The Colleoni Chapel (Cappella Colleoni) is the funerary chapel that the mercenary general Bartolomeo Colleoni built for himself in the middle of Bergamo's upper town. Its facade of pink, white and dark marble in a diamond pattern is the showpiece of Piazza del Duomo, and to make room for it Colleoni had the sacristy of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore pulled down.
The Colleoni Chapel at a glance
- Where: on Piazza del Duomo in Città Alta, built against the side of Santa Maria Maggiore and next to the cathedral.
- Built: 1472–1476.
- By: the architect and sculptor Giovanni Antonio Amadeo; the dome frescoes are by Giambattista Tiepolo (1732–33).
- What it is today: a chapel and mausoleum open to visitors, holding the tombs of Colleoni and his daughter Medea.
- Time needed: 15–20 minutes inside, plus time to study the facade.
A soldier's monument to himself
Bartolomeo Colleoni, born near Bergamo around 1395–1400, was one of the most successful condottieri of the 15th century. He fought for and against both Venice and Milan, and in 1455 Venice made him captain-general of its army for life, the job he held until he died at his castle of Malpaga on 2 November 1475. He was rich, he had no legitimate son to carry on his name, and he wanted a monument in the city where his family had been prominent for centuries.
He chose the most prominent spot in Città Alta. In 1472 his men demolished the sacristy of Santa Maria Maggiore, and Amadeo, then one of the leading sculptor-architects of Lombardy, raised a richly decorated chapel on the site, finished in 1476. The chapel was altered over time: Tiepolo painted the dome in 1732–33, and the tomb of Medea Colleoni, who died in 1470, was brought here in the 19th century from a church near Urgnano. In 1969 Colleoni's own remains, long thought lost, were found inside his tomb.
What to look for
- The facade's lozenge pattern of coloured marble, with a rose window over the portal and medallions of Julius Caesar and Trajan.
- The relief panels at the base: biblical scenes and four labours of Hercules, a mix of Christian and classical heroes that suited a soldier.
- Inside, Colleoni's two-tier marble tomb, topped by a gilded wooden statue of him on horseback, finished in 1501 by craftsmen from Nuremberg.
- The tomb of his daughter Medea on the left wall, also by Amadeo, with a relief of Christ taken down from the cross.
- Tiepolo's frescoes in the dome and lunettes, with scenes from the lives of St John the Baptist, St Mark and St Bartholomew.
- On the iron railing outside, the Colleoni coat of arms (see below).
The coat of arms on the railing
Colleoni's surname sounds like coglioni, Italian slang for testicles, and his family made a joke of it: their coat of arms shows three of them. You will find the crest on the iron railing in front of the chapel, worn shiny where countless hands have rubbed it. Local superstition says that touching it brings good luck.
Tips for your visit
- Look at the facade in the morning, when the light falls across the square and the coloured marble stands out.
- Inside, photography may be restricted, so take your time and look rather than shoot.
- Dress modestly: this is a consecrated chapel, and shoulders and knees should be covered.
- Combine it with Santa Maria Maggiore next door; you can see both in under an hour.
Nearby
- Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore: the Romanesque church right next door, with a lavish Baroque interior and inlaid wooden choir panels.
- Bergamo Cathedral: the cathedral on the same square, dedicated to St Alexander, the city's patron saint.
- Piazza Vecchia: the main square of Città Alta, just through the arches of the Palazzo della Ragione.
- Campanone: the civic tower on Piazza Vecchia, whose bell still rings 100 times at 10 pm, a reminder of the old curfew.
See Bergamo with World City Trail
Our Bergamo scavenger hunt turns Città Alta into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 2 hours, with about 22 minutes of walking. It includes Piazza Vecchia and the lanes of Città Alta.
If you prefer a different format, Bergamo also has a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game.
Play the Bergamo scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Bergamo →
Play the outdoor escape game in Bergamo →
Facts checked in October 2026.