Bergamo’s airport passes 50-year milestone

First commercial flight took off in 1972

In 1972, the airport's facilities consisted of a small
single-storey building - a far cry from today

Bergamo’s international airport this week celebrated 50 years since the first commercial flight left the runway at Orio al Serio.

The flight, operated by the former Itavia airline using one of their McDonnell Douglas DC-9 aircraft, took off at 9.15am on 21 March bound for Rome, due to land around one hour later. There were just 18 passengers on board. 

The anniversary was marked by a presentation at the Teatro Donizetti in Bergamo’s Città Bassa, at which Giovanni Sanga - the president of SACBO, the company that runs the airport - explained how traffic through the airport has expanded so rapidly in the last 20 years that Orio al Serio - known nowadays as Il Caravaggio - is now the third busiest airport in Italy.

Built on the site of what had been a World War Two military airfield, Il Caravaggio handled more than 13.8 million passengers in 2019 - the last full year before the Covid-19 pandemic - which meant only Rome Leonardo da Vinci and Milan Malpensa were busier. In 2000, the numbers of passengers through the airport was only one million

Ryanair is by far Bergamo's biggest airline today,
serving more than 100 destinations

Including seasonal charter flights, more than 20 airlines link Bergamo with around 135 destinations. By far the biggest carrier using Il Caravaggio is the Irish airline Ryanair, which flies to more than 100 destinations. The airport - usually referred to in timetables as Milan Bergamo - is Ryanair’s third largest hub after London Stansted and Dublin.

Less than four kilometres (2.5 miles) from the city, Il Caravaggio is easily accessible with the Bergamo's railway station only 15 minutes away by the Linea 1 service run by ATB (Azienda Trasporti Bergamo). From the station, the service travels along the main thoroughfare through the Città Bassa, stopping within a short walk of most of the major hotels, to Città Alta, to which the journey takes about half an hour.

There are plans to open a railway station at the airport in 2024.

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A message from the Editor of Best of Bergamo

‘It is with great sadness that I’ve watched events unfold in Bergamo over the last few weeks and seen the coronavirus (Covid-19) cause devastation to the city I love so much.

The towers of the upper town seen from San Vigilio

My heart goes out to all the people who have lost loved ones and to those who have become ill with the virus.

I can only express my admiration for the tireless work of the emergency services and, in particular, the doctors and nurses in Bergamo, who are on the front line every day but remain unflinching in their dedication to their patients.

I am also sorry for the people who have had to close their businesses and whose livelihoods are suffering, many of whom have become my friends during the last ten years.

The empty streets and the beautiful buildings having to remain closed, which usually give so much pleasure to tourists when they visit, have been poignant sights.

But I have been heartened by the messages I have received from friends in Bergamo that have demonstrated the resilience of the Bergamaschi and shown their strong resolve to fight the virus together: ‘fermiamolo insieme!’

Today marks the tenth anniversary of Best of Bergamo and during that time I have written many words highlighting the beauty of this elegant northern city with its fascinating mix of modern and medieval architecture.

My first post written on Tuesday 16 March 2010 about Il Sole restaurant in Piazza Vecchia was just the beginning of my long love affair with Bergamo.

I look forward to visiting Bergamo with my family in happier times and making that magical journey up to the Città Alta once again to revisit all our favourite places.

Viva Bergamo! e Viva l’Italia! Our thoughts are with you’.

From Val Culley, Editor of Best of Bergamo

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Matteo Renzi in Bergamo

Prime Minister Renzi, flanked by police officers and
photographers, makes his way out of Piazza Vecchia

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi paid a visit to Bergamo today to explain the Government's point of view ahead of Italy's 2016 referendum on the constitution.

At a conference to launch his campaign inside Teatro Sociale in Via Colleoni in the Città Alta (upper town), Renzi appealed to his audience to 'help change Italy' by voting Si to constitutional change in October.

Afterwards he strolled through the upper town's historic Piazza Vecchia in the sunshine, greeting supporters and surprising diners sitting outside the restaurants and bars, before leaving through an exit next to the Caffe del Tasso, flanked by police officers and security men.

Teatro Sociale is a small theatre in one of Bergamo's oldest streets, Via Colleoni, an ancient Roman thoroughfare that used to be known as Corsarola.

Piazza Vecchia is said to be one of the most beautiful squares in Italy, with its mixture of medieval and Renaissance architecture, and is lined by smart restaurants and bars with outside tables.

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Milan a top destination for London passengers

Bergamo among top destinations for London flights

London was the city most requested in 2011 by people comparing flight prices to and from Milan's airports, according to Skyscanner.

The travel search site has published the names of the top 10 cities requested by travellers looking to depart from or arrive at Bergamo Caravaggio airport -- often referred to as Milan Bergamo -- as well as Malpensa and Linate last year.

Both Moscow and St Petersburg in Russia were in the top 10 for flying into Milan while Paris, Barcelona and Amsterdam were in the top 10 requested for departing from Milan .

Catania, Naples, Palermo, Rome and Bari were in the top 10 requested cities for both departures and arrivals.

Skyscanner is a useful travel search site that provides online comparisons for cheap prices on millions of flights and more than 1000 airlines as well as car hire, hotels, insurance and other deals.

It is free to use and customers book directly with the airline or company they have chosen after they have seen the cheapest and latest prices.

Skyscanner claims to help thousands of people find the cheapest flights and travel deals every day.

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New flight to Bergamo from Manchester in 2012

Orio al Serio is Bergamo's airport

Budget airline Jet2.com is to introduce a new flight to Bergamo from Manchester next year.

Jet2.com, which already operates a service from Leeds-Bradford to Bergamo’s Orio al Serio airport, will add the Manchester route in May.   Initially, plans are to fly to Bergamo once per week.

Ian Doubtfire, managing director of Jet2.com, said: “We are delighted to announce more new routes for our customers in the north west.

“Bergamo gives people easy access to the beautiful Italian Lakes, including the stunning Lake Garda.“

Jet2.com currently flies to 35 destinations from Manchester and carried more than a million passengers in 2010, an increase of 20 per cent on 2009.   The airline is predicting similar growth in 2011 to 1.2m passengers.

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New flight times for Bergamo Orio al Serio from Albania (Tirana) and Slovakia (Bratislava)

Visitors can fly to Bergamo from more than 30 departure points around Europe and North Africa.  Bergamo's Orio al Serio airport, the fourth busiest in Italy, is a popular arrival point for visitors to Milan and the Italian Lakes as well as the city of Bergamo itself.

The airport is situated only six kilometres from the centre of Bergamo. A bus service connects the airport terminal with Bergamo's Città Bassa (lower town) and Città Alta (upper town). The journey takes about 15 minutes to Città Bassa, 25 minutes to Città Alta.

Here is Best of Bergamo’s updated schedule guide for Albania’s Tirana-Rinas airport and for Bratislava airport, which as well as serving Slovakia, is about one hour only from the Austrian capital, Vienna.

Albania Airlines (www.albaniaair.com) and the Italian company Belle Air (www.belleair.it) provide at least one flight daily from Tirana. Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) flies five times a week from Bratislava.

Flight schedule:

ALBANIA

Albanian Airlines (www.albanianair.com) and Belle Air (www.belleair.it) fly from Tirana to Bergamo.

From Tirana
Until October 27 -- Monday: 08:30 (Albanian), 15:00 (from June 20, Belle Air); Tuesday: 07:00 (Belle Air); Wednesday: 18:40 (from June 22, Belle Air); Thursday: 08:30 (Albanian), 12:50 (from June 16, Belle Air); Friday: 18:40 (Belle Air); Saturday: 12:50 (from June 11, Belle Air), 18:00 (until June 4, Belle Air), 18:45 (Albanian); Sunday: 18:00 (Belle Air, ex June 12 - 12:50).
Flight time: 1hr 40mins.

(Return to Flights Guide)

AUSTRIA/SLOVAKIA

Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) flies from Bratislava airport, about an hour to the east of Vienna.

From Bratislava
Until October 29 -- Monday: 08:05; Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: 18:55; Friday: 14:40.
Flight time: 1hr 20mins.

(Return to Flights Guide)

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Flights from UK airports to Bergamo Orio al Serio

Visitors to Bergamo from the United Kingdom currently can choose from six airports that operate services to Bergamo's Orio al Serio airport, which is a popular arrival point for visitors to Milan and the Italian Lakes as well as the city of Bergamo itself.

The airport is situated only six kilometres from the centre of Bergamo. A bus service connects the airport terminal with Bergamo's Città Bassa (lower town) and Città Alta (upper town). The journey takes about 15 minutes to Città Bassa, 25 minutes to Città Alta.

Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) operates flights to Bergamo from Bristol, East Midlands, Glasgow Prestwick, Liverpool and London Stansted. Jet2.com flies from Leeds-Bradford.

Flight schedule (Ryanair, except where stated)

From Bristol
Until October 29 -- Tuesday, Saturday: 12:50; Thursday: 08:25.
From October 30 to March 20, 2012 -- Sunday: 17:00; Tuesday: 08:15 (no flights December 25, January 1).
Flight time: 2hrs 5mins.

From East Midlands
Until October 28 -- Wednesday, Friday, Sunday: 11:50.
Flight time: 2hrs 5mins.

From Glasgow Prestwick
Until October 28 -- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 17:45.
Flight time: 2hrs 30mins.

From Leeds-Bradford (Jet2.com)
Until October 31 -- Monday: 15:30; Wednesday: 10:45; Friday: 12:25; Saturday: 14:05.
Flight time: 2hrs 20mins.

From Liverpool
Until October 28 -- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 19:00.
Flight time: 2hrs 15mins.

From London Stansted
Until October 29 -- Daily: 06:40, 14:00, 19:10.
From October 30 to March 24, 2012 -- Sunday to Friday: 06:30, 14:29, 19:15; Saturday: 06:30, 09:50, 19:15 (No flights December 24, 25, 26, 31 & January 1).
Flight time: 1hr 55mins.

Return to flights guide

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Bergamo on front cover of ITALIA! magazine

ITALIA! magazine on display in W H Smith

Bergamo is featured in the June issue of ITALIA! magazine, which has just gone on sale.

A six-page spread in the UK’s best selling magazine about Italy takes a look at the city as a destination for a 48-hour break, highlighting the main things to see and do and recommending hotels, restaurants, local dishes and wine.

Written by freelance travel writer Val Culley (the editor of Best of Bergamo), the feature demonstrates that there are beautiful buildings and places of historic importance to see on both sides of Bergamo’s imposing 16th century walls.

It is accompanied by 18 images showing Bergamo at its best in the spring sunshine.

ITALIA! magazine’s front cover advertises ‘The Beauty of Bergamo – a tale of two cities – unlock the secrets in this corner of Lombardy’, illustrated by an atmospheric picture of the towers of the Citta Alta (upper town) swathed in mist.

ITALIA! magazine Issue 79 June 2011 is on sale in branches of W H Smith. For more information about the magazine visit www.italia-magazine.com

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First anniversary for Best of Bergamo

Bergamo highlight -- Biblioteca Civica

Best of Bergamo is one year old today. Since we started to collect statistical information, the site has had more than 5,000 visits from almost 3,500 unique visitors, who have clocked up more than 13,000 page views.

Many visitors have emailed the site to express their appreciation for the tourist and travel advice or to ask for supplementary information about Bergamo .

Colleoni Chapel -- a Bergamo highlight

Extracts from the website have been featured on other travel websites, a wine website and a health website and we have had enquiries from people about to relocate to Bergamo as well as from those planning holidays.

There have been visitors from 91 countries and the site has been viewed in 62 different languages.

During the year, Best of Bergamo’s Flights Guide was launched, showing visitors to the website which airlines operate from which country, with flight times and links to individual airline websites.

There isn’t a more comprehensive guide to flights to Bergamo’s Orio al Serio airport anywhere else on line. For more information visit our Fly to Bergamo page.

Book a hotel through Best of Bergamo

Another exciting development has been our dedicated Hotel Booking pages where we give you the low down on the best hotels in Bergamo and the surrounding area. If we have personal experience of staying in a hotel it is badged *Best of Bergamo recommended*.

You can now book a hotel anywhere in Bergamo , the rest of Italy or elsewhere through our partner organisations Venere.com, Hotels.com or Laterooms.com. You can go straight from our hotel pages to the websites of our partner organisations. Either click on Book a Hotel in Bergamo or click on a hotel booking advert anywhere on Best of Bergamo.

Thank you for all your support and we look forward to another exciting year with Best of Bergamo.

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More passengers taking flights to Bergamo

Ryanair is the major carrier at Orio al Serio

Bergamo’s airport at Orio al Serio has become the fourth busiest in Italy, behind only Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci and Milan’s Malpensa and Linate airports.
Orio al Serio, which is sometimes referred to as Milan Bergamo airport, handled nearly 7.7million passengers in 2010 and traffic is expected to increase in 2011. The budget airline Ryanair is the biggest individual carrier, with flights from 67 airports in its 2011 schedule. You can find full details in our new, updated flights guide.
There are many advantages to choosing to fly to Bergamo. It is just a short bus or taxi journey to Bergamo’s Città Bassa (lower town), where there is a good choice of restaurants, hotels and shops.
Buses stop at the railway station in Piazza Marconi, from where there are services to Brescia, Milan, Cremona, Lecco at the foot of Lake Como and Sarnico on Lago Iseo. From Brescia you can board the Milan/Venice express which stops at resorts on Lake Garda.
From the nearby bus station there are regular coaches to Lago Iseo, and the pretty towns in the valleys north of Bergamo.
The town is also a gateway to the southern Alps, with a dozen ski resorts less than an hour and a half away.
But many visitors arriving at Bergamo’s railway station will find themselves intrigued by the view of the Città Alta (upper town) in the distance and be tempted to stay and explore it.
There are regular shuttle buses linking Orio al Serio airport with railway stations in Milan and Brescia and with Malpensa airport, making it easy to touch down in Bergamo and reach other places quickly. 
Bergamo’s airport at Orio al Serio is continually being developed to provide good facilities for passengers. The latest innovation to be publicised in the Italian media this month is Orio Kube, an interactive tourism information facility.
The Kube can provide information not just about Bergamo and the surrounding area but for travel throughout Lombardia and the rest of Italy.
It is claimed the Kube is the first such device to be located in an airport. It has four touch screens that make it easy to navigate between its different functions. Passengers can book hotels and restaurants, find out about events, contact a free multilingual call centre with their queries or Bluetooth any useful data to their own phones.

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Viva la Repubblica

Today is Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day) in Italy, celebrating the birth of the country as a republic, 64 years ago.
It is the day when the anniversary of the country voting to abolish the Italian royal family is remembered.
But although it is a bank holiday in Italy and there will be some events and celebrations, the Italian royal family is not forgotten in many places, including Bergamo.
A statue (pictured) of Victor Emanuele III, who was king until 1945, towers over Piazza Giacomo Matteotti in the Città Bassa (lower town).

The Italians voted for a republic after the Second World War on June 2, 1946, in a referendum.
As a result, King Umberto II, to whom Victor Emanuele III had given way, went into exile in Portugal.
The attitude of the Italians towards their former royal family seems to have softened in recent years.
Emanuele Filiberto, the son of the current king of Italy, took part in the 2009 series of Ballando con le Stelle on Rai Uno, the Italian version of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, and was so popular with viewers that he was crowned champion, sparking newspaper headlines declaring him “King for a Night”.

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Bergamo honours Alpini

You could be forgiven for thinking that Bergamo was showing support for the Italian side in the World Cup finals one month early.
At the weekend, while I was visiting the city I saw the Italian flag being proudly displayed from every building, window and balcony.
Even the columns of Porta Nuova in the Città Bassa (lower town) were draped with the colours of the tricolore.
I discovered what had prompted this display of patriotism when I read in the newspaper that the city had welcomed the Alpini the weekend before for three days of marches, concerts and celebrations.
The Alpini, the elite mountain warfare soldiers in the Italian army, had come to Bergamo for their 83rd annual rally.

Big crowds turned out to watch them march through the city and many restaurants put on special menus for the event.
There was also a wreath laying, a mass for the fallen, and a fireworks display. Even the cranes doing work on the city were draped with giant Italian flags.
Although I had missed the parades and celebrations, I enjoyed the carnival atmosphere in the city and some lovely sunny weather during my 48-hour stay last weekend.

I was pleased to discover great enthusiasm for this website from all the people I spoke to in restaurants, bars and shops and from the friendly staff at the tourism information offices in both the Città Alta and the Città Bassa.
Let’s hope the azzurri, the Italian national football team, will give people in Bergamo a reason to celebrate again soon.


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