LOMBARDIA

 
Milano — [Photo by: Ouael Ben Salah] — [• Unsplash]

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. You can visit over 400 museums and 10 Unesco sites. One example is greatly appreciated thanks to the renowned figures of the past who made it remarkable, such as Leonardo da Vinci, whose masterpiece, The Last Supper, is recognized as a World Heritage treasure. For wine lovers, a visit to Franciacorta is a must, a land known all over the world for its sparkling wine. Milan, the capital of Lombardy and the economic capital of Italy, is the city of fashion, art, and design. You will walk through the ancient alleys of Brera and the Pinacoteca of the same name to reach the Navigli, crossed by water canals, which, with Brera, are the nightlife districts. The rooms of the Sforza Castle and the Royal Palace are not to be missed. The grandeur of the Gothic Cathedral surprises inside as much as the view from the top of its terrace, where, in the shadow of the Madonnina, which stands high in the sky among the multitude of Gothic spires and thousands of statues, you can admire the city, its elegant palaces, and on clear days the mountains of the Alps. An evening at La Scala, the world's temple of opera, is a must. Finally, the most demanding palates have a wide choice to satisfy their taste between starred restaurants and refined Lombard cuisine.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele — [Photo by: Federico Di Dio] — [• Unsplash]

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele — [Photo by: Federico Di Dio] — [• Unsplash]

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.

 
Maggiore Lake [Photo by: Claudio Schwarz] — [• Unsplash]

Maggiore Lake [Photo by: Claudio Schwarz] — [• Unsplash]

 

Cities To Visit

 

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.