NephroCare - Seriate

Bergamo and its territory

Bergamo and the Bergamo plain are inserted in a naturalistic context of rare beauty: there are numerous springs of spring water and canals, including the best known that of Brancaleone and Caravaggio, the protected green oases, including that of the Parco del Serio Nord near Seriate, as well as the marvellous landscapes of the Brembana and Seriana valleys until reaching the imposing peaks of the Orobie Alps. There are numerous cultural offers organized throughout the year in Bergamo, very modern ski centres and facilities equipped to meet every need of winter tourism, a dense network of paths and shelters for trekking and mountaineering enthusiasts in the summer months and varied itineraries ideal for a fun picnic out of town.

A few kilometres from Gazzaniga, Lake Endine is the ideal destination for relaxing walks or bicycle rides or to practice numerous water sports including canoeing and timeless fishing. In Trescore Balneario, in Val Cavallina, the spa complex, immersed in the greenery of a wonderful park, already offers numerous wellness packages for complete relaxation. Of considerable architectural importance, the Church of Santa Barbara and Brigida, inside the park of Villa Suardi, finely frescoed by Lorenzo Lotto; the Romanesque church of San Cassiano and the Church of Mirabile as well as the ancient medieval tower at the foot of Monte Misma, the WWF Valpredina protected oasis that welcomes numerous animal species in one of the most intact environments of the Bergamo Prealps. Piario, a delightful mountain village located on a small plateau, an oasis of peace and tranquillity: reachable through a pleasant walk immersed in the woods up to the slopes of Mount Sapel Né, the Church of San Rocco, inside which houses numerous frescoes from the '400 as well as precious baroque decorations and, not far away, the Rudenì House Museum, where objects and kits from the late nineteenth century are exhibited.

Our NephroCare Seriate dialysis centre, just 5 km from Bergamo city, is the ideal destination for travellers interested in staying in the capital and an ideal starting point for discovering the surrounding area. Open all year round, it offers three shifts, morning, afternoon and evening, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and two shifts, morning and afternoon, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Bergamo from here can be easily reached by own means or by public transport, being Seriate well served by bus and train. Our dialysis centre is located just 5 Km from Orio al Serio airport, the third Milan airport.

Activities & Sights

Bergamo is a city with a thousand faces and a thousand cultural proposals, capable of satisfying everyone's needs. Porta Nuova, a monumental gate, formed by two imposing neoclassical buildings from which the entry of goods into the city was once controlled, is now the fulcrum of the Lower Town. In the back gardens of Piazza Matteotti stands the famous Monument to the Partisan, the work of famous sculptor Giacomo Manzù. The Academy and Picture Gallery of Carrara, one of the most important artistic institutions in the city, houses the works of masters of the size of Raphael, Botticelli, Mantegna, Tiziano, Tiepolo and Canaletto. In front of the picture gallery, reachable along the famous Sentierone, the Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art (GAMeC) is worth a visit. In Via Torquato Tasso there is the splendid Church of Santo Spirito, better known as the Church of the Tasso.

Continuing, it is possible to admire the most famous historic buildings of the city including Palazzo Suardi, Bonomi, Maffeis-De Beni, Daina-Penati and Agliardi until you reach the most fashionable via XX Settembre, via Sant'Alessandro and via Sant'Orsola, for let yourself be tempted by shopping in the numerous shops of the most famous fashion brands.

Bergamo "the most beautiful spontaneous example of medieval architecture" (cit. Frank Lloyd Wright)

The heart of the Upper Town, reachable via the San Vigilio funicular, is Piazza Vecchia which overlooks the most evocative sculptural and architectural masterpieces of Bergamo:

The "Campanone", the civic tower of the city; the octagonal Gothic Baptistery; the Palazzo della Ragione, the ancient town hall and the Contarini fountain. Dedicated to the captain of fortune Bartolomeo Colleoni is the majestic Colleoni Chapel, a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance. Inside the equestrian statue of the leader, the sarcophagi inlaid in marble and the tomb of the beloved daughter Medea.

Located nearby is the sumptuous Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, whose red and white marble lions majestically guard the entrances. Frescoes, stuccos and tapestries designed by Lorenzo Lotto, decorate the building which houses the monument to Gaetano Donizetti, the famous Italian composer. Surrounding the fortified city are the sixteenth-century Venetian Walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from which it is possible to enjoy a breath-taking view of Bergamo and the gunboat of S. Giovanni, a precious testimony of military technique in Bergamo under Venetian domination.

Bergamo and its mountains

Val Seriana is the ideal combination of nature, history and millenary tractions: There are numerous alpine tourist resorts that dot the area. An oasis of peace is Selvino, a few km from Gazzaniga. Numerous activities and offers are available in the area. From Monte Purito to nature trails up to the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Perello, from mountain bike excursions, to the famous mini walk organized for children up to the numerous paths of the Adventure Park.

A few kilometres away also the famous Terme di San Pellegrino attracts visitors. Not far away on the plateau that stretches from Monte Cimiero to Pizzo Formico and then to Presolana, stands Clusone, a well-known tourist resort known for its numerous aided paths through verdant pine forests and the most demanding hikes in the Pre-Alps and Orobic Alps. Located at the top of the Scalve Valley and set in a wonderful natural environment, Schilpario, the flagship of Nordic skiing with the famous Pista degli Abeti, is the ideal place for a relaxing walk or for more demanding excursions aimed at true professionals.

Crespi D’Adda, strolling through a workers' village of the late nineteenth century.

Crespi D’Adda, less than 20 km from Seriate, is the only example of industrial archaeology classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as an illustrious example of a workers' village, an environmental and architectural jewel. A day at the Crespi D’Adda cotton mill is a dip into a place out of time, the unique opportunity to identify with the life of the last century.

Abbazia Sant’Egidio in Fontanella, the charm of the Middle Ages

About 30 km from Seriate in the woods of Mount Canto stands the Abbey of Sant'Egidio. Founded a thousand years ago in Romanesque style and embellished with wonderful frescoes and a mysterious sepulchre it is an enchanting place to relive an era of knights and crusades.

Caravaggio - Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Fonte

The most beloved Marian shrine in the area, visited each year by fervent pilgrims devoted to the Madonna and numerous visitors, is an imposing building overlooking a wide tree-lined avenue that starts from the eighteenth-century arch of Porta Nuova. The majestic high altar designed by Filippo Juvarra, the marvellous frescoes and the Sacro Speco which leads to the Sacra Fonte are of considerable importance.

Accommodation

Bergamo confirms its international vocation paid off every year by a high number of tourists from all over Europe. The tourist accommodation throughout the area is very good and accessible at medium prices, despite that, for the most demanding, there are luxury facilities and wellness centres especially in the city and in the thermal areas of San Pellegrino and Trescore Balneario. Booking a stay in one of the many equipped refuges and campsites, immersed in the quiet, between valleys and mountains, is an excellent opportunity to enjoy a holiday to discover the area. There are also numerous charming beds & breakfasts, small pensions and family-run holiday homes as well as the possibility of seasonally renting comfortable apartments located in the most famous mountain villages.

Culinary & Culture

Simple traditional dishes

In this land, prestigious restaurants have established themselves, ranging between tradition rooted in local cuisine and experimentation. Cuisine is rich in flavours thanks to the numerous mountain pastures, excellent cheeses including Quartirolo, Formaggella della Val di Scalve, Taleggio and Selvino di Grotta being served with honey and delicious local jams. These can be enjoyed accompanied by rich platters of cold cuts, Risotto with Bagoss, casoncelli, beef in oil, tasty roasts based on aromatic herbs or polenta.

Also delicious are the desserts, including Torta Donizetti, Torta di Treviglio and delicacies based on stracciatella. In the mountain area there are numerous typical restaurants where you can taste the flavours of the past as well as small shops where you can buy delicious local products.