Day 8
It is sadly our last day in a place nothing short of paradise. We wake early to a beautiful sunrise and sounds of chirping birds. The path to breakfast is beautifully lined with colorful flowers, fresh mint and intoxicating rose bushes. The sea glistens in the sun, the trees sway in the breeze. We savor every detail, every last moment of Monterosso.
We finish breakfast, make sure we’re packed and take the hike to the train station. As we pull away, we reflect on our unforgettable experience in the Cinque Terre.
We arrive in Bergamo rested and ready to reintroduce ourselves to one of Italy’s hidden gems. We accidentally found Bergamo in 2011 as a result of travel mishap. In 2011, after taking a nasty spill on a moped and missing a flight, we found ourselves with a 14 hour layover in a city we’d never heard of. Back then we were down on our luck and didn't feel much like exploring. Regardless of our bleak attitudes, we still immediately recognized the city’s quiet beauty and knew, we would return.
Bergamo is divided into two cities. The base of the city is comprised of the modern development, the Citta Bassa (lower city). The Città Alta (upper city), often referred to as the “Old City”, rests atop the “new” city and offers spectacular views and oozes with Italian charm.
As in most places we've traveled, there are two options for hotel transportation. One, pay a ridiculous amount of money for a cab; or two, take time to learn and understand public transportation. After a few minutes and some local help, we squeeze our backpacks through the bus doors and begin the ascent to Città Alta. We are lucky enough to enjoy one night smack dab in the center of the Old City. The ride is a steep and windy one. With each turn, the bus windows expose different and unique views of the city.
We reach the highest point of the entire city; our destination is not far as we set out to find our hotel. To this point, our upgrade for international data has come in more than handy. The “Maps” app on our phones has guided us to each hotel along our journey. Ahh, technology. Our directions have been reliable and we find The Gombit hotel in minutes. As we settle into a beautiful and spacious room on the top floor, we admire the details of this hotel – eclectic, modern design housed in a church hundreds of years old. No time to waste, we head out to see the city that captured us two years ago.
The architecture and cobble stone streets surrounded by lush greenery are breathtaking. As we stroll, we hear romantic Italian from the locals, the clinking of cappuccino cups and wine glasses, and the sweet songs of the ever-present church bells. We recognize the shop we previously grabbed pizza and reminisce over the quaint café where we’d enjoyed gelato. Everything looks pleasantly familiar.
We pick up a delicious bottle of red from Montelpulciano de Abruzzo - we don’t even have to ask for plastic cups, our intent is clear. We head to a luscious park that overlooks the Citta Bassa. We leisurely stroll through the park, drinking our wine, chatting and taking photos. We watch in amazement as the plethora of local fitness enthusiasts run and ride bikes through the city – we’d love to have our daily exercise complimented by this tranquil setting. We finish our walk at a perfect little restaurant, where we have an unforgettable lamb gnocchi. We conclude our evening with a night cap at a local pub while enjoying the stylish, bustling night-life of this exceptional city.
We enjoy a delicious breakfast and head out to brave the city in the rain. We conclude our sightseeing with a magnificent cathedral, the Cappella Colleoni - we are overcome by spirituality that leaves us with a calming sense of peace. Words and pictures cannot describe it.
As our time in Città Alta comes to a close, we grab our last meal, share a delicious Pinot Grigio and head to our hotel near the airport - a 6:00 am flight to Paris awaits us. Again, we are sad to leave such a beautiful place and while we are excited to continue our adventure, this departure is different than the rest. Here we say goodbye to Italy. Goodbye to a place that captivated us almost five years ago on our honeymoon, a place that has etched itself on our hearts forever, a place we will seek for the rest of our lives.
Until the day we are fortunate to return, arrivederci, Italy. Ciao.
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