Entertainment In Bergamo

Theatre, concerts and opera programmes are among the cultural offerings in Bergamo. Depending on the time of year, you may encounter street entertainment in the form of puppet shows and other performances, dancing, music, Carnival parades and processions.

From the spring through to the autumn you can spend an enjoyable evening in the romantic Piazza Vecchia in the centre of the Upper Town (Citt Alta), where you can relax in the surroundings of medieval and Renaissance architecture in the company of locals. There are a selection of bars and cafs where you can enjoy a glass of wine, a cup of coffee or an al fresco dinner.

Eating out

Throughout the city, there are restaurants for every taste and in every price range. Northern Italian cuisine predominates, but Bergamo is also known as the perfect place to enjoy traditional country food, and the choice of restaurants in the Upper Town (Citt Alta) demonstrates this.

Local cuisine

As for local fare, Bergamo is renowned for Italys best polenta, wines from Franciacorta and Lake Iseo, and Taleggio cheese. Specialities that youll find in local restaurants include polenta taragna, which is prepared with butter and cheese; and casconcelli, which consists of ravioli stuffed with sausage and sage. Many restaurants also feature local mushrooms, berries, herbs and lake fish.

Pastries and various sweet delicacies, including ice cream, are also specialties of the town.

Theatre and music

As Bergamo is the birthplace of the composer Gaetano Donizetti, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy his music and have a glimpse of his life. The Teatro
Donizetti features performances of his music and that of his contemporaries, and the Donizetti Musical Institute houses a museum dedicated to his life and work.

Both the Benvenuto Terzi Guitar Association and Society for Ancient Music are located in Bergamo and an annual jazz festival is held in the nearby town of Clusone.

Shopping

Bergamo is a haven for designer shopping, as it not far from Milan, one of the fashion capital's of the world. Traditional handicrafts can be purchased in the Upper Town. Via XX Settembre and Orio Centre (Centro Commerciale) are two of the best places to shop.

The Orio Centre has more than 200 shops, bars, restaurants and markets, and is considered the largest shopping centre in Italy. There are nursery and play areas for children, ample underground parking and surprising views of Citt Alta and the Orio al Serio Airport. From Bergamo, you can take a bus here, or if youre driving, follow the directions to the airport and turn off just after the airport exit.