Stroll along the Sentierone

The Sentierone, which means broad path, links the Piazza Vittorio Veneto in the centre of the Città Bassa (lower town) with the Via Torquato Tasso, a road that leads into the oldest quarter where there are 15th and 16th century buildings.
The Piazza Vittoria Veneto is dominated by the Torre dei Caduti (pictured), a tower built as a war memorial in the 1920s and positioned so that it did not spoil the view of the skyline of the Città Alta (upper town).
As you walk along the Sentierone you will see shops and bars behind elegant colonnades on your left and the Teatro Donizetti and a little garden with a memorial to the composer on your right.
The Sentierone was built in the 16th century and used as a site for a fair which was attended by merchants and travellers from all over Italy and Europe. It was also traditionally the place where carriages were parked and horses allowed to take their rest.
The elegant colonnades were built in the 1920s and provide the perfect place to relax with a drink and watch the smartly dressed Bergamaschi go by.

Language point

La passeggiata

This can mean a walk, or a stroll, on foot, or a ride in a car or on horseback. Places where you can take a walk, such as the Sentierone, can also be referred to as a passeggiata. Be careful not to misuse the word passeggiatrice, which can mean a prostitute, literally ‘street walker’.