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One of Italy’s largest regions, Lombardy lies in the north of the country, sharing a border with Switzerland.
Stretching from the Alps to the lowlands of the Po Valley, it is home to a wide range of landscapes, including the breathtaking mountain chain with the Valchiavenna, Valtellina and Camonica Valley.
Winter sports lovers will find no lack of state-of-the-art facilities in Lombardy, for example in the extremely popular resorts of Tonale, Bormio, Livigno and Madesimo.
Another aspect that defines the region is its expanse of rolling hills which encompass the distinctive Franciacorta area, famous for its vineyards and wine production. The charm of the great lakes. Is a great tourist draw, attracting visitors to Sirmione and other well known destinations dotted along the west side of Lake Garda, while Lake Como and Lake Maggiore are no less beautiful, surrounded as they are by stately homes , parks and picturesque small towns.
The region is also characterized by the great flat tracts of the Po Valley lowlands, covered by shimmering mirrors of water and used for rice growing : this is the typical landscape of Lomellina, the and of rice workers, steeped in tradition.
The region has countless other distinctive aspects. Lombardy, aided by its geographic position and fertile soil, will captivate you, where nature, history, art and culture are harmoniously combined with innovation, technology, fashion, entertainment and a contemporary outlook.
The region comprises the provinces of Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Cremona, Lecco, Lodi, Mantua, Milan (regional capital), Monza and Brianza, Pavia, Sondrio and Varese.
The region has much to offer in terms of its natural, cultural and architectural perspective. There are the UNESCO World Heritage Sites at Mantua, once ruled by the powerful Gonzaga family, and Sabbioneta, the defining “ideal city” of the Italian Renaissance; the Sacred Mountains, a devotional route in the Varese and Ossuccio area; the prehistoric rock paintings (petroglyphs) of the Camonica Valley; the Rhaetian railwayailroad that makes its way through the mountainous landscapes of Albula and Bernina; the 19th-century industrial settlement of Crespi d’Adda and, finally, Milan, with the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie that contains the Last Supper, the celebrated Leonardo Da Vinci fresco.
Still in Milan, a major architectural masterpiece is the renowned La Scala Opera House. The imposing Duomo (Cathedral) is absolutely extraordinary, constructed in white marble and dedicated to the Birth of the Virgin Mary.
As for Monza, make sure you visit the Autodromo, the state-of-the-art motor racing track, and the Villa Reale, a former royal residence. Then there is the Cathedral, where the ancient Iron Crown is kept, reputedly concealing a nail from the True Cross.
In Brescia, the Saint Salvatore Monastery buildings are extremely interesting, while the craft and tradition of a violin-making, most famously seen in the work of Stradivarius, lives on in Cremona.
Pavia is the city of the “Hundred Towers”, the Visconti Castle, and its renowned University. Varese is the “Garden Province”. There are many opportunities for mountaineering and winter sports in this region, ranging from excursions to the Grigna or Resegone (Lecco) mountains to the ski resorts of Bormio, Livigno and Madesimo.
The mountains, the plains and great lakes of Lombardy form the perfect backdrop for a holiday among nature, sport, rest and routes to discover the territory.
The mountain peaks welcome ski and snowboard enthusiasts to internationally famous ski destinations, like the Camonica Valley and Valtelline, with their popular resorts of Livigno, Bormio, Aprica and hundreds of kilometres of slopes covering every level of ability.
In summer, the mountains offer the excitement of climbing on the Adamello range and other peaks, rafting, trekking 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 the various spas rich in therapeutic thermal waters, for example the Boario or Bormio Spas, surrounded by a beautiful park.
Lake Garda, just like Lakes Como and Iseo, ensures a restful and entertaining holiday, with the chance to sail, windsurf, water ski, canoe, cycle, trek, go on excursions to the surrounding areas, or boat trips.
There are many itineraries to discover the Lombardy’s most distinctive and unique features. The Sacred Mountains offer exceptional spiritual and natural trails; in Valchiavenna you can discover the traditions of a land that was the meeting point between Italy and Northern Europe for centuries; the nature reserves around the the Navigli Canals reveal many different and enchanting landscapes, from the hills of Brianza to the green banks of the River Adda.
Gourmands can follow any, or indeed all, of the Wine Trails, from Valtellina to the Lodi area, as well as to the Pavia Oltrepò, or to around Mantua, finishing up in Franciacorta, famed all over the world for its sparkling wines. This is a unique journey through the vineyard-covered terraces and hills, stopping off at wineries and local producers to taste their delicious wines and try out well known local specialties.
Lombardy’s food specialities range from the delicious saffron risotto to the breadcrumbed cutlet called cotoletta Milanese. Then there is a consommé from Pavia with an egg added, a pork and cabbage cassoulet, from Valtellina’s contribution of pizzoccheri (a buckwheat version of tagliatelle) and bresaola (air-dried salt beef) to the cured salame of Varzi and fresh water fish, including the famous dried and grilled lake whitefish. Among the region’s most celebrated and delicious cheeses there are Gorgonzola, from the town of the same name Mascarpone, the unpasteurised Lodigiano, parmesan-style Grana, Robiola soft cheese and Bel Paese. Milan’s panettone is renowned worldwide, as too the almond-flavoured Amaretto liqueur from Saronno, Mantua’s sbrisolona (crumb cake) and nougat from Cremona.
Lombardy’s wines - Grumello, Inferno, Sassella della Valtellina the wines and spumante produced in Franciacorta, alongside the Bonarda and Barbera wines of Pavia province.
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