Bergamo clings like a limpet to the rising foothills of the Italian Alps, right where the plains of the Po Valley bubble up to begin the highlands of Lombardy. This setting is just the start though, because history and heritage ooze from every cracked stone and crooked tower of the great Citta Alta – the Bergamo old town. This is where the Renaissance loggias of the Piazza Vecchia (eulogized by Italian poets as one of the most beautiful squares in all of Europe) can be found, surrounded by babbling fountains and shady streets of winding cobblestone. From there, it's possible to go both up and down; by both foot and funicular. Down takes you to the new town and its shopping strips, cool coffee joints and the train station. Up reveals the beautiful panoramic village of San Vigilio, where a ruined castle mixes with a couple of homey trattorias. Here’s a warning though; Bergamo tour guides are liable to ply you with local Prosecco, push the legs to the limit with walking tours of medieval basilicas, and even crank up the wanderlust with the promise of trips to shimmering Alpine lakes- Iseo; Endine; Como; Garda – they're all on the menu.