Living in Bergamo feels a bit like stepping into a quieter, more low‑key cousin of Milan that happens to have a medieval hilltop town attached. You have the UNESCO‑listed old town sitting on its hill, the modern city spread out below, and the Alps rising in the distance.
It is about 50 km north‑east of Milan, with a big international airport and solid train links that pull in commuters, students and a slow but steady stream of expats.