MUSEO DIOCESANO ADRIANO BERNAREGGI

In the heart of Bergamo's upper city, a fascinating itinerary weaves archaeology, art and spirituality through three places linked to the Adriano Bernareggi Foundation: l'Old Cathedral, l'Aula Picta and theOratory of St Wolf.

L'Old Cathedral is located under the present-day Cathedral of St Alexander. Thanks to the archaeological excavations carried out between 2004 and 2012, an area can now be visited that yields traces of Bergamo's first Christian cathedral, erected in the 5th century and dedicated to Saint Vincent the Martyr. Along an evocative route one encounters the remains of the sacred building, parts of Roman domus incorporated into the complex, shops and pavements that tell of the life of an ancient urban quarter. To walk through these spaces is to take a true journey through time, from the Roman roots to the medieval transformations, to the birth of the city's main religious centre.

L'Aula Pictalocated within the old Bishop's Palace, represents a rare example of a medieval audience hall. Its walls preserve an important cycle of frescoes, created between the 13th and 14th centuries, which combines sacred images and civil themes, relating human justice to divine justice. The room, with its strong symbolic value, welcomes visitors with a rich pictorial language, offering a unique cross-section of medieval figurative culture in Bergamo. The room thus becomes not only a historical testimony, but also a living space for reflection on the relationship between power, faith and community.

Finally, theOratory of St Wolflocated not far away, represents the third stop on the route. Built between the 16th and 17th centuries, it houses 18th-century frescoes on the theme of the Passion, decorating the vault and walls. The single hall, enriched with women's galleries and overlapping arcades, creates an intimate and cosy atmosphere, today made even more lively by the contemporary use of the space for exhibitions and cultural initiatives. The oratory thus becomes a bridge between religious memory and contemporary art, offering a continuous dialogue between past and present.

These three places, linked in a unified itinerary, restore the complexity and richness of Bergamo's history to the visitor, inviting him to rediscover the city through its deepest roots.