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Lombardy
Located in the heart of the Po Valley in northern Italy, Lombardy is a region of rich natural and artistic beauty, with famed cultural heritage—both ancient and modern.
Bordered to the north by the Lepontine, Orobic and Rhaetian mountain ranges, it covers areas spanning the great Italian lakes of Varese, Como and Iseo as well as the Lake Garda, thus contributing to the soothing and balanced continental climate of the region.
The region is one of the three richest in Europe, with a per capita gross domestic product that is 50 percent higher than the rest of Italy. But a closer look will share that Lombardy’s diverse cities hold wonderful suprises for the traveller looking to see the most dazzling that Italy has to offer.
Its regional capital, Milan, for example is known worldwide as one of the continent’s fashion capitals, rivaled only by French capital, Paris. Many foreign and national companies have their headquarters in Milan contributing to the city’s hustle and bustle. Alongside its cultural contribution in textile and design, are its historical landmarks that go back to Roman and Rennaisance periods, such as the Gothic-style Cathedral.
The town of Bergamo has in its possession what the locals and other Italians will concede to be the most beautiful piazza in the country. The Carraca Academy Gallery also has a home here. While the village of Cremona snug along the river Po is the acclaimed birthplace of the Stradivarius violin, the most famous and expensive violins in the Rennaisance world finding themselves in large auction houses today. Some of these violins can be seen by guests at the Stadivariano Museum.
A visit to any of these cities will invite you into chic restaurants and bars and well as more rustic cafes in narrow cobblestone streets, most likely for a hearty bowl of minestrone soup and osso bucco (a dish of ox knucle stew) with rissoto for dinner. These regional delicacies found only in the Lombardy region are best enjoyed with the local wines famous for strong flavors.
