How often do we base our entire image of a destination on what we know of just one small part of it? You certainly wouldn’t be the first to dismiss the idea of a holiday in Lombardy – it’s so easy to associate it almost exclusively with its capital city of Milan. But travel beyond Milan, and you’ll find strikingly beautiful mountains and lakes, exquisite hideaway villages, and enough culture, history and art to fill several vacations.
Visit Sophisticated Cities and Towns
Extending across the northern reaches of Italy, Lombardy is home not just to Milan, but to many wonderful towns and villages. Nevertheless, if you’re arriving by air, Milan is likely to be the first stop.
Busy, noisy and extremely stylish, the city is the powerhouse of the Italian business world and every fashionista’s dream. You’ll find numerous art and cultural attractions, but if you prefer a more compact environment, head for nearby Bergamo which has a glorious historic centre, or the tiny medieval city of Mantua.
Explore Some of Italy’s Prettiest Villages
But to really explore the region, my advice is to dip into several of the tiny villages that dot the landscape. My favourite is Lovere, a picturesque lakefront village on Lake Iseo. Other great spots include Teglio, set in the hills of the Valtellina and home to the stunning Renaissance Palazzo Besta. There’s more Renaissance architecture in Sabbioneta and a splendid example of medieval military architecture at the Rocca Sforzesca fortress in Soncino.
Delve into Culture, History, Music and Art
Culturally, you’ll find yourself spoilt for choice. Lombardy is home to 11 UNESCO World Heritage sites, which is more than any other Italian region. In fact, the Val Camonica valley with its 250,000 preserved rock engravings, was Italy’s first UNESCO site.
When it comes to art, despite its worldwide recognition, nothing quite prepares you for the sight of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper in Milan. If you’re more into architecture, Milan highlights include the medieval Castello Sforzesco and, of course, the Duomo.
But you don’t need to travel far from Milan to see more wonderful sights. Nearby Pavia has an incredible cultural heritage which includes the magnificent Certosa di Pavia Carthusian monastery and extensive collections of medieval and Renaissance art. Close by, the Renaissance city of Vigevano boasts one of Italy’s finest Renaissance squares, the Piazza Ducale and a castle (the Castello Sforzesco of Vigevano) where Leonardo da Vinci is believed to have worked.
Another favourite for me is the town of Cremona, home to the world’s greatest violin makers including Antonio Stradivari and Andrea Amati. You can take in a display of historic violins in the town’s Museo del Violino and also attend concerts with musicians using original Stradivari violins. And, of course, music also features heavily in Milan, thanks to the magnificent Teatro alla Scala opera house as well as in Bergamo, the hometown of Gaetano Donizetti.
Experience the Great Outdoors
But my real passion are the region’s wonderful landscapes, and hiking in Lombardy is the perfect way to escape the more popular tourist spots and appreciate the incredible natural beauty. I’ve done hikes in the countryside that surrounds each of Lombardy’s lakes – Como, Iseo and parts of Maggiore and Garda – and love exploring the glacial lakes and mountain peaks in northern Lombardy. In the Valtellina valley, trails lead through vineyards, nature reserves and alpine meadows.
Gastronomic Lombardy
You won’t be surprised to learn that Lombardy also rates highly for gastronomic experiences. Milan, in particular, is known for its creamy risotto alla Milanese and Christmas ‘panettone’. You’ll find exceptional cheeses everywhere, notably mascarpone, gorgonzola, stracchino, taleggio from the Bergamo province, and the aromatic alpine ‘storico ribelle’. It’s also worth stopping by Cremona if you’re a nougat fan!
But Lombardy is also a remarkable and quite diverse wine region. You’ll find several wine trails, often in wine-producing areas that are little known to tourists but if you’re interested in wine, take time to visit two fascinating wine producing areas. The first is Franciacorta which produces Italy’s best-kept wine secret, the superb sparkling Franciacorta wine. The second is the Valtellina valley, the largest terraced area of vineyards in Italy, which is home to small artisan, boutique wineries that produce almost exclusively red wines.
Train Journeys
What better reason to visit Lombardy than a beautiful train ride? The Bernina Express is one of the world’s great train journeys, an extraordinary journey through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges. Hop on the train at Tirano in the province of Sondrio and gaze out across glaciers and alpine lakes as you travel to St Moritz or Chur in Switzerland.
Easy International Access to Milan and Bergamo
Knowing that you can get somewhere easily is another big plus point when it comes to choosing a holiday destination. With two major airports, Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate, you can generally find direct or one-stop flights from most US cities, European hubs and several major airports in Canada and Australia.
The smaller airport of Milan Bergamo connects with the UK and many European countries. Once you’re in Milan, you can easily access Italy’s principal cities and most of Lombardy’s small provincial towns via Italy’s rail network.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Have you been to the Italian Lakes or elsewhere in Lombardy? Can you recommend any towns or villages there? Have you ever been on the Bernina Express?
