Bergamo is a large town in the Lombardy countryside, just south of The Alps. The town owes much of its artistic inspiration and architectural splendour to the influence of Venice, which ruled the town from the 15th to the 18th century.
Bergamo is split into two sections; a lower town and upper town that are connected by a funicular railway. The 'Città Alta' (upper town), is full of Renaissance buildings and is encircled by 17th century walls. The highlight of the upper town is the Piazza Vecchia, which contains one of the most appealing architectural ensembles in the region.