LOMBARDIA
Lombardy extends from the Alps to the Po Valley and includes large industrial centers, cities of art, and small villages rich in history.
Known as the "region of lakes", it is home to more than 15 lakes, including Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore, Lake Como, and Lake Iseo. It is a dynamic land, between ancient and modern landscapes, the most advanced industry and solid agriculture, in a unique mix in which Milan, the capital of design, fashion, the Stock Exchange, and finance, stands out. The unique flavors and traditions of each of its areas tell of historical phases and dominations that have marked the region in various eras.
Photo by [Domeian] — [• CC BY-SA 4.0]
About Lombardia.
Lombardy offers an extraordinary variety of attractions, from cities of art to lakes, up to mountains. Not to be missed is Milan, the Capital of Lombardy; it’s one of the world’s capitals of fashion and design. The Duomo is a must-visit, but here are the other can’t-miss spots to complete your trip: Cenacolo, Sforza Castle, the upper city of Bergamo, the shores of Lake Como and Garda, like Sirmione, Mantua, Cremona, and the spectacular Val di Mello, ideal for trips through culture, natural landscapes, and excellent food and wine.
Things To Do
Lake Maggiore is one of the most beautiful Italian lakes that has enchanted great Italian and foreign artists who have stayed here. Lake Maggiore is also a place rich in spirituality, so in Leggiuno stands the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso, reachable via a steep staircase, while along the slopes of Mount Cargiago, there is theSacred Mount of Ghiffa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in Orsellina, you can visit the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sasso, dating back to the late fifteenth century.
Considered the largest of the pre-Alpine lakes, hence the name "Maggiore", it is among the beauties of this lake are its islands, as many as 11, of which 8 are in Piedmont and Lombardy. Between Stresa and Verbania, the archipelago of the Borromean Islands, with Isola Madre, Isola Bella, and Isola dei Pescatori, is of great charm.
Nature lovers will find Lake Maggiore the ideal place to spend their holidays, thanks to the existence of countless botanical gardens, including that of Villa Taranto with more than a thousand plants, that of Alpinia of 40000 m², the Camellia park in Locarno, and the gardens located on the various islands. There are also many nature reserves, such as the Val Grande National Park and the Valle del Ticino National Park, a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
It is one of the largest statues in the world and is located in Arona: it is the Colossus of St. Charles Borromeo, more than 35 meters high. Near Carciano, it is advisable to take the cable car that leads both to the Alpine Botanical Garden and to the Mottarone peak, a popular ski resort.
Sacra di San Michele Arcangelo — [Photo by: Franco Borrelli] — [• CC BY-SA 4.0]
Cities To Visit
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Milan is considered one of the world capitals of fashion and design. The Lombard capital has always been a shopping destination, which is concentrated in particular in the famous Fashion District. Founded around 590 BC by a Celtic tribe of the Insubres group in the center of the Po Valley, the ancient Mediolanum has always played a central role in the Italian political and cultural world. The Duomo, is the symbol of the city, with its majestic spires that touch the sky and at the top the Madonnina that watches over the city. A wonderful example of Gothic art and architecture, it is the largest church in Italy. A visit to the Duomo Museum, housed in the halls of the Royal Palace, is recommended. In the center of the square is the monument dedicated to Vittorio Emanuele II with an equestrian statue, in bronze, representing the King intent on restraining horses.
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Bergamo is rich in history that also speaks of opera music, a characteristic landscape and a medieval heart perched on the hill, surrounded by the Venetian Walls, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the thirteenth century, while the struggles between Guelphs and Ghibellines were raging, the city passed under the influence of the Visconti of Milan, who fortified the Citadel.Having become part of the domains of the Republic of Venice, the Venetians rebuilt the old city, erecting the imposing defensive walls.
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The province of Brescia, the largest in Lombardy, boasts an extremely varied territory, which extends from the Lower Brescia to Val Camonica. Here, you can enjoy a wide variety of experiences. History enthusiasts can visit the Castle of Brescia, for a dip in the Middle Ages, or the Park of Rock Engravings in Capo di Ponte, to the fascinating Camunian civilization. You cannot miss a trip to the Roman Villa in Desenzano del Garda and the historic center of Sirmione. Those who want to indulge in a little relaxation can count on the thermal baths of Boario and the benefits of the water of Sirmione. And those who love skiing, on the other hand, can choose between the Pontedilegno-Tonale Ski Area and the Borno Ski Area.
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Como has been a world capital in the field of silk production for several centuries, and is still famous for its silk industries. The origins of the Duomo and the Broletto that stands next to it date back to the 1300s.The gentler landscapes and lush vegetation of the western branch of the lake, with the city of Como at the lower end, contrast with the more rugged landscapes of the Lecco branch. Both offer places of Roman origin, medieval villages, ruins of imposing castles perched on panoramic spurs, and splendid villas and gardens to visit. To grasp the charm of Como, it is not enough to visit its monuments: you have to start from the lake, let yourself be seduced by the elegance of buildings and spaces, by the discreet charm of the cobbled street.
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The province of Cremona boasts many protected green areas including regional parks and nature reserves. However, it is not only these natural paradises such as the Oglio and Serio Regional Park that attract the many visitors, but also elegant cities such as Cremona and Crema.The first stop visiting the provincial capital is certainly the Torrazzo, which stands out next to the Cathedral of Cremona. It’s also considered the home of violins and those visiting the city cannot miss a stop at the Violin Museum, a stone's throw from the beautiful Piazza del Comune.
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Lecco, one of the most evocative places in Lombardy. Explore the city and its territory following Manzoni's path, in the footsteps of The Betrothed. From the Ponte Azzone Visconti you will have one of the best views of Pescarenico, the oldest district of the city and described in the novel. Visit the Rocca di Vercurago, also known as the Castle of the Unnamed, and the Villa Manzoni, which belonged to the writer's family. The basilica of San Nicolò, Palazzo Belgiojoso and Piazza Era are definitely worth a visit.The shores of the lake are full of enchanting villages.
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Lodi is one of the richest cities in history in the Po Valley.Founded in 1158 by Frederick Barbarossa, its origins are actually much older. Walking through the streets of the historic center, stop in front of monuments such as the Cathedral Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, or Cathedral of Lodi, the Temple of the Incoronata and the Palazzo Mozzanica, one of the main examples of Lombard Renaissance architecture.
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Monza is undoubtedly one of the most important and significant urban centers in all of Lombardy. Rich in history, its origins date back to the Iron Age. The Royal Villa, or Royal Palace of Monza, is a must-see. The huge neoclassical building, the former residence of the Habsburgs, is immersed in the enormous Park, one of the largest urban parks in Europe. Inside, for those who are passionate about engines, it is possible to visit the National Autodrome, built in 1922 and still a reference track for motorcycle sports. Walking through the streets of the center, however, you can come across the Arengario, an ancient town hall of the thirteenth century.
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A tour of Pavia can only begin with the Certosa di Pavia, a monumental complex located on the outskirts of the city. A jewel of the Renaissance, it was commissioned as a family chapel by Gian Galeazzo Visconti at the end of the 1400s. It was to serve as a mausoleum after his death and was entrusted to the Carthusian monks, to later pass to the Cistercians and Benedictines of Pavia. The interior is Gothic, modeled on the Duomo of Milan, but the façade is Renaissance and inside preserves works by Perugino, Pinturicchio and Guercino.
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The “garden city" set in a region rich in lakes and lying on seven hills. To visit Palazzo Estense with its park, Villa Panza, Piazza del Podestà and the Basilica of San Vittore. A must visit are :the eighteenth-century Villa Della Porta Bozzolo, the caves of Valganna and the Sacro Monte of Varese with frescoed chapels and a view of the plain.
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Built around three lakes fed by the Mincio river, it is the city of Virgil and the Gonzaga characterized by a charm that overwhelms and goes straight to the heart of those who visit it and never forget it. Surrounded by lakes and an environment of high naturalistic value, rich in art and history, Mantua was transformed by the Gonzaga into a court-city of great splendor.
The combination of Renaissance palaces, medieval buildings and imposing neoclassical architecture completes a unique urban landscape. -
The capital of Valtellina, Sondrio, stands out for being the most important economic pole of Valtellina, a corridor between the north and south of the Alps, and also a land of sanctuaries and fine wines. Walking you will come across the nineteenth-century palaces, elegant in their neoclassical facades, and then those of the sixteenth century, the Martinengo and Praetorian palaces.
Milano Photo Federico Di Dio
Como Lake Photo: Stanislav Gulei ua
Maggiore Lake Photo: Claudio Schwarz
Iseo Lake Photo: Marko Lehikoinen
Monza Photo: Vincenzo Inzone
Visconti Castle Photo: Paolo Comai
Villa d'Este Photo: at
Brescia Photo: Daniel R.
Bergamo Photo: Mattia Bericchia
Lombardy is one of the liveliest regions in Italy in the field of contemporary art, with a concentration of cultural centers, museums, and widespread cultural initiatives. In addition to the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, there are also 5 traditional Lombard theaters: the Donizetti in Bergamo, the Grande in Brescia, the Ponchielli in Cremona, the Fraschini in Pavia, and the Teatro Sociale in Como. An intangible treasure that is preserved and enriched by traditions handed down from generation to generation and constantly recreated by communities, in relation to their environment and history, and their interaction with nature. A heritage that lives in communities, between groups and individuals, and that creates a sense of identity and continuity, stimulating creativity and respect for cultural diversity.
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There are over a million cultural assets surveyed in Lombardy, including the famous fifteenth-century fresco of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, the fourteenth-century medieval Torrazzo of Cremona, the highest historic bell tower in Italy with its 111 meters, the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, inaugurated in 1778 and become a famous temple of international opera.
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Nestled between the mountain range of the Alps and the course of the Po river, the Lombard territory alternates the wide expanses of the Po Valley with the evocative mountain views of the alpine landscapes, passing through the mid-mountain valleys.The region can also count on the charm of the areas immediately close to Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore and Lake Como, with landscapes that represent a tourist attraction for visitors from all over the world.
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Lake Como is an area known for the spectacular panorama at the foot of the Prealps. Here you can visit Villa del Balbianello, a romantic eighteenth-century residence with a garden that has hosted famous writers and travelers. Nature lovers will find Lake Maggiore the ideal place to spend their holidays, thanks to the existence of countless botanical gardens, including that of Villa Taranto, with more than a thousand plants.Lake Iseo, closes to the north with the small town of Pisogne: a handful of pastel-colored houses and a lakefront full of characteristic bars and restaurants that form the border between the plain and the hilly area crossed by the Oglio river and the mountains.
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Lombardy is a region to be discovered also from a food and wine point of view. Lombard cuisine is rich and varied, characterized by the use of rice, corn (polenta), butter and dairy products, with Alpine and Po Valley influences. Among the iconic dishes stand out the Milanese risotto, the cutlet, the ossobuco, the cassöeula, the pizzoccheri of Valtellina and famous desserts such as panettone, reflecting a strong peasant and city tradition.The most important vineyards in Lombardy are concentrated in three main areas: Franciacorta for DOCG classic method sparkling wines, Oltrepò Pavese for Pinot Noir and sparkling wine, and Valtellina for heroic Nebbiolo-based viticulture. Lombardy's wine production is characterized by a high presence of quality.