This article covers Bergamo, Brescia, Mantua, Sabbioneta, Crespi d’Adda, and Sirmione in the Italian region of Lombardy (Lombardia), all of which can be explored on intraday tips from Milan, while each can support a more in-depth exploration. Lake Como enjoys its own separate article.
Bergamo
The very likable Bergamo consists of two fairly distinct parts. While there are some interesting features in the lower part, most visitors proceed directly to the Upper Town up on the cliffs. Both parts are included on a tentative submission to become a World Heritage site, although the walls of the Upper Town are already part of the existing serial site called Venetian Fortifications. Porta San Giacomo is as good a place as any to check out the fortifications and the vistas over the lower town.
Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore ♥ is one of the main attractions in Bergamo – opulently rich, almost excessively so, and fascinating to explore. Adjoining Capella Colleone features a very ornate exterior with a comparatively muted interior. (No photos are allowed inside the chapel). By comparison, the nearby Duomo is practically understated, while rather elegantly decorated, light, and bright.
Campanone on the main square of the old town offers great views in all directions. The ascent to the second from the top platform is by elevator. Bells hang right above the visitors’ heads on the top platform and do their thing at appropriate times – plan your visit accordingly. The tower ticket is combined with access to Palazzo de Podesta which has a very interesting interactive museum focused on the 16th-century Venetian impact on Bergamo. There is English text on the stands in all rooms but the exhibits themselves are marked only in Italian, which dulls the effect for non-speakers.
A number of other points of interest are worthy of consideration to explore, among them Rocca, Museo della Citta, and Museo Donizetti. Churches always merit a quick look when accessible; for instance, the “borough” church of San Pancrazio turned out much bigger and richer than could have been expected from viewing its exterior.
If you happen to visit Bergamo during the winter festive season, leave some time for the lower city, which is where all of the Christmas markets are.
Dining
One place worthy of a recommendation is Trattoria da Ornella (on the same small piazzetta as San Pancrazio), which offers great local cooking and a very nice atmosphere among mostly Italian-speaking clientele despite being on the major tourist walking route in town.
A special mention got to Tasso (across the square from Palazzo Podesta): the logo on the napkins has a “da 1476” marker, which is impressive on its own, and even before noon, an order of prosecco was accompanied by a nice selection of cicchetti.
Brescia
The second largest town in Lombardy, Brescia offers another pleasant historic core. Several impressive squares, most importantly Piazza della Loggia and Piazza Duomo, are worth exploring.. The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is just ok, but the adjacent Duomo Vecchio – the circular Romanesque church that descends down from the street level – is quite amazing. Also worth looking in is Santa Maria della Caritá.
The “UNESCO Corridor” of Brescia, along Via dei Musei, starts with Parco Archeologico di Brixia Romana, headlined by the impressive remains of a Republican Temple and Capitolium (limited escorted access is available to the preserved parts not seen from the street level). There is also much less impressive Roman Theater. The largest piece of the historic cluster is the Museo di Santa Giulia, which combines archaeology with the history of Longobards (the basis for the UNESCO inscription), and allows access to two amazingly painted churches, San Salvatore and Santa Monica. The museum is easily worth two-three hours on its own.
Dining
One place worthy of a mention is Bruschetta Hub on Piazza Duomo, which offers various takes on bruschetta (in sets of five) with a full view of the main edifices on the square.
Mantua
Mantua – or Mantova in Italian – is recognized on the UNESCO World Heritage list as an example of Renaissance town planning. This one is more of an intraday-fitting destination, although as with any other lovely place in Italy, you can probably find things to do to stay overnight.
A couple of major squares, Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza Sordello, host a number of interesting architectural monuments. The former is more commercial. The latter is significantly larger and formal-looking and is home to some of the main points of interest in town. Duomo is traditionally decorated and impresses with the unique details of every chapel. Ducal Palace is worth a visit as well, with two dozen increasingly impressive spaces comprising the tour. There is not much furniture but magnificent ceilings and wall frescoes and decorations. An audio guide is hardly necessary since all rooms are well-signposted in English. The same entry ticket also allows access to nearby Castello di San Giorgio with one splendid staircase and a room full of Andrea Mantegna’s frescoes (Camera degli Sposi) open for viewing.
Other significant attractions in Mantua include Palazzo Te and Basilica di Sant’Andrea.
Sabbioneta
The town of Sabbioneta is linked with Mantua on the same World Heritage entry as another example of Renaissance town planning. Our less than hour-long stop there failed to significantly impress us. A planned grid of streets with some nice buildings comprises the town core. Pleasantly-looking main square is home to not exactly exceptionally looking Ducal Palace and a church. All potential points of interest, including churches, were closed on Saturday, so we could not form any opinions about their interiors.
Crespi d’Adda
Crespi d’Adda is a separate World Heritage property. Built as a “company town” for the textile factory in its heart, it is now a living city with just occasional tourists. The close-to-uniform colorful houses are pleasing to the eye, and there are several standout buildings, such as the town church, the castle-like Manor House, and the factory itself. A enjoyable riverside path leads to the nearby electric station.
Sirmione
Occupying a narrow peninsula that juts into the Lake Garda, Sirmione is a very picturesque resort town, headlined by the imposing Castello Scaligero. The village is well commercialized, but still offers dozens of picture-worth corners, as well as lake views on both sides of the peninsula. The main church of Santa Maria Maggiore is worth a look, and there is also quite amazing tiny Chiesetta di Sant’Anna della Rocca by the castle.