No admiring words can describe the beauty and splendor of the ancient chapel towering above the small Duomo Square in the heart of the historic center of Bergamo. And life is not enough to recount all the legends associated with this mysterious religious building. For example, it is believed that if you touch the Colleoni family coat of arms on the iron lattice at midnight, you will succeed in everything. Everyone can check the veracity of this belief. Just come to the picturesque Duomo Square (Piazza Duomo) in the fabulous city of Bergamo, Italy.

It is worth coming to the Colleoni Chapel (Cappella Colleoni) not only at midnight but also on a clear sunny day to enjoy its magnificent exterior and luxurious interior. The project of the Italian sculptor and architect Giovanni Antonio Amadeo was completed in 1476. The construction of the chapel was closely associated with the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The new church had to match it and create a single ensemble with the basilica. Hence the pointed lantern above the central dome, and the marble facing of the walls.

Today, the combination of white, black, and red marble in the chapel's facade attracts travelers and makes the building stand out against the general background. Its main entrance is decorated with a medieval rose window and two stone medallions with images of the Roman emperors Gaius Julius Caesar and Trajan. There are also allegorical figures of virtues, bas-reliefs of the Labours of Hercules. Thus, one can study history by watching the facade of the Colleoni Chapel.

The construction of the magnificent chapel was closely connected with the life and death of Bartolomeo Colleoni. Being a wealthy citizen and desiring to surround himself with beautiful things, he decided to build this chapel. Later, he was buried inside it. Colleoni's grave in a triumphal arch is decorated with luxurious bas-reliefs, depicting scenes from the life of Christ, lion heads, and a gilded wooden equestrian statue of the condottiere made by Nuremberg's craftsmen at the beginning of the 16th century.