Milan, the capital of Lombardy, is known as the Italian Capital of Fashion, Finance and Entertainment. While Rome is strong competition in the areas of fashion and entertainment, Milan is surely one of the most European of the Italian cities and the most sensitive to fashion and trends. Among the central streets of the city and its fashion and entertainment districts you can find echoes of London, but the quiet gardens, historical buildings, and art galleries are all there to remind you that you are still in Italy.
Split between Bergamo and Brescia, in a heavily industrialized area, you will find the surprise gem that goes by two different names—Lake Iseo (Lago d’Iseo) or Sebino. Despite the modernity in the towns of the area there are many spots along the lake’s coastline that are both picturesque and naturally beautiful.
The Rhaetian Railway (the Ferrovia Retica in Italian) is an outstanding example of modern engineering triumphing over the isolated landscape of the Alps. The two railway lines, which cross the Swiss Alps through two passes and cover the Albula and Bernina areas, solved the problem of isolation experienced by many communities in the Central Alps. Opened in 1904 the railway is an impressive structure; the Albula line includes covered galleries, forty-two tunnels and as many as 144 bridges and viaducts, while the Bernina line has fifty-two bridges and thirteen galleries and tunnels.
If you are in the Lombary region think of visiting Valcamonica, which boasts one of the largest collections of rock drawings in the world. There have been about 200,000 figures and symbols carved into the rocks over a time span of approximately 8,000 years. Located two hours drive from Milan, Valcamonica's pictures depict various scenes and are connected through common themes like magic, war, navigation and agriculture.
One of the most important pilgrimage sites in Italy are the Sacri Monti, or Sacred Mountains, that are located in the northern part of the country. These mountains are actually nine groups of churches and chapels created in the 16th and 17th centuries. Along with their religious significance these structures are also noteworthy for their architectural features and wealth of amazing art. For these reasons the Sacri Monti were named as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2003.
If you are looking for dazzling natural scenery then Lake Garda is the place for you. Deep blue waters, green forests, towering mountains, and picturesque towns--Lake Garda offers it all. Italy's largest lake is located between Milan and Venice, and is nestled between the Dolomites of Brenta to the north and rolling hills to the south. The shoreline of the lake and the lake itself are divided between the provinces of Trento, Brescia and Verona.
Crespi d'Adda is located in the Lombardy region of Italy and is known to be one of the best examples of a 19th century company town. The design and the architecture of the town is famous for being tailored to its workers. Featured on UNESCO's World Heritage Sites list since 1995, Crespi d'Adda is quite intact and is still used today for industrial purposes.
Scaliger Castle is located in the Italian lakeside town of Sirmione. Sirmione is a comune and town located in the province of Brescia in the region of Lombardy. Sirmione has a beautiful historic center which is situated on top of a small peninsula that juts out into the southern portion of Lake Garda. The Scaliger Castle is consideredone of the finest examples of a medieval fortification, including a very rare fortified port.
The Castello Visconteo or the Visconti Castle is located in the town of Pavia in the region of Lombardy. The castle had been built on the orders of Galeazzo II Visconti in the year 1360, after conquering the city. The castle had been the main residence for the Visconti family. There is a large park north of the castle including Certosa of Pavia which had been founded in the year 1396 and had been used as a private chapel for the powerful family.
Castello San Giorgio is located in the city of Mantua, or Mantova, as it is also named. The castle can be reached by entering from the Ponte San Giorgio. It is a reddish castle and dates back to the Middle Ages, from the time of the Gonzaga family. The construction of the large castle began in the year 1395 under the directions of Bartolino from the city of Novara.
The Castello Sforzesco of Milan: Witness to History
The Sforzesco Castle, or the Castello Sforzesco is one of the most well known historical buildings in Milan. It has borne witness to several historical events in the past centuries. The castle was demolished and rebuilt many times over the centuries. Today, after it has been restored and embellished, it has become a symbol of various historic and dramatic events which perfectly recount the story of Milan and its background.
Lake Idro is an Italian pearlpine lake one of the highest in Lombardy. The majority of the lake is part of the Province of Brescia, while the rest falls in the Province of Trento. The surface area of the lake is 11.4km and its maximum depth of 122 meters. Visitors to the area will find beautiful wooded mountains surrounding the lake as well as a shoreline that stretches 24 kilometers and is shared among four communes, Idro, Anfo, Bagolino and Bondone.
Enter Val Grande National Park and leave the modern world behind. There are no paved roads here or modern amenities, no people who live here either, just miles and miles of natural wonder and trails to help you explore it. Just try to restrain your wonder as you come across imposing mountain peaks of the Alps framed by clear skies and greenery, as well as a diverse array of plant and animal life, deep valleys and pristine lakes like the beautiful Lago Maggiore.
In the heart of Italy's Central Alps is a park dominated by the Ortles-Cevedale massif group, where one can watch the majestic beauty of ice and water pouring from the summits into the waterways of the green valleys below. Lucky visitors will spy glaciers, grassland, imposing mountains and ridges, and luxuriant forests. There are also many rare plant and animals species to be found within Stelvio National Park and several scattered villages to visit and explore.
Varese is a comune and city located in the region of Lombardy in Northern Italy. The city is located 55 km from Milan and is the capital of the Varese province. Varese lies at the feet of the famous Sacro Monte di Varese which has been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. It also overlooks the Lake Varese. The rivers Olona and Ticino pass through the province and there are in all seven lakes in the province which include four smaller lakes and three large ones which are the Varese Lake, Lake Lugano and Lake Maggiore.
