The Bergamo Botanical Garden is a delightful and airy space with more than 1,200 floral species. It covers an area of 0.6 acres (2,400 square metres) and offers excellent views of the roofs and towers of the Citta Alta (Upper Town) region. Wander along the charming paths that meander through the forests in this serene park.
Snap photos of the panoramic views from this hilltop garden and spot the foothills of the Alps in the distance. Cross pleasant streams via the quaint wooden bridges extending over the water. Inspect some of the park’s most intriguing plants, including the lotus flower and papyrus.
Other specimens to look for include the carnivorous drosera carnivora and the spindly yellow flower of the sanguisorba orobica. Snap photos of the intriguing Madagascar palm and the candelabra cactus. Read the information on the plaques for insights into the origins and features of each plant.
Enjoy the utter serenity in this park, which is on a hill far away from the sounds of traffic. Relax with a book or a picnic on a patch of grass. The garden is not too large and can be traversed in less than 1 hour. Stay for the sunset, when the hues of the skyline over Bergamo darken.
The park is officially known as the Lorenzo Rota Botanical Garden of Bergamo, in honour of a renowned physician and botanist. Note that the garden carries out conservation projects to look after endangered plants. It is free to enter the site, which opens daily from morning until late afternoon, with a brief closure at noon.
The Bergamo Botanical Garden is in the northern part of the city, beyond the Citta Alta district. Climb the 141 steps of the staircase to reach the park. It is a short walk north from the Funicolare S. Vigilio station. Visit nearby sights, such as the Porta Sant’ Alessandro, the Torre di Adalberto and the Civic Museum of Natural Science.
