Introducing Italy’s Capital of Culture Cities for 2023: Bergamo and Brescia. The two cities in Lombardy are often overlooked in the midst of Italy’s countless unmissable destinations, despite being less than an hour away from Milan and a 40 minutes’ drive from each other. The two are picking up the baton from the island of Procida, in the Gulf of Naples (another travel underdog in the boot-shaped country). In 2020, Italy’s first coronavirus patients were registered here—now the two are living out a designation that was given as a symbol of hope for brighter days ahead. 🔗 At the link in bio, our guide to Bergamo and Brescia.