184. Bergamo’s Citta Bassa, A Northern Italian Treasure

184. Bergamo’s Citta Bassa, A Northern Italian Treasure

Author: Kimberly Holcombe April 2, 2025 Duration: 28:30
Kimberly and Tommaso share their experiences in Città Bassa, the lower city of Bergamo. They highlight the area’s unique piazzas, shopping streets, and cultural landmarks. They also touch on Bergamo’s sister city relationship with Greenville, South Carolina. Key Points: Introduction to Città Bassa: Unlike Città Alta, Città Bassa is the working part of the city, with wide, tree-lined streets. The Funicular Ride: Quick and easy access from Città Alta, offering views of the city and landscape. Piazza Pontida: Historical Significance: Originally referred to as Cinque Vie, a convergence point of five streets where merchants would sell their goods. Architectural Features: Porticos and arcades dating back to the 15th century. Modern Charm: Now a piazza with shops, cafes, and trattorias. Borgo Palazzo Neighborhood: Parrucchieri Paradise: Numerous hair salons (Parruchieri in Italian), nail salons, and other beauty treatments are located on Via Borgo Palazzo. Tommaso humorously suggests renaming the street Via Parrucchieri. Culinary Experience at Caprizza Bergamo: Pizza Recommendation: Despite nonchalant staff, the Napolitana style pizza was excellent. Menu Highlights: Kimberly enjoyed buffalo mozzarella with yellow cherry tomatoes and Parmigiano-Reggiano, while Tommaso had a Parma ham and mozzarella pizza. Via Pignolo: Street Details: Hand-laid bricks and cut stone designs on the sidewalks and streets. Craftsmanship Appreciation: Noticing and appreciating the craftsmanship in every street and sidewalk. Venetian Walls and Viale della Mura: Ancient Walls: Built in the mid-1500s and remarkably well-maintained. Scenic Views: Walking along Viale della Mura, offering views of the city. Bergamo and Greenville, South Carolina: Sister Cities Primary Goal: To promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation. Commonalities Between Bergamo and Greenville: Textile Industry: Historical professional and personal relationships. Science and Education: Bergamo Science Festival and Greenville’s Imagine STEAM event. Music: Teatro Donizetti in Bergamo and the Greenville Symphony. Follow us on Social Media Instagram Facebook 

There's a particular magic to Italy that goes far beyond its famous landmarks, a rhythm of life that you only really start to feel once you've lingered in a local piazza or navigated a bustling market. Kimberly's Italy Travel is an invitation into that deeper experience, guided by Kimberly Holcombe, whose own story began with a life-changing move to Milan years ago. That journey didn't just create memories; it reshaped her perspective, and she shares that genuine, lived-in understanding in every episode. You'll hear personal stories from her travels, often punctuated by the kind of comical, real-world lessons that no standard guidebook ever mentions. This podcast serves as a rich audio companion, weaving together passionate discussions about regional cuisine, layers of local history, and the vibrant arts that define Italy's culture. It’s about the sensory details-the taste of a perfectly simple dish, the echo in an ancient alleyway, the warmth of a conversation with a new friend. Listeners gain practical, invaluable travel tips born from direct experience, all while feeling like they're sharing a coffee and a laugh with a knowledgeable guide. Through these conversations and reflections, the aim is to transport you, offering not just a list of destinations, but a feeling for the places and people that make Italy endlessly captivating.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Kimberly's Italy Travel
Podcast Episodes
137. Planning a trip from a TikTok Video??? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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136. Travel News for bel’Italia 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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135. The Classy, Colorful and Tasty City of Parma [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:38
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134. Culinary Paradise in Parma [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:03
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133. Behind the Wheel of a 1969 Fiat Cinque Cento… What a Day! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:38
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132. A Visit with the Present Day Leonardo da Vinci! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:07
Tommaso finally gets to visit Nostra Vita in person! A small vineyard owned and nurtured by an incredibly creative family, is a little slice of Tuscan heaven. It is also an experience to treasure since everywhere you loo…
131.  A Sunday night drive in rural Tuscany ... Hilarity ensues! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:34
Our first night in Montepulciano was just going to be dinner at a small local ristorante, however duty called when our friend we were travelling with requested some much needed supplies from a pharmacy / farmacia. The ti…
130. A Broken Wrist Didn’t Ruin Our Umbrian Adventure! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:50
Our back road drive to Todi in Umbria was picture perfect, as was our stay in a renovated small castle. One wrong step off the road did result in a broken wrist for our friend, but she was a trooper and carried on to the…
129.  Discovering the History and Artistic Riches of Assisi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:27
Our day trip to Assisi proved to be more enriching than we all thought it would be. Most people go to see the Basilica of St Francis, but this sweet little city also offers a plethora of history. The Temple of Minerva fr…