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Lombardy Villas

Lombardy Villas

Lombardy Tourist Information Guide is the gateway to alpine lakes, tall peaks, and cosmopolitan Milan. Milan sightseeing will have you shopping for modern couture among ancient relics, seeing the impressive Duomo in Milan, and taking in an aria at La Scala Opera House in Milan. Out of town, go for water sports on Lake Garda before taking a cable car from Stresa to go skiing in Mottarone. All this can be yours from a rental home in Bellagio by Lake Como or where ever suits your holiday needs!

Holiday in Lombardy

Milan Sightseeing

Milan Sightseeing

Milan is the economic hub of all of Italy -- a thoroughly modern city. The city is a mecca for fashion and shopping, and shop windows are works of art, be they on the via Monte Napoleone or the Corso Buenos Aires. The Milanese often come to the Galleria to strut their stuff.

The centre has several pedestrianised quarters where a cocktail of architectural styles often stand shoulder to shoulder with the very modern, to a very stylish effect.

The city also has its history and architecture. The Duomo, at the heart of the city, is a gothic masterpiece that has an unbelievable view of the city from its many-spired roof. It is also home to the world famous opera house La Scala and some great museums.

Visitors will be surprised at the wealth of art on show. Da Vinci’s The Last Supper, recently restored is in the Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie.

The Brera Gallery is an international treasure house (on a par with the Uffizi Gallery in Florence or London’s National Gallery) and Michelangelo’s last work, the extraordinary Pieta Rondanini, can be viewed in the civic galleries of the Sforza Castle.

Visiting Lombardy

Visiting Lombardy

The scenery changes dramatically once out of Milan’s urban sprawl. The lakes are a strong magnet, and everyone has a preference:

Como and its beautiful village of Bellagio are easily reached by train, while across the Maggiore lies Switzerland, with picturesque villages nestling on the Italian shore. Lake Maggiore also caters to leisure sports: fishing, water ski, rowing and golf are available, and from Stresa, a cable car ride takes you to the alpine ski slopes of Mottarone.

Garda is the most touristic of the lakes and plays host to multitudes of German and British visitors. The lake is beautiful, steep hills covered with vineyards and olive groves rising from it on both sides. Garda is also a major venue for water sports.

Varese offers an unforgettable experience. Its architectural beauty is matched only by its magnificent surroundings. Its history provides opportunities to explore culture, art, architecture and gastronomy, while its surroundings provide facilities for virtually any sport imaginable.

Bergamo has two distinct urban centres. Bergamo Alta, the older part of the town with a wealth of history and art, stands on a hill a hundred metres above Bergamo Bassa with its modern industrial and commercial centre.

Dining in Lombardy

Dining in Lombardy

The staple crop is rice, and this features in many of the dishes “ala Milanese”: Minestrone contains vegetables, rice and bacon; risotto alla Milanese is a creamy dish of braised short-grain rice blended with meat stock, saffron and cheese; osso bucco is a traditional main course of a knuckle of veal with the marrowbone intact and braised with rosemary and sage. Butter is the cooking fat of choice for the region's specialties, and figures prominently.

Gorgonzola is a creamy and rich blue cheese that is ideal for sauces as well as an after dinner delight. Gorgonzola comes in its regular form and in an even richer version, “al crema”.

The most famous dessert from Lombardy is the Italian fruitcake known as Panettone. Once only prepared for Christmas, this specialty is found boxed and sold year-round in Italy. A visit to Cremona leads to the museum dedicated to the work of Stradivari, that most famous violin maker. But while you are here, you may also learn that this is the birthplace of Torrone, that delicious combination of egg, honey and almonds we know as nougat.

Lombardy wines are mainly grown on the steep slopes of the Valtellina area, known for its well-aged reds. The gem of the region is the Valtellina Superiore, a deep smooth red that is aged for five years before being served. Around Lake Iseo is an area known as Franciacorta and is the home to Lombardy's sparkling white wines. The locally grown Pino Grigio and Pino Bianco grapes to produce sparkling wines in the tradition of the Champagnes of France. However these wines are truly Italian and have been protected by the covetous DOCG designation.

Northern Italy's Lombardy is home to clean alpine lakes, snowcapped mountains, the ulta-modern Milan, classic Milanese cuisine, and deep red wines and crisp, cool white wines. In the middle of enjoying all of that, there is still lots to keep visitors busy. A rental home in Bellagio, by Lake Como is a great place to enjoy all that Lombardy has to offer. Water sports on Lake Garda are plentiful and get your head in the clouds by taking a cable car from Stresa up into the mounatins to go skiing in Mottarone. Staying in Milan is enough for one holiday. Milan sightseeing will have you admiring the Duomo in Milan, traversing the shopping districts, breaking for tea at a cafe, and enjoying an aria at La Scala Opera House in Milan. No matter where you begin and end, Lombardy will provide you with a wonderful holiday in Italy.