Bergamo, Italy to Innsbruck, Austria Alps Hiking Trip
August 4 - August 17, 2019
We took a hiking trip with Wilderness Travel across 4
countries, starting in Italy, then Switzerland,
then Liechstenstein,
then Austria.
Page One: Bergamo, Capo di Ponte,
and Bormio, Italy
Bergamo, Italy in the foothills of the Alps, in the upper city.
Bergamo is composed of an old walled core, known as Città Alta
("Upper Town"), nestled within a system of hills constituting a
regional park, and the modern expansion in the plains below.
The upper town is encircled by massive Venetian defensive
systems (built by the Republic of Venice in the 16th and 17th
centuries, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.)
The Piazza Vecchia, the main square in the Upper Town.
Child from Bergamo playing in the main square
of the Upper Town.
Colleoni Chapel behind an archway leading from Piazza
Vecchia. Dedicated to saints Bartholomew, Mark, and John
the Baptist,
it was built between 1472 and 1476 as the personal
shrine for Bartolomeo Colleoni, a member of one of the
most well known families of the city, and his daughter Medea.
Basilica of St. Mary Major, next to Colleoni Chapel.
Originally constructed in the early 12th century,
it was not
completed until the 14th century
due to financial problems.
Jeff standing near the Bergamo City Gate, Porta San Giacomo.
This white rosewood marble gatehouse was constructed in the
16th century and stood as part of the city's defensive walls.
Pat in front of the same thing.
Entering Rocca Museum. Situated to the north of the main
segment of the Venetian walls, the Museum is housed
within one of the old defensive bastions, with a round tower
and immense stone walls. Within the walls is a museum
dedicated to the formation of the Kingdom of Italy and
Italy's struggle for independence. From the top of the
battlements you can see for miles and look down on the
modern center of Bergamo.
Here's a view of the Piazza Vecchia and part of the Upper Town,
with the modern part of the city beyond, and some of the
surrounding hills and mountains.
A view of the Medieval Upper Town and
the plains beyond.
A Bergamo citizen
From Bergamo, we headed to the town of
Capo di Ponte,
where we saw a large collection
of prehistoric stone carvings
dating back
8,000 years. A donkey was grazing at the
entrance
to this World Heritage site.
The rock art depicts more than 140,000 symbols
and figures
connected with agriculture, hunting,
navigation, war, and
magic.
View of Capo Di Ponte from the archeological site.
From Capo di Ponte, we headed to Bormio, Italy,
known for
its natural hot springs, and stayed at
Hotel Bagni Vecchi, perched
on a mountainside
overlooking the Valtellina Valley and Bormio.
We enjoyed the hotel's outdoor spa with
panoramic views.
Here is a view from our room.
The next morning we hiked from the hotel on
a trail that
leads down into Bormio.
Here is an early view on the
hike.
In ancient times, Roman aristocracy
came here
to enjoy
the thermal waters.
Another view along the trail.
Looking down on the medieval
town center of Bormio.
Having a snack in the medieval town center.
Dorothy, on the
left, is also from Denver.
She and Jeff discovered they had
mutual friends from their work days.
James, from Australia, assistant guide,
in the middle.
Child in Bormio
View of some of the mountains above Bormio.
We took a ski resort cable car from Bormio to
hike up and
down ridges above the town.
Here is one of our views.
We had lunch at the top. This woman was
manager of the
restaurant.
Her dog resting under a table.
A view from the patio of the ski restaurant.
Group photo minus Jeff who took the picture.
In front, Pat, Tom Smart from Utah, Tom Flanagan (from
Florida), the manager, Nancy Flanagan (Florida).
Back: Angela Smart Dumke & Zeke Dumke (Utah), Heidi
Smart (Utah), Gianluca Canalicchio (Italy, our main guide),
CJ Long (Washington),
Carl Schuler (Washington), Dorothy
Dejmal (Colorado), James
Ross (Australia, assistant guide)
Pat and Jeff on patio overlooking Bormio below.
Hiking along the ridge.
Ski resort restaurant where we ate lunch
on the right side of the photo.
Bormio below
Hotel Bagni Vecchi, where we stayed 2 nights.
The outdoor spa
pool can be seen.
Link to Page Two - Livigno, Italy
Pat's Home Page