So we have reached our final destination – the location form where all the motivation to write this series came from, Bergamo. If you haven’t been able to put two and two together yet, Bergamo has been home to our beloved Atalanta for over 100 years. With a newly renovated Gewiss Stadium, Atalanta’s home is one of the few stadiums in Serie A wholly owned by the club. Renovations and updates can and have come fast and furious without the noisy bureaucratic red-tape that clubs that don’t own their own stadium aren’t afforded. While Gewiss Stadium may have a Starbucks and Burger King (ugh), the newly stadium can now hold close to 24k spectators and an additional 6,000 meters have commercial space. These additions make Gewiss a much more modern looking stadium. No classic track encompassing the playing field, and a much more European feel that should bode well for Atalanta as it finally looks to host fans in its own stadium during the Champion’s League.
The smaller capacity of Gewiss stadium actually does the stadium a service. Bergamo is not large, with only over 120k residents in the city proper, making it a supreme challenge to fill a stadium the size of the San Siro, or even Juventus’s new Allianz Arena. A stadium always filled to capacity adds to the atmosphere that the Bergamaschi put on display, and I envision the ultras and fans alike have wild displays ready to usher in the new season. With the new schedule released several weeks ago, Roma right before Christmas time is the match highest on my radar – and of course whoever Atalanta matches in the final matches of the final round of the group stages. Ultimately I don’t care who the adversary is, getting to Gewiss is sufficient and just being in the stadium that embodies our fandom. Watching Duvan or Malinovskyi blasting a goal from inside the box, or seeing Cuti make a crunching tackle to stymie an attack is worth the price of admission, regardless of the opponent.
What To Do in Bergamo?
Being within spitting distance from Milan, the famous Monza F1 Track, and Lake Como it feels easy to leave Bergamo to explore elsewhere. But put your brakes on! Bergamo and the surrounding province has so much in store for any type of traveler. Shopping, while not my area of expertise, is definitely on the menu – all at the Atalanta Team Store on the Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII. Why not take advantage to load up on Atalanta memorabilia at a cheaper price than the online store, and not have to pay the 20 euro international shipping charges?
For the architecture lover, the city is filled with fantastic buildings and churches that embody Italy’s renowned style. From La Citta Alta, the Palazzo della Ragione, to a slew of churches – including the Basalica Santa Maria Maggiore – Bergamo has done an excellent job maintaining its historical roots in a province that is always on the forefront of modernity.
And of course, a trip to Bergamo would not be complete without a trip to one of the most legendary water companies in the world. San Pellegrino in Terme, just north of Bergamo, has been supplying the world with the freshest and most iconic sparkling water for over a century. I cannot find if there is a tour available at the factory, but just being in the region is worth it to soak in the pristine waters of the area. Beyond the sparkling water, hot springs are another huge draw to Bergamo, including the high class QC Terma, the perfect place to get away for a little R&R.
Where To Eat?
Bergamo has a good and growing culinary scene, including two restaurants lucky enough to receive a Michelin star. But on this trip, the first option has to be the restaurant of one of Bergamo’s honorary citizens. Yes, Papu Gomez has a restaurant in Bergamo – as he looks to bring the cuisine of his native Argentina to Italy’s north. Argentinians may know how to grill steak better than anyone else in the world, and I am quite keen to see how successful Italian beef tastes with a bit of Argentine flair. Boedo looks to have a delectable menu with a variety of steak types to fill any appetite. The tomahawk steak at 1.2kg would be perfect, but at over two pounds of meat and bone, you gotta share that with someone else.
Where To Stay?
Bergamo is home to a variety of chic and rusty hotel alike, but nothing brings modern and historical together like the Gombit Hotel. Built inside the historic Gombit Tower, the hotel may be a bit pricy but it is at a perfect location right inside the heart of the Citta Alta. The hotel is in walking distance to a multitude of museums, churches, and historical sites. Apparently housed with an extremely helpful staff, the Gombit looks to make it guests feel at home while on the road – count me in!
Spanning 1,800 kilometers and three countries, the Atalanta and Friends travel series would be a legendary journey that I hope you can draw some inspiration from. If I ever have the time and the cash to embark on such an epic journey, I would not hesitate for a second. Watching football in some classic stadiums, plus experiencing four unique cultures is only offered by the close proximity of European nations. Frankfurt to Innsbruck to Terni to Bergamo, not everyday that someone would choose this path, but for the Atalantini among us, what could be a better trip? Perhaps a full month in northern Italy and Bergamo, but we have to give our friends some love too. I hope you all enjoyed this series, and one day perhaps get the opportunity to visit at least a subset of this trip with some of you in the near future. Thanks for reading and dreaming with me, and as always Forza Dea!!!
