famous residents, Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger from Classical Roman times; San Fedele, an Eleventh Century Romanesque church with a beautifully carved door; and Sant'Agostino, Fourteenth Century Cistercian church with old frescoes and Baroque decorations.

Italy produces over 90% of Europe's silk and most Italian silk is produced in the Como region. Italian silk is a billion Euro (far exceeding a billion Dollar) industry. Find out more at the Museo Didacttico della Seta (Silk Museum). You can shop for fine silks at many nearby stores and warehouse outlets.

Isola Comacina (Comacina Island) is the only island in Lake Como. Do you remember the wars between Como and Milan? Well at that time the island residents sided with Milan and there was hell to pay. In the words of the then Bishop "No longer shall bells ring, no stone shall be put on stone, nobody shall be host, under pain of unnatural death." At the start of World War I Isola Comacina was given to the King of Belgium who donated it to Italy after the war. It is now home to artists and scholars.
 
Head north to the resort town Tremezzo, population 1300. Its highlight is Villa Carlotta, built during a fifty some year period starting towards the end of the Seventeenth Century. When you see this villa you'll know why it took so long to construct. The grounds are spectacular, for example they include over 150 varieties of azelias and rhododendrons. Its art museum is dedicated to neoclassical art. For a change of pace, visit the Museum of Agricultural Tools located in an ancient greenhouse on the property. While you can't stay at the Villa Carlotta, the Grand Hotel Tremezzo is definitely quite classy.

What about food? In this part of Lombardy the cuisine is divided into three main sectors. The lake cuisine specializes in fish with some local favorites such as dried shad. The area around Tremezzo is known for vegetables such as asparagus. The mountain cuisine is based on polenta, a sort of corn bread often flavored with cheese or cheese, butter, and garlic. 

Other mountain specialties include free-range chickens, kid, and game. The third category is valley cuisine based on cattle and cheese, especially Taleggio and various goat milk cheeses.

Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy, Europe
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Let's suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Fettuccine con Funghi (Fettuccine with Mushrooms.) Then try Agnoni all Comasca (Lake Como Fried Fish with Anchovy Filets). For dessert indulge yourself with Torte Paradiso con Mascarpone (Sponge Cake with Mascarpone Cheese.) Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal.

We conclude with a quick look at Lombardy wine. Lombardy ranks 11th among the 20 Italian regions for both acreage devoted to wine grapes and for total annual wine production. The region produces about 62% red and rosé and 38% white wine, but there is little rosé. There are 15 DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. The G in DOCG stands for Garantita, but there is in fact no guarantee that such wines are truly superior. Over 47% of Lombardy wine carries the DOC or DOCG designation. There are three DOCG wines: the sparkling Franciacorta said to compete with French Champagne and priced accordingly, the red Sforzato di Valtellina, and the red Valtellina Superiore.

Interestingly enough no DOC wines originate in the vicinity of Lake Como, Lake Orta, or Lake Maggiore. However, Bergamo is home to two DOC wines, Valcalepio and Scanzo/Moscato di Scanzo. The Valcalepio DOC is vinified in several styles. The dry red and the dry white come from international grape varieties such as Merlot and Chardonnay. The sweet white wine comes from a local grape and has recently been classified at the Scanzo/Moscato di Scanzo DOC. I have not had the pleasure of tasting either of these wines. I have had the disappointment of tasting the sparkling Franciacorta DOCG wine made not far east of Bergamo.

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About the Author - Levi Reiss has authored alone or with a co-author ten books on computers and the Internet but he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He knows about dieting but now eats and drinks what he wants, in moderation. He teaches various computer classes in an Ontario French-language community college. His new wine, diet, health, and nutrition website http://www.wineinyourdiet.com links to his other sites.

BERGAMO, LOMBARDY FEATURED HOTELS - ITALY


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Art e Hotel Stezzano Bergamo
This modern and sophisticated hotel offers pleasant atmosphere, attentive service and all the comforts that contribute to make your stay in Bergamo an enjoyable one.  Located in a strategic position between Bergamo Dalmine and Milan, the property is situated close to the industrial centre of Stezzano.  The hotel boasts a choice of 84 well-appointed guest rooms that are facilitated with a host of modern amenities.  Guests can start off the day with a delicious breakfast, served at the hotel. The property also offers a cocktail bar, which is a perfect place for you to chill out with a fine drink.
Donizetti Hotel Bergamo
Offering warm welcome and comfortable accommodation, this property is an ideal place for a pleasant stay.  Located just a stones throw away from Milan as well as Garda Lake, the Donizetti Hotel is 3 kilometres from the centre of Bergamo and 4 kilometres from the train station. The Piazza Vecchia, Venetian walls as well as the museums and theatres are the major attractions in Bergamo.  The hotel offers comfortable accommodation units that are facilitated with a host of modern amenities to make your stay a pleasant one.  Guests can relish delicious international cuisine in an elegant setting of the on-site restaurant. The cosy bar is an ideal place to unwind with a fine drink after a busy day.
Maxim Hotel Bergamo
Presenting comfortable accommodation in a cosy, family-like atmosphere, the Maxim Hotel Bergamo is an ideal place to reside for leisure travellers.  The Maxim Hotel is just ten minutes from Bergamo downtown, only about 30 minutes to Milano underground and is also close to Milano Orio al Serio Airport.  The hotel offers spacious rooms that are carefully furnished with every modern convenience for you to have a comfortable and pleasant stay.  The nutritious buffet breakfast served at the hotel makes you start off your day in a wonderful way. Also you can enjoy your favourite drink at the cosy bar.  You can also enjoy your stay at this property by surfing the net or by exploring the splendid city attractions such as Jurassic park, Zoo park Le Cornelle, Golf club, Fantasy World and Farm houses.
Mercure Bergamo Palazzo Dolci
Situated in Bergamo, this family-friendly hotel is near Bergamo Piazza Matteotti. Additional attractions include Carrara Academy Gallery. Mercure Bergamo Palazzo Dolci features a bar/lounge, currency exchange, and an elevator (lift). Wireless Internet access is available in public areas. Additional property amenities include air conditioning in public areas. Bathrooms feature bidets and hair dryers. Guestrooms offer direct-dial phones and in-room safes. Televisions have satellite channels and pay movies. Rooms also include desks, minibars, blackout drapes/curtains, and clock radios. Guests may request irons/ironing boards and wake-up calls. 
Settecento Hotel Presezzo
Offering a wide variety of facilities and services, the Settecento Hotel Presazzo is an ideal place for both business and leisure travellers.  The Settecento Hotel is located just outside Bergamo and near the new highway as well as easily accessible from the city centre, airport and toll highways.  The property offers warmly decorated guestrooms, which provides its guests with modern and comfortable amenities to make your stay a comfortable one.  The on-site restaurant serves delicious cuisine for you to feast on and bar serving variety of drinks in a fine atmosphere for you to enjoy. At leisure, you can visit the nearby attractions and have a bracing dip in the swimming pool.
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