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The Palazzo del Podestà is an important Medieval building in Bergamo. It’s located on Piazza Vecchia, a historic square in the Upper Town (Città Alta) section of the city, and can also be seen from Piazza del Duomo.
History
Originally built in the 12th century as a residence for the Suardi family, the palace later became a municipal building and was expanded during Venetian rule. The building also features the Campanone (bell tower), which can be climbed to the top for excellent views of the city. Visit the official website for more info.
Museum
Today, the building houses the Renaissance Museum (Museo del Cinquecento), which is one of a series of city museums. This museum tells the story of the Renaissance and Venetian rule in Bergamo with fantastic multimedia displays and interactive exhibits. Adult admission is €7 (as of July 2024) and tickets include a visit to the Campanone. The museum is open daily except Mondays.
The first exhibit in the museum is a look at the Roman foundations that were found underneath the building. It continues with a look at original Renaissance frescoes that adorned the inner court of the Palazzo del Podestà.
Finally, visitors get to journey back in time to learn about the noble families, merchants, and leaders of Venice. They also get to see how the UNESCO World Heritage listed Venetian walls of Bergamo were built. The only problem with the museum is it’s almost completely in Italian.
Campanone
While the museum was interesting, the main reason we visited was to go to the top of the Campanone. This bell tower stands 52 meters high and is still in use. It also has a clock on one side.
Once you reach the viewing platform, you’ll be able to see the bells. There are also interpretive panels pointing out important landmarks that are in view.
Nearby, we were able to spot Piazza Vecchia, Piazza del Duomo, the Bergamo Cathedral, and Santa Maria Maggiore. We could also see the hill of San Vigilio and Gombito Tower, which was built in 1200.
Further away, it’s possible to see the surrounding settlements. On a clear day, you can see the skyline of Milan and the snow-capped Alps in the distance.
