Bansko, Bulgaria; The Solo Snowboard One
December 11, 2024
Bergamo, Italy; The WalkinIta Experience Part 2
January 22, 2025Bergamo, Italy is the birthplace of Chiara Frecchiami, the founder of Walkinita.
Ciao!
Having had a brief videocall with Chiara, we’d established my crude grasp of Italian was rudimentary to say the least... Flights booked, lesson booked, I was rather excited for a different kind of visit to Bergamo.
Bergamo is a beautiful place that appeals to the senses with its food markets, oozes visual appeal with roman gates, and delights the ear with contrasts of birdsong and music. There is an everchanging flow of events, both natural and man-made, that give Bergamo a quiet, yet bustling undertone. It’s a place I felt comfortable in from the off and have returned to countless times.
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The Meeting
Ready and raring to go, I bundled myself out of my apartment and headed out to the street to meet Chiara. Such a vibrant personality, she had me smiling instantly!
The magic trick to her walking lesson is ‘Italian only’. Despite my basic knowledge of the language, I understood a lot as she patiently explained things in Italian, waited for me to translate my understanding back, rinsed and repeated. It never once felt like a lesson as we visited a multitude of interesting places. The walking lesson incorporated history, architecture, and food which meant my wandering attention was kept happily entertained.
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Andiamo!
Our first stop was the Monastery of Astino, previously used as a mental institution. Nestled in the stunning countryside, the far-reaching views were lit up with the natural light as we traversed the grounds. Once inside, we marvelled at the paintings while discussing its history. Thankfully it now offers a tranquil atmosphere and the little bar in the courtyard adds to the fun.
After amusing myself with the giant tomatoes, we walked round to the church, where were met with an ornate interior. Along with this, there is also the spectacle of the ‘piedi’ imprint on the wall, which are said to be those of Jesus.
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Let’s Walk!
Leaving the monastery, we passed the Orto, essentially an allotment with the occasional auction where people will sell their produce. Walking was the order of the day, and we took many side streets and walked many of the famous stairs.
We found the brothel of Bergamo, standing out amongst the other buildings with its many chimneys. If they’re a-smoking, don’t come a-knocking; rumour has it that if there’s smoke, the rooms are occupied. No smoke was seen on our watch, though I was photographed taking a photograph of the notorious building.
There’s also a destroyed church which now only has an obelisk by the Venetian wall to indicate where it once stood. To the side of the obelisk, is a map showing where it all once stood. A shame to see just how much destruction had been caused by the Venetians, but such is history.
To be continued HERE
