This was my first stay in an Airbnb home, and it won't be my last. Antonio's apartment is spacious, comfortable, well located, and well tended. I stayed there for seven weeks and was delighted in every way. First of all, Elisabetta and Adriano -- the building's concierges -- couldn't have been nicer or more responsive. A mirror fell in the bathroom, and they were on it immediately, seeing to it that the old mirror was removed, a temporary one installed right away, and a permanent one installed a week later. Elisabetta also volunteered to drive me to the airport at the god-awful hour of 5:15 am when I took a short hop to Tangier. Secondly, Antonio responded almost immediately regarding the mirror and contacted Elisabetta and Adriano right away. Third, the location is optimum, especially since it comes with a garage on the premises. Within a couple blocks are a small PAM grocery, a bread shop, a cheese and meat shop, a fruit and vegetable shop, coffee bars, several restaurants, and a Catholic church, Sant'Anna, where I went to Mass on Easter Sunday. With Elisabetta's help, I found a Chinese hairdresser who cut and colored my hair for -- r u ready? - €35!! And did a super job, too! The train station, which I used to go a couple of times to Milano, is less than 10 minutes away by car, with a small parking lot to its side (left as as you face the station) that always had room.
Because I was there so long, I really got to know the town, both upper and lower, and felt at home there. The upper city is quite special -- and don't miss the funicular up above la Città Alta to San Vigilio. The views are stunning. The Academia Carrara is the most splendid small museum I've found in Italy, and it's easily reached on foot from the apartment. Within reach were other places that I visited: Lago d'Iseo, Lago d'Idro, Lago di Como, Brescia (a diamond in the rough -- don't miss Santa Giulia Museum), Cremona (the Museo del Violino is well worth a visit), Pavia with its "tapestry in stone" (the Certosa), Val Canonic above Lago d'Iseo with its amazing, prehistoric stone engravings, San Pellegrino Terme with cheesy Taleggio nearby, and so much more. Lombardi is an incredibly rich and diverse area. Oh, I forgot Milano!. An hour by train. I went to La Scala and was awed.
Bottom line: You couldn't do better for a comfortable stay in Bergamo. The apartment is on the 4th floor with elevator; has one bedroom with a temporpedic mattress and an oddly configured but comfortable (according to my guests) sofa bed; spacious bathroom with good water pressure in the shower, as well as a tub; and a modern kitchen with dishwasher and microwave. And the WiFi was without flaw! Thanks, Antonio, for a great stay.