Even as you approach Bergamo and first see it from a distance, you can already sense that you’re in for something special. The name Bergamo – or Bèrghem as the locals call it in their dialect – comes from the name of the Celtic mountain god Bergimus, and your first impression is that of its upper part, a fine Italian hilltop walled town set against the mountains and looking out over the Po Valley.

And when you do finally enter the city you quickly see that Bergamo also has a wealth of cultural and artistic treasures to offer – its Piazza Vecchia is said to be one of the most beautiful squares in Europe – as well as beautiful green spaces, such as the Orto Botanico “Lorenzo Rota”, open daily during the warmer months.