Nobody was as surprised as Weegies that Glasgow was chosen as Europe’s artistic showpiece but for the Bergamaschi they know Bergamo is a city of culture.
Our moment in the sun came 43 years ago and turned my home city into an al fresco cafe society.
And away (at least in the centre of the city) from greasy-spoons and battered pies and chips.
Emerging from the shadows
Glasgow was always unfairly seen as the less attractive, less sophisticated neighbour to self-absorbed, snooty Edinburgh.
All the more fodder for Glaswegians to cock a snook at Edinburgh.
When two proud Glaswegians located themselves in the centre of Edinburgh’s main thoroughfare, Princes Street.
With a sandwich board and a pointer saying: ‘You’re only 58 miles from the European City of Culture.’
And the moral, don’t ever accept being cast in the shadow.
First billing
Tourists to Lombardy through Milan-Bergamo airport might be forgiven for thinking it takes second billing.
But those of us who have chosen Bergamo know why Italy has chosen it and its neighbour Brescia as its capital of culture this year.
It is rewarding too to see Bergamo on the map for more than Covid.
The Tuscan town came to many people’s notice when it was propelled onto the news.
Fighting back from Covid
When Covid’s first spread in Europe was in the medieval idyll.
And, of course, being the curious type, and with 30 years journalism behind me I hotfooted it over to find out for myself.
What I discovered, of course, was an indomitable people, who were fighting back from their travails.
Enjoying their palaces, galleries, cafes, restaurants and the natural beauty around them .
All within the confines of the rules and regs of the time.
A panoramic picture has hung above my terminal since.
From which I give you my daily thoughts and news of Bergamo.
And you can scope for yourself from up on high at La Citta Alta, the hilltop old city which you can reach by funicular, or foot.
Brilliant Brescia
Brescia, I know less about but in a sign of city friendship, Bergamo has teamed up with its neighbour to maximise their opportunities.
On the doorstep of Lakes Garda and Iseo and the Alps how’s that for an introduction?
While it was tagged the Lioness of Italy.
We’ve been recommended the monastic complex of San Salvatore-Santa Giulia, a UNESCO Heritage site.
Check out yourself what else it has to offer from the people who know best, the Brescians.
And yes, Bergamo is a city of culture, take if from a Bandanaschi who became a Bergamaschi.
And you can fly in with Ryanair
