Lombardy is one of the largest regions in Italy and is situated in the north of the peninsula, bordering Switzerland. Its territory stretches from the Alps to the lowland of the Po Valley, creating a wide range of landscapes.
The scenery of the Alps is particularly charming, with Valchiavenna, Valtelline and Camonica Valley. Winter sports lovers will find modern equipments and facilities in Lombardy, like the popular resorts of Tonale, Bormio, Livigno and Madesimo.
Another typical landscape of the region is offered by the tracts of hills, like the area of Franciacorta, famous for its vineyards and wine production. Then, the charm of the great lakes.
The east side of Lake Garda, with Sirmione and other renowned towns, is a very attractive tourist resort; Lake Como and Lake Maggiore are extremely beautiful as well, surrounded by aristocratic villas, parks and picturesque small towns.
The region is also characterized by the great flat tracts of the lowland of the Po Valley, dotted with water stretches and cultivated with rice-fields: this is the typical landscape of Lomellina, the folkloristic land of rice weeders. There are thousands of other distinctive aspects in this region. Lombardy, aided by its geographic position and fertile soil, is a particularly rich land, where nature, history, art and culture are harmoniously combined with innovation, technology, fashion, entertainment and modernity.
The provinces of the region are: Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Cremona, Lecco, Lodi, Mantua, Milan (regional capital), Monza and Brianza, Pavia, Sondrio, Varese.
The natural, artistic and architectural framework of the region offers a wide array of aspects. UNESCO sites are Mantua, ruled by the Gonzaga and the Sabbioneta, the “ideal town” of the Italian Renaissance; the Sacred Mountains, a devotional route in the area of Varese and Ossuccio; the prehistoric rock paintings of Camonica Valley; the reticular railroad that goes through the mountains of Albula and Bernina; the 17th-century industrial settlement of Crespi d’Adda and, finally, Milan, with its church of Santa Maria delle Grazie that contains the Last Supper, a famous fresco painted by Leonardo Da Vinci.
Another important architectural work in Milan is the famous La Scala Opera House. The monumental Duomo is absolutely extraordinary, made in white marble and dedicated to Virgin Mary.
As for Monza, we must mention the natural park that encloses the Autodromo, a modern motorsport racetrack, the Royal House, and the Dome, which guards the ancient “iron crown”, supposedly made from one of the nails of the Crucifixion.
In Brescia, Saint Salvatore Monastery is a particularly interesting building; Cremona is still famous for the tradition of violin-makers, who had Stradivari as their first master. Pavia is the city of the “one hundred Towers” and of the Visconti Castle, and it is famous for its University. Varese is the “town of gardens”.
There are many opportunities for mountaineering and for winter sports in this region, from the excursions on mount Grigna or Resegone (Lecco) to the ski resorts of Bormio, Livigno and Medesimo.
The mountains, the valleys and the great lakes of Lombardy are the ideal place for a holiday among nature, sport, rest and routes to discover the territory.
The peaks of the Alps welcome ski and snowboard enthusiasts in internationally famous ski resorts, like Camonica Valley and Valtelline, with their popular resorts of Livigno, Bormio, Aprica and thousands of kilometers of slopes of all kinds.
In summer, the mountains propose the emotion of climbing on mount Adamello and on other heights, rafting, trekking routes and mountain-biking, while the Stelvio glacier offers skiers adventurous slopes even in the warmest months.
The mountains of Lombardy are also a good place for a relaxing holiday, thanks to their several spas rich in therapeutic thermal waters, like Boario or Bormio thermal Spa, surrounded by a beautiful park.
Lake Garda, just like Lake Como and Iseo, ensure restful and entertaining holidays, with the possibility of sailing, windsurfing, water skiing, canoeing, cycling, trekking, hiking in the neighbourhoods and going on boat trips.
There are many itineraries to discover the most peculiar aspects of Lombardy: the Sacred Mountains offer exceptional spiritual and natural routes; in Valchiavenna you can discover the traditions of a land that was the meeting point between Italy and Northern Europe for centuries; the natural parks around the area of the Navigli Canals reveal many different and charming landscapes, from the hills of Brianza to the green banks of River Adda.
Gourmands can take the several roads of wine of the region: from Valtelline to Lodi, from the area of Pavia to Mantua, up to Franciacorta, famous all over the world for its sparkling wines. This is a peculiar journey among terraces and hills covered in vineyards, with several stops at wineries and farms to taste delicious wines and renowned local specialties.
The typical food of Lombardy ranges from the delicious saffron risotto to cotoletta milanese, from the egg soup of Pavia to pork and cabbage casserole, from Valtelline pizzoccheri and bresaola to the raw salami of Varzi and fresh water fish, the famous dried and grilled lake whitefish.
Among the most famous and tasty types of cheese of the region are gorgonzola blue cheese, named after a small town, mascarpone, lodigiano, grana, robiola and bel paese.
Milanese panettone is renowned worldwide, and so are amaretti di Saronno, sbrisolona crumbly cake of Mantua and the nougat of Cremona.
Wines Grumello, Inferno and Sassella della Valtellina are very famous, just like the wines and the spumante produced in Franciacorta, Bonarda and Barbera of Pavia.
