From the train station walk down Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII (Pope John XXIII) to the Porta Nuova (8mins).

The first thing you will see of the Porta Nuova are a pair of colonnaded, neoclassical buildings dating from the 1830s. These were old customs houses by the city gate into the lower town of Bergamo.

Carry on straight down the via Roma to the Bergamo funicula (11 mins).

Take the most impressive means of transport into the old city. The Lower Funicular has been connecting the centre of Bergamo with the Upper Town (“Città Alta”) for more than 120 years, more precisely with Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe, where many business activities used to be carried out. The square (whose name means “shoes market square”) was used as a shoes market since 1430, while the building overlooking the square used to be the headquarter of the shoemakers’ guild and it currently hosts the funicular station.

From the Stazione superiore funicolare (Funicular upper station), you come out into the Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe. Go directly opposite and up the Via Alla Rocca, following it to the right.

Head back to Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe. Go directly opposite and walk up Via Gombito for about 1 minutes and you will reach the tourist office and Torre di Gombito.

You used to be able to climb the 263 steps to the top of the 12th-century Gombito Tower, this is not possible for the foreseeable future.

Carry on up the Via Gombito to reach Piazza Vecchia.

Piazza Vecchia the core of Città Alta. As you enter it on your left is the Palazzo Nuovo or New Palace, which served as Bergamo’s Town Hall until 1873. Today it is the seat of the Angelo Mai Library. Its incredible collection includes ancient and precious books: incunabula, books from the 1500s, engravings, manuscripts and other inestimable artefacts making it one of the most outstanding libraries in Italy. Directly opposite this is the Palazzo della Ragione, the oldest municipal seat in Lombardy. In the northwest side of Piazza Vecchia, the fresco-dappled Palazzo del Podestà was traditionally home to Venice’s representative in Bergamo. Today, the medieval building houses a small imaginative museum with audiovisual and interactive displays that tell the story of Bergamo’s Venetian age. Admission also includes access to the Torre del Campanone, with superb views over Bergamo.

Walk directly behind the Palazzo della Ragione to reach the Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square).

On your right you will see the octagonal Battistero di Bergamo, directly in front of you the Cappella Colleoni a 15th-century funerary chapel with its coloured marble exterior & frescoed ceiling inside. To the left and behind the Cappella Colleoni is the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore built in 1137  and to its right with its  neo-classical facade the Cathedral of Sant’Alessandro, built in 1459.

Head back to the Piazza Vecchia and leave by the north west alley into Via Bartolomeo Colleoni. As you come out into the open in front of you is the impressive Cittadella

Head diagonally across the Piazza della Cittadella and through the arch. With the views on your left walk 50 meters and you will see some brown signs pointing to the left towards the Funicular San Vigilio and the Castello San Vigilio. You need to pass through Porta Sant’Alessandro to be back within the city walls. Catch the Funicolare S. Vigilio to the top of the hill.

Parco Del Castello Di San Vigilio is clearly visible symbol of power, the Castle of San Vigilio has for centuries been the residence Bergamo rulers for centuries. It is located 496 meters above the sea level, on top of the hill that gives it its name, overlooking the Città Alta: that’s why it used to have a strategic role in case of attacks.

Head back down the funicular and through the Porta Sant’Alessandro. bear left and walk down the Viale delle Mura. The Cittadella is the first lage building bloack on your right, the second being the Episcopal Seminary Giovanni XXIII. As the road turns sharply to the left you come to the Parco di San Giovanni or Park of St John.
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Follow the wall of the city around until you come to the Porta San Giacomo.

from here either take the Via S. Giacomo to the funicular, which yo catch to get to the bottom, or walk down the ramp and head left to catch the bus back to the station.