One of Italy’s best regions, Lombardy lies in the north of the country, sharing a border with Switzerland.
From the Alps to the lowlands of the Po Valley, it is home to a wide range of landscapes, including the breathtaking mountain chain that boasts the Valle Intelvi, the Valchiavenna, Valtellina and the Camonica Valley.
Winter sports enthusiasts 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. In Lombardy, tourism is a remarkable activity in the mountain resorts, in the area of the lakes and in the art cities of Bergamo, Mantua, Como and Milan. Another aspect that defines Lombardy is its expanse of rolling hills that encompass the distinctive Franciacorta area, famous for its vineyards and wine production. The charm of the great lakes is a great tourist draw, Lake Como, Lake Garda, Lake Iseo, Lake Maggiore ,Lake Lugano, Lake Varese, Lake Piano, Lake Idro, Lake Pusiano, Lake Annone, Lake Alserio and Lake Segrino are no less beautiful. Most of the lakes surrounded as they are by stately homes, parks and picturesque small towns. Lombardy is also characterized by the great flat tracts of the Po Valley lowlands, covered by shimmering mirrors of water and rice paddies: this is the typical landscape of Lomellina, the land of rice harvesters, steeped in tradition.
The region has countless other distinctive facets. Lombardy, aided by its geographic position and fertile soil, will captivate you – nature, history, art and culture marry in harmony with innovation, technology, fashion, entertainment, and a contemporary outlook.
Lombardy has countless other distinctive facets. Lombardy, aided by its geographic position and fertile soil, will captivate you – nature, history, art and culture marry in harmony with innovation, technology, fashion, entertainment, and a contemporary outlook. Lombardy’s food specialties range from delicious saffron risotto and the bread crumbed cutlet “cotoletta alla Milanese”, to the consommé of Pavia with its egg accompaniment and a pork and cabbage cassoulet. Valtellina’s contributions to Lombardy gastronomy include pizzoccheri (a buckwheat version of tagliatelle), bresaola (air-dried salt beef), cured salame of Varzi and finally, fresh water fish, especially the dried and grilled lake whitefish.
Among the region’s most celebrated and delicious cheeses 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 and other Christmas sweets are renowned worldwide, as are the almond-flavoured Amaretto liqueur from Saronno, Mantua’s sbrisolona (crumb cake), and nougats from Cremona.
Lombardy’s wines go by names like Grumello, Inferno, and Sassella della Valtellina, while the wines and spumante produced in Franciacorta occupy a monumental spot in this category, particularly the Bonarda and Barbera wines of Pavia Province.
Lombardy comprises the provinces of Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Cremona, Lecco, Lodi, Mantova, Milan (regional capital), Monza and Brianza, Pavia, Sondrio and Varese.