Bergamo. Founded by the Celts in the Roman period. Its urban structure is divided into two levels: the civitas on the hill and the suburbia on the plain below. From the Longobards to the Franks, from Free City State to a possession of Milan, from the Serenissima to the Austrians, its whole history can be read by walking around it. The Città Alta (Upper Town) surrounded by the sixteenth century walls, is a medieval village where, following the narrow, paved streets, we come across incomparable monuments: Piazza Vecchia with the Palazzo della Ragione, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Cathedral, the Colleoni Chapel, the military fortress of the Rocca, the many palaces belonging to the aristocracy, small squares and churches rich in art treasures, fountains and convents. Or you can walk in the shade of the chestnut trees along the perimeter of the Venetian walls, or walk along the paths on the hills through woods and terraces of orchards and meadows, to come to the former Astino or Valmarina monastery, or again, take the funicular to go up to the Castello di San Vigilio where, among the remains of the last Venetian rebuilding, you can enjoy a wonderful view over the city, mountains and plain. From Città Alta you can go down to Città Bassa (the Lower Town) by descending one of the main flights of steps, from Porta Sant'Agostino in just a few minutes you come to the Accademia Carrara, home of the Picture Gallery and the Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, going on to the church of S.Alessandro della Croce or you can see Lotto’s altar-piece in the church of S.Bernardino. You can lose yourself in one of the historical suburbia or follow the “Sentierone" to discover the centre designed by Marcella Piacentini or the church of S.Spirito. The Città bassa extends towards the plain with new residential quarters, shopping zones and services which link with the municipalities of the province and other towns: the railway station, motorway, trade fair centre and the Airport of Orio al Serio. The Bergamo area opens up all around, more than 60% is occupied by the valleys. The smaller valleys, but equally rich in natural beauties and scenery, flow into the three main ones, Valle Brembana, Seriana and Imagna. The historical wealth is equally rich: from the Romanesque of the La Rotonda di S. Tomè to the perfectly preserved Industrial Village of Crespi d’Adda, from the medieval village of Cornello dei Tasso to the Liberty of San Pellegrino Terme. And then the lakes: Iseo with the largest lake island in Europe in the middle and the little Endine Lake with its extraordinary natural scenery. And again nature parks along the rivers, towers, rocks, castles and little fortified villages, churches, monasteries and spas, a continuous surprise which answers every question. Without forgetting the pleasures of food, from the great cheeses of the Bergamo tradition with pungent, decisive flavours: Taleggio, Il Formai de Mut, Branzi, Strachì Tunt to wines such as the Moscato di Scanzo and Valcalepio. And then, the ubiquitous "Polenta", in the past considered to be the dish of the poor but now offered in the best restaurants as an accompaniment to the most refined dishes.