Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
IN SEARCH OF LORENZO LOTTO
One of the great names of the late Venetian Renaissance, Lorenzo Lotto worked for 12 years in and
around Bergamo from 1513. Many of his stunning masterpieces - depictions of
sacra conversazione
(sacred conversations) between Madonna and saints - remain in situ in Bergamo's churches:
Chiesa dei Santi Bartolomeo e Stefano
(Largo Bortolo Belotti 1; 7.30am-noon & 3.30-7.15pm
Mon-Fri, to 8pm Sat, to 10pm Sun) Lotto's largest altarpiece (pala) is the Pala Martinengo (c
1513-1516) where his Madonna sits in a Bramante-esque temple framed by saints and overlooked by
a Mantegna-inspired oculus.
Chiesa del Santo Spirito
(Church of the Holy Spirit; Via Torquato Tasso) Gone is the classical
temple and in its place a Venetian-inspired countryside and colour palette define the Pala di Santo
Spirito (1521), while the Madonna sits beneath a garland of energetic, winged
putti
(cherubs).
Chiesa di San Bernardino
(Via San Bernardino) Lotto's final, stylistically-evolved Pala di San Bern-
ardino (1521) depicts the Madonna beneath a dynamic, foreshortened canopy deep in intense conver-
sation with her saintly companions.
Dipinta, Città Alta; 9am-5pm) There's no Lotto altarpiece here, just an entire fresco-cycle devoted
to the Storie della Vergine (Stories of the Virgin Mother; 1525)
Sleeping
Nuovo Ostello di Bergamo
( 035 369 23 76;
www.ostellodibergamo.it
;
Via Galileo Ferraris 1, Monterosso; dm/s/d €18/35/50;
)
Bergamo's state-of-the-art HI hostel is about 4km north of the train station. Its 27
rooms offer views of Bergamo's Città Alta. Take bus 6 from Largo Porta Nuova near the
train station (get off at the Leonardo da Vinci stop) or
bus 3
for Ostello from the Città Alta.
HOSTEL
€
Hotel Piazza Vecchia
HOTEL
€€
( 035 428 42 11;
www.hotelpiazzavecchia.it
; Via Bartolomeo Colleoni 3; s/d from €120/145;
)
Carved out of a 13th-century building a few steps off Piazza Vecchia, this charming
hotel's 13 rooms are all quite different. All have parquet floors and a bath set in stone, but
decor varies. Some have exposed beams, some a balcony, some a king-size bed.
Albergo Il Sole
HOTEL
€€
