SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE, Square

Hi, my name’s Marcy, and I’m your personal guide. Along with MyWoWo, I’d like to welcome you to one of the wonders of the world: the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Bergamo.

You’re in Piazza Duomo, the square that was already the heart of the city in Roman Times, rich in history and extraordinary monuments. In addition to the Cathedral, with its white, eighteenth-century façade, also looking onto the square is the back of the centuries-old Palazzo della Ragione, and one side of the magnificent, stone Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The richly decorated façade to the right of the entrance to the church is the Colleoni Chapel, a marvel of Renaissance architecture.

Before visiting Santa Maria Maggiore, I suggest you stop to admire the Baptistry to the right of the entrance, protected by a wrought iron gate. The Gothic style of this splendid eight-sided building is given a refined touch by the marble columns of the small loggia. It was not designed as a stand-alone building: it was constructed in 1340 inside the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, which was once the city’s Cathedral. At that time, it was a magnificent loggia in red and white marble, designed to protect the baptismal font....