Bergamo

Lovers of Earl Grey tea know that it contains oil of Bergamot.  Apparently this is obtained from a variety of orange named Bergamot after the town - which is spelt Bergamo.  So there!

It's a lovely town, well the old part is.  Like Lucca and many Italian towns, the old part within the city walls is pretty much unspoilt ancient buildings.  Outside, the new town is like any other city, with old and new lying cheek-by-jowl.

The main square.  Our hotel is peeping through in the
middle of the photo

Barbara contemplates the facade of the 12th cent
Basilica S Maria Maggiore

"Ferri" (irons) are seen in most old Italian towns - used in yesteryear to tie up your horse - explaining the rather cute depiction of the horses head

All the streets are cobbled, and often very long.  This
one has a convent all along one side  (few windows!)

View from one spur of the hilltop over to another, with the
newer town down below

We climbed to the highest point, which gave this view of the foothills of the Alps, although no snowy tops on this hazy day