“With the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, we experienced an extraordinary season of emergency, whose violence and rapidity are crystallized in the images of those dramatic days, which moved the world. The nomination of Bergamo and Brescia as the Italian Capital of Culture 2023 aspires to restore a possible meaning to the tragic pandemic experience and its mourners, and is committed to gathering the energies of an extraordinary territory to compose a future-oriented and revitalized design, in which cultural action acts as a catalyst for innovations and visions in the most diverse spheres of coexistence. It is essential that the projects and initiatives take place within a framework of security, to which we will work immediately for the peaceful conduct of the extraordinary initiatives that will involve our territory”
Prefect Ricci
The Italian Capital of Culture 2023 will take shape in a programme of more than 100 major projects, 500 initiatives and events that will be realised over the course of the year thanks to the initiative of many realities in the Bergamo and Brescia area that have networked and planned together: foundations, associations, cooperatives, social enterprises, public bodies, companies, universities.
Underlying this is a strong idea of culture as a social but also economic regenerative force. The realisation of the project is thanks to the important work of the network – the key word of this initiative – to give space to work and synergy between territories, seeking a new model of governance between associations and public and private bodies, through a true collective effort, which grew from the bottom up and generated a project that converged in the 4 areas that characterise the Bergamo and Brescia 2023 project.
Values such as social inclusion and collaboration between two territories that have never done so before are combined with the ambition of an important role as cultural producers, a high-profile production that can have a national and international echo’.
Sustainability, care and innovation become a valuable part of the many initiatives underway. In fact, routes have been set up between Bergamo and Brescia for new models of sustainable tourism and for the enhancement of the historical and artistic heritage, including a pedestrian route – the ‘Via delle due sorelle’ – and a 75 km cycle route that will connect the Unesco routes in the two cities, 800 heritage sites of historical and cultural interest, 3 regional parks and countless beauties of the food and wine culture of our territories.
The calendar of events will kick off with a grand opening ceremony on 20, 21 and 22 January 2023 in the two cities.
What to see in Brescia and Bergamo?
There is room for everything: art, culture, landscapes, food and wine. In the meantime, you can start with an unmissable viewpoint.
Brescia Castle
The Brescia Castle is open daily and houses the Luigi Marzoli Weapons Museum and two model railways. Climb to the top and get ready to admire the city from every angle: from Monte Maddalena to the south/west area, from the dome of the Duomo to the modern skyscrapers of Brescia Due, and even to the hinterland villages. A panoramic view that rivals that of its Bergamo cousins in the Upper City.
The perfect moment to savour the sunset and contemplate the beauty of autumn colours, end your walk to the Castle at one of the two bars located just outside the walls and crown the romantic moment with a glass of Franciacorta, one of the finest local wines in Italy.
And if you love to immerse yourself in the magic of autumn parks, don’t miss a visit to Ducos Park!
BERGAMO UPTOWN
The built-up area of Bergamo is divided into two distinct parts, the ‘Lower Town‘ and the ‘Upper Town‘; the latter is situated at a higher altitude and hosts most of the most significant monuments, while the Lower Town – although it too is of ancient origin and retains its historical nuclei – has been made partly more modern by some urbanisation.
Both sister cities deserve to be discovered at least once in a lifetime, all the more so on a unique occasion such as this because there is so much more to discover.
So, if you are curious and want to discover these two wonderful cities, contact us and we will do it for you. In every detail.