[By Caroline Vann Jones - First published in ForgePress 21 November 2008]
Milan may be the fashion capital of Europe but unless you plan to spend the majority of your holiday in Chanel or Gucci, this city doesn’t have a huge amount else to offer.
Admittedly the intricately decorated cathedral, better known as the Duomo, is stunning and the views from its rooftop are incredible, but I couldn’t help wanting more from a destination that is supposedly the pride of Italy. Once the shops had been trawled and the only strip of bars exhausted, it seemed like time to move on.
My search for a real Italian experience led me to Bergamo, a small town around 40 kilometres from Milan itself. The cobbled streets and ancient buildings make this place seem quaint, but at the same time it benefits from a lively town centre.
Built on a hillside, it has a unique position and amazing scenery. The steep walk to the summit is pretty tough but it is definitely worth it, with plenty of restaurants and delicatessens around to provide respite along the way. From the peak, you have to descend down a network of streets flanked by one-off boutiques and gift shops. Several hours can be easily passed in all these different shops and, unlike Milan, Bergamo is actually affordable for the average tourist so browsing isn’t dangerous.
There are plenty of youth hostels and hotels on offer and transport links to major cities are frequent and reliable. The airport is just minutes away from the centre, with budget airlines scheduling regular flights out here daily so if you’re thinking of a weekend away, you can’t go far wrong with Milano Bergamo.
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