The best traffic-free bike rides around Merate

La Porta San Lorenzo, officially renamed Porta Garibaldi in 1907, is the smallest, oldest, and most rustic of the four monumental gates that open onto the Venetian Walls of Bergamo, included since 2017 in the UNESCO World Heritage. It was built between 1562 and 1563. It takes its name from the ancient church of the same name that stood in the area and which was demolished by the government of the Republic of Venice precisely to make way for the fortifications. On June 8, 1859, Giuseppe Garibaldi, leading his "Cacciatori delle Alpi" volunteers, entered Bergamo through this gateway. He thus liberated the city from Austrian rule. A plaque on the facade commemorates the event. This historical link is the reason why Bergamo is today nicknamed the "City of the Thousand".

I learned here that it's not the elevation gain that truly tires you, but the gradient

The Città Alta is the historic and medieval heart of Bergamo, a jewel perched on a hill and entirely enclosed by the majestic Venetian Walls, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Unlike the modern Città Bassa located on the plain, the upper part retains the intact charm of its cobbled streets, period buildings, and historic squares.

Sirtori is a charming hilltop village located in the heart of the alta Brianza lecchese, famous for its historic views, its paths immersed in greenery, and the majestic Church of Saints Nabore and Felice, which dominates the settlement from its elevated position. The territory offers a perfect blend of sacred architecture, ancient noble residences, and a dense network of hiking and cycling trails.

classic water refill point on arrival or departure in Selvino

A valuable 17th-century monument of Lombard Baroque, but also a bulwark that rises in a panoramic position overlooking the Adda Valley in Imbersago, in the province of Lecco. A perfect blend of religious devotion, commemoration of a mystical past, and immersion in lush nature, a symbol of vitality and timeless beauty. The history of the Sanctuary of Imbersago is rooted in a past of apparitions and miraculous events. It all began on May 9, 1617, when three shepherds who were grazing their flock in the woods saw a celestial figure among dazzling lights and harmonious melodies on the three large chestnut trees that stood around the Sorgente del Lupo (so named for the animals that roamed there). At that point, Pietro, one of the children, with great wonder, spotted and picked up a ripe hedgehog, an unlikely event in the middle of spring. And for all the people, this represented the prodigious sign that the Blessed Virgin wished to be honored in that very place. From here, from this miraculous vision, began the devotion to the Madonna del Bosco, also known as Madonna del Riccio, referring precisely to the miracle just narrated, or Madonna dei Miracoli di Imbersago.

Arriving here is always a great satisfaction ;)

Porta San Lorenzo, also known as Porta Garibaldi, is the smallest of the four gates to the upper town of Bergamo, built by the Venetian Republic between 1562 and 1563. It takes its name from the church of San Lorenzo, which was demolished for the construction of the city walls and was closed from 1605 to 1627 because it was deemed difficult to defend. On June 8, 1859, Giuseppe Garibaldi entered the city through this gate, an event commemorated by a plaque on its façade.