Serie A Double Header: Watch Atalanta and Como on the Same Weekend

With five representatives in Serie A this season, Lombardy really is a calcio hotbed.

Which, of course, is great news for groundhoppers hoping to squeeze as much juice out of their calcio weekends as possible.

Even without venturing beyond the boundaries of Serie A, the region offers plenty of options to watch two games on the same trip.

Take the weekend of September of 12-13 for example.

Atalanta host Cagliari at 8:45pm on the Saturday, while Como welcome Parma to the Sinigaglia at 3pm the following day.

Bergamo’s Orio al Serio Airport is well connected to the UK by a number of budget airlines. The late kick-off means that arriving on Saturday morning/afternoon leaves plenty of time to explore the city before heading off to the New Balance Arena. Milan’s airports, Malpensa and Linate, are also options, as basing yourself in the fashion capital leaves you 50 minutes from Bergamo by train, while Como is even closer, 40 minutes away.

Tickets for Atalanta games starts at €25 and our guide has all the information you need.

Get up early for an early flight and you could be sipping on a cappuccino by mid-morning at Caffe del Tasso in Piazza Vecchia, the centre of Citta’ Alta.

The oldest cafe in Bergamo, this is the perfect place to start exploring the wonderful upper town, before stopping for lunch at Trattoria Sant’ Ambroeus for some local casoncelli alla bergamasca – small pasta parcels similar to ravioli, filled with minced beef and pork meat, bread, Grana Padano cheese, eggs, nutmeg and Amaretti biscuits, and served in a sauce made with melted butter, sage and crispy bacon.

If you prefer something quick, grab a slice of pizza or focaccia at Il Fornaio on Via Bartolomeo Colleoni, just around the corner from Piazza Vecchia, then head down to the New Balance Arena, the picturesque walk takes you from the upper to the lower town in 25 minutes.

Reward yourself with a drink at Villa Sport Cafe or Il Baretto, both just across the road from the ground, with people sipping coffees at the bar or drinking beer from bottles as they spill out on the street.

The train from Bergamo to Como San Giovanni takes under two hours, with a change in Milan. Get an early service and you will be in Como in time for breakfast by the lake.

Spend the next couple of hours walking off your cappuccino and croissant around the shores by taking in Lake Como’s wonderful views, then make your way to the Stadio Sinigaglia for some pre-match drinks at Bar Pino. Nestled in the north-west corner of the ground, beside the Aero Club, this may well be the closest bar to a stadium anywhere in Italy and is a favourite among the Como fans. Il Birratrovo is also worth checking out for its wide selection of beers and a bite to eat, while Birrivico is another fan favourite.

If there is time between the final whistle and flying home, our playbook is full of recommendations for somewhere to eat.

Parma will be Como’s first home game of the season after three in a row on the road due to their Curva Como being upgraded to host Champions League fixtures. Check out our guide on how to buy tickets and have a look at the club website for a range of hospitality packages and matchday experiences.