Bergamo is a stunning city in Lombardy that is surrounded by captivating scenery and stuffed full of architectural and cultural gems. One of the most beautiful buildings in the whole city, however, has to the Cappella Colleoni.
Built between 1472 and 1476, it was constructed as a mausoleum-cum-chapel for the Bergamese mercenary commander Bartolomeo Colleoni. One of the most famous mercenary captains in Italy, he led Venice's armies in campaigns across northern Italy and was known as a fearless soldier.
With a charming exterior and stunningly lovely interior, his chapel is a must-see for visitors coming to the city. Just find a vacation rental in Lombardy and spend time exploring Bergamo and her architectural boons.
Built between 1472 and 1476, it was constructed as a mausoleum-cum-chapel for the Bergamese mercenary commander Bartolomeo Colleoni. One of the most famous mercenary captains in Italy, he led Venice's armies in campaigns across northern Italy and was known as a fearless soldier.
With a charming exterior and stunningly lovely interior, his chapel is a must-see for visitors coming to the city. Just find a vacation rental in Lombardy and spend time exploring Bergamo and her architectural boons.
The façade of the Cappella Colleoni is expressed in red and white marble and is a polychromatic, richly ornamented thing of great beauty.
Statues sit in niches and perched on doors and windows, bands of different-coloured marble and patterned tiles march up the walls, columns are mismatched, reclaimed and varied, arches are delicately carved and there are two rose windows in the front elevation alone.
It is a veritable feast for the eyes that has been impressing, and continues to impress, visitors to the city for centuries now.
Statues sit in niches and perched on doors and windows, bands of different-coloured marble and patterned tiles march up the walls, columns are mismatched, reclaimed and varied, arches are delicately carved and there are two rose windows in the front elevation alone.
It is a veritable feast for the eyes that has been impressing, and continues to impress, visitors to the city for centuries now.
The interior, meanwhile, is no let-down either. It is similarly elaborate. Gilded and richly ornamented, it features plasterwork, the golden equestrian statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni, marble sarcophaguses, inlaid wooden desks, frescoes, statues and beautiful polychromatic tiled floors. In fact, it is all a little dazzling. There is just so much to see. For aficionados of the fine arts and those that are Instagram addicts, it is an absolute must but is sure to impress even the least interested members of any group with its mad and cluttered beauty.
Surely one of the highlights of religious architecture in Italy, this chapel makes for a pleasant excursion when exploring the stunning old town of Bergamo.
Surely one of the highlights of religious architecture in Italy, this chapel makes for a pleasant excursion when exploring the stunning old town of Bergamo.
Photo credits
picture 1: Rick Ligthelm / CC BY 2.0;
picture 2: John Shave / CC BY 2.0;
picture 3: Sailko / CC BY 3.0
picture 1: Rick Ligthelm / CC BY 2.0;
picture 2: John Shave / CC BY 2.0;
picture 3: Sailko / CC BY 3.0