A view of Bergamo from the top of City Hall Tower.
Photograph by Getty Images
Most Italian hilltop towns are hard-won, accessible only for those up to navigating long, winding mountain roads. Not so Bergamo. This vibrant city has all the charm of a remote Tuscan town, but is just 15 minutes’ drive from its own international airport. Despite Ryanair putting Bergamo on the radar when it landed at the then tiny airport in 2004, this is still an unsung destination. Often used as a jumping off point for skiers bound for Lombardy’s eight mountain resorts, or as gateway to the region’s lakes and vineyards, Bergamo also draws fashion-focused travellers who fly in, hit the Oriocenter mega mall (Italy’s largest, adjacent to the airport), or dash to one of Milan’s design emporiums, then fly straight out. All of which makes Bergamo’s beautiful medieval hilltops even more of an exclusive joy.