Lombardy itinerary
Bergamo Alta
Le mura venete

Bergamo Alta: Le mura venete - (Venetian Walls)

The “ Upper Town” walls, that existed since the Roman Age, documented in VIII, were re-built during the medieval period and they were re-managed and modified more and more times. There are some traces that today are still visible in via Vagine, below the convent of S. Grata and on the left of the walls avenue, at the west side of the funicular line (ex via degli Anditi). At the beginning of the sixteenth century, the walls were in extremely terrible conditions. In 1556, the Venetian Republic, that has been holding the politic and territorial power of Bergamo for more than one century, decided to proceed with the whole reconstruction of the fortification town walls.

The political aim of the Venetians was to enforce the border of their territory of which Bergamo constituted the western extremity and the closest stronghold of the enemies of the Spain Emperor as well.

Engaged against the Turkish on the opposite front, Venice showed by this way the intention to not expand its power in the Lombardy. The “Serenissima” decided to realize a bastioned stone fortification, since it had abandoned a first project of a partial reconstruction and re-management of the medieval walls, for which also Orologi and Malacrida were consultants and that caused moreover the achievement of the S. Marco Forte and five new bastions in 1561.

In order to erect the town walls, more that 250 single building were demolished and some areas of the Upper Town were transformed from their natural aspect. The demolitions were necessary to save the building expenses, to shorten the time of realization and, in some cases, for the lack of alternative possible solutions. Thus, many important works and historical monuments got lost, such as the palaeo-Christian Cathedral of S. Alessandro, 80 houses in Borgo Canale, S. Lorenzo churches with 59 houses of the homonym village, S. Giacomo , S. Pietro, S. Stefano with the monastery (transferred in 1571 in the present S. Bartolomeo monastery in the Lower Town), SS. Barnaba and Lorenzino  in the neighbourhood of S. Giacomo Gate and the sewage dated back to the Roman Age.

In 1574, Bergamo houses were 445; they corresponded to a half of the ones that existed before the building of the walls which perimeter was completed in 1588 under the guidance of the General Sforza Pallavicino.  The walls, that constituted one of the most significant fortresses realized by Venice on dry land, were never used for military actions even if the result, as concerns the defensive conception, led the way for that time.

At the beginning of the last century the walls were demilitarized and round them was realized the inner boulevard, shaded by horse-chestnut trees and plane-trees; the embankments were abolished and the green areas that overlooked the terraces and the bulwark were reduced. Underneath the walls, agriculture and horticultural activities, that already existed, were consolidated. Also nowadays, they give to the surroundings a landscape beauty that is unique. The walls, that now are partially a communal property and partially public land, were totally polished and in some parts restored in 1976 thanks to the initiative of the Azienda Autonoma di Soggiorno (Tourist Office) and for some parts also in 1984. The excursions in the basement and in the embrasure of the walls are possible only upon booking, with the accompaniment of the experts of the speleological group “Le Nottole” (tel.035 251 233).

The Venetian Walls Gates (XVI)

“Observing the sections of the gates is easy to determine how they were designed to carry out two main tasks: at the first floor passages and the guardians for the traffic control, the collection of the duties and the urban vigilance; above the openings, towards the outside there were placed mechanisms for the portcullis and the drawbridge. These gates accomplished a third function: they had to be a symbol of security and proud for the citizens; a source of admiration, respect and reprimand for the foreign people”. (G.Della Chiesa).

“The usage of building the most decorated facade of the urban gates towards the outside, it is emphasized here by the topographical position and it shows the double function of the walls as well; that means to be a closure and a defence but also a balcony, a place for the parades”. (V.Zanella)

Bergamo Alta: Information. How to reach the upper town:

from Piazzale Marconi (Train/Coach/Bus Station) and from Porta Nuova
autobus 1 + funicular
autobus 1 Colle Aperto
by car following these directions: V.le Papa Giovanni XXIII -
V.le V. Emanuele - Porta S. Agostino - Viale delle mura - Colle aperto

Text and Photos © courtesy of Provincia di Bergamo – Settore cultura, sport e turismo

Bergamo Alta: Piazza Vecchia | Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore | La Cappella Colleoni
Bergamo accommodations | Getting in and around

© 1997-2010 Enrico Massetti
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