From June 27 to September 27, the GAMeC and Brightstar promote six special events to explore some of Bergamo’s most historic and iconic locations, along the exhibition route of Seasons by Maurizio Cattelan.

The guided itinerary spans four key venues of the project – GAMeC, the Ex Oratory of San Lupo, the Palazzo della Ragione, and the Rotonda dei Mille – and extends through some of the city’s best-known districts, from Borgo Pignolo to the Uppetr Town, and into the modern historic center of the Lower Town. A route that weaves together contemporary art, urban context, and social reflection, offering visitors the opportunity to view the city with fresh eyes, slow their pace, and interpret, through art, the transformations shaping Bergamo today.

Two types of visits are available: one designed for adults and one tailored for families with children aged 6 and up. Led by GAMeC’s museum educators and licensed tour guides, participants will share an engaging experience in the spirit of the Biennale delle Orobie – Thinking Like a Mountain, a project that connects art, territories, and communities.

CALENDAR

Friday, June 27 – 5:00 PM
Adults

Saturday, July 5 – 10:30 AM
Families with children aged 6+

Friday, July 11 – 5:00 PM
Adults

Tuesday, August 26 – 4:00 PM
Adults

Saturday, September 6 – 2:00 PM
Families with children aged 6+

Saturday, September 27 – 5:00 PM
Adults

Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Itinerary:
GAMeC → Ex Oratory of San Lupo → Palazzo della Ragione → Rotonda dei Mille

Shuttle service provided

Meeting and end point:
GAMeC – Via San Tomaso, 53, Bergamo

Free of charge – Booking required
E-mail: biglietteria@gamec.it

VISIT ITINERARY

GAMeC – Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea
Via San Tomaso, 53

The tour begins at GAMeC’s historic headquarters, a building that has undergone numerous transformations over the centuries – from monastery to military barracks – before becoming a modern and contemporary art museum. This layered history directly dialogues with Cattelan’s works Empire (2025) and No (2021), which invite reflection on the cyclical nature of history, the rise and fall of values, and the processes of personal and societal transformation.

Ex Oratorio di San Lupo
Via San Tomaso, 7

A short walk from GAMeC lies the Ex Oratory of San Lupo, where Cattelan presents Bones (2025), a monumental sculpture of an eagle lying on the ground with wings outstretched – an icon of defeat and a symbol of power, sovereignty, and authority. It evokes the decline of imperial values and a rupture in our relationship with nature’s rhythms. The exhibition site is highly symbolic: once a burial ground, the Oratory has long been a space of liminality – between life and death, public and private, devotion and oblivion. The surrounding area is rich in historical and artistic landmarks, highlighting the vital role of the borgo in the city’s life. On a short stretch of Via Pignolo, you’ll find aristocratic palaces, the Fountain of the Dolphin, and the Church of Sant’Alessandro della Croce, home to artworks by some of the most prominent artists active in Bergamo between the 16th and 18th centuries.

Palazzo della Ragione, Sala delle Capriate
Piazza Vecchia

Built in the 12th century as the seat of civic power, the Palazzo della Ragione rises at the heart of Città Alta. In its solemn Sala delle Capriate, Cattelan exhibits November (2024), a sculpture prompting reflection on vulnerability, marginalization, and the dignity of the most fragile – themes that resonate deeply with Bergamo’s identity as a resilient and united community, especially during recent challenges such as the pandemic. The narrative continues through Piazza Vecchia and Piazza Duomo, the civic and religious centers of Città Alta, where historical layers reveal centuries of power, from Roman times through the ruins of the Roman Forum near the Civic Tower, to faith and military figures whose legacy has been transformed into artistic masterpieces.

Rotonda dei Mille

The tour ends at the Rotonda dei Mille, dedicated to the Bergamasque volunteers who joined Giuseppe Garibaldi’s 1860 campaign – a symbol of Bergamo’s patriotism and courage, earning it the title “City of the Thousand.” In One (2025), Cattelan places a child on Garibaldi’s shoulders, with fingers mimicking a gun – a gesture that oscillates between childhood play and a hint of assertion, resistance, or potential rebellion. It can also be read as a provocation that questions the responsibilities of future generations in confronting history and its contradictions. The short walk to the Rotonda will also offer a chance to observe several “architectures of power” from the fascist era, built to redesign the modern face of the city.