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You might say the northern Italian city of Bergamo has a split personality. Its lower town, the economic and commercial hub, is separated from the historic, medieval upper town by immense Venetian walls.

Your private driver and guide will arrive at your Lake Como hotel to begin the drive to the town of Bergamo.

Your driver will bring you directly to Lower Bergamo, where you'll board the town's funicular. This railway, specially designed for traveling up and down steep inclines, has been carrying locals and visitors between the lower and upper town for more than 120 years. As the funicular's orange coach ascends, take in the incredible views of Lower Bergamo and its surroundings. You'll pass through the immense Venetian Works of Defense, built between the 16th and 17th centuries to protect the city from attack. These walls run through 5 other Italian, Croatian and Montenegran cities and are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You might think the funicular is really a time machine, for when you step out into Upper Bergamo, (also known as Bergamo Alta), you will have been transported back to Medieval times, with cobblestone streets, lovely piazzas, domed churches, and sublime architecture. Your guide will relate the fascinating history and traditions of this incredible town.

The Piazza Vecchia is the heart and soul of Upper Bergamo, its artistic and cultural center. With the intriguing Contarini Fountain at the center, exquisite Renaissance architecture and lovely cafes, Piazza Vecchia has served as a gathering place for residents and visitors for generations.

The tour moves on to Piazza Duomo, with its concentration of religious buildings. You'll visit the magnificent Bergamo Cathedral, resplendent with beautiful dome frescos, baptistry paintings, an ornate altarpiece, and a tiara belonging to Pope John XXIII. The Cathedral is dedicated to the town's patron saint, St. Alexander the Martyr, whose remains rest within the altar. Right next door, another masterpiece, the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, awaits. This stunning example of Lombard Romanesque architecture was built in honor of the Virgin Mary, who protected the city during a plague outbreak in 1100.

It's time for a break and your guide will be happy to suggest a few lovely spots for a delicious lunch.

The tour continues around the small, picturesque alleys and numerous, charming squares that characterize Bergamo Alta. You will see Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe, an ancient shoe marketplace that was formerly a point of convergence for streets coming from Milan to the west and Venice to the east and is now a point of access to the city.

Piazza Mercato del Fieno holds a nice surprise, the Medieval St. Francesco convent that is now a museum.

Finally, you will admire a perfectly preserved, ancient washhouse, built in 1881. This "lavatoio" was used by locals to do laundry, socialize and quench their thirst. This valued remnant of the city's past represents a masterful example of applied engineering, as it worked perfectly until the 1950s.

You'll board the funicular once more, returning back to the lower part of town. From here, your private driver will take you back to Lake Como. During the ride, feel free to ask your knowledgeable guide any questions about all that you have just experienced.