{"id":32369,"date":"2021-11-19T11:51:34","date_gmt":"2021-11-19T10:51:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bellitalie.org\/?post_type=destination&p=32369"},"modified":"2026-09-30T22:12:27","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T20:12:27","slug":"sights-to-see-in-lombardy","status":"publish","type":"destination","link":"https:\/\/www.bellitalie.org\/en\/destination\/lombardy\/sights-to-see-in-lombardy\/","title":{"rendered":"See in Lombardy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Milan<\/a>Milan<\/a> \"interest<\/span><\/h2>\n

Milan<\/strong>, the Lombard capital, is the economic and financial centre of Italy, home to numerous companies. A large and busy metropolis, it is not a city of great refinement or authenticity, having been largely rebuilt throughout its history. However, its long and rich history has left it with exceptional sites, starting with its magnificent Duomo<\/strong>, which is an extraordinary cathedral known as the “marble hedgehog”, then the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II<\/strong> and Art Nouveau buildings, or the Sforza Castle<\/strong>. It also has a large number of rich museums, an active nightlife, its international fashion centre associated with shopping, and religious buildings inherited from Saint Ambrose, including wonders such as the famous Last Supper<\/em> by Leonardo da Vinci.<\/p>\n<\/i> Milan<\/span><\/a>\n

Art cities of the Po Plain<\/h2>\n

\"laghi-mincio-mantova_0704\"<\/a>Mantua<\/a> \"interest<\/h3>\n

Mantua<\/strong> is one of the main cities of the Italian Renaissance, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 2008. This city has many charms inherited from the Middle Ages and especially from the Renaissance when it flourished under the Duchy of Gonzaga. Its jewel is the immense Ducal Palace of the Gonzagas<\/strong> with the Castle of Saint George<\/strong>, which hide unique works of art. The historic centre of Mantua lies between two charming lakes formed on the course of the Mincio river, close to a nature reserve.<\/p>\n<\/i> Mantua<\/span><\/a>\n

\"Basilica<\/a>Pavia<\/a> \"interest<\/b><\/h3>\n

Former capital of the medieval Lombard kingdom, Pavia<\/strong>, 40 km south of Milan, preserves charming buildings, from the covered bridge crossing the Ticino, to the Visconti Castle<\/strong>, via the historic centre with Piazza della Vittoria and the cathedral<\/strong>. Nearby, the Certosa di Pavia<\/strong>, built in the 14th century, is one of the most important monasteries in Italy.<\/p>\n<\/i> Pavia<\/span><\/a>\n

Cremona<\/a> \"interest<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Cremona,<\/a>Cremona<\/strong> preserves, with the Piazza del Comune<\/strong>, a splendid square, emblematic of Lombard art, surrounded by Renaissance palaces with its superb cathedral. It is primarily famous as the birthplace of musicians and luthiers, including Antonio Stradivari<\/strong>, who made his famous violins there in the 17th and 18th centuries.<\/p>\n<\/i> Cremona<\/span><\/a>\n

Monza<\/a><\/h3>\n

Beyond the Formula 1 Grand Prix, Monza<\/strong>, located 15 km north of Milan, is remarkable for two exceptional buildings: the Royal Palace<\/strong> built by the Habsburgs of Austria in the 18th century on the edge of a vast park, and the Gothic Duomo<\/strong> preserving the chapel of Queen Theodelinda<\/strong>, a masterpiece of 15th-century Gothic painting.<\/p>\n<\/i> Monza<\/span><\/a>\n

Vigevano<\/a> \"interest<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"cathedrale-saint-ambroise-piazza-ducale-vigevano_6591\"<\/a>40 km south-west of Milan, Vigevano<\/strong> is a city imagined by Bramante and Leonardo da Vinci, built at the end of the 15th century. It has kept a superb Renaissance square, the Piazza Ducale<\/strong> with its decorated arcades, next to the beautiful and massive Sforza Castle<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/i> Vigevano<\/span><\/a>\n

Lodi<\/h3>\n

Lodi<\/strong>, 40 km south-east of Milan, is a small town with an Art Nouveau<\/em> town centre, two pretty squares, an old Romanesque cathedral, and the temple of the crowned Holy Virgin<\/strong>, which is a masterpiece of Lombard Renaissance.<\/p>\n

Sabbioneta<\/h3>\n

Listed with Mantua as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sabbioneta<\/strong> is a Renaissance creation, founded in the 16th century by the condottiere Vespasiano Gonzaga to create a “little Rome”, with in particular its extraordinary Theatre in the antique style<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

Cities of the Alpine foothills<\/h2>\n

\"Bergamo,<\/a>Bergamo<\/a> \"interest<\/h3>\n

The upper town of Bergamo<\/strong>, known as Citt\u00e0 alta<\/em>, is protected by a large 16th-century Venetian wall. It preserves one of the most beautiful medieval centres in the region around its Piazza Vecchia, with its Renaissance buildings, including the Colleoni Chapel<\/strong>, palaces, and above all the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/i> Bergamo<\/span><\/a>\n

Brescia<\/a> \"interest<\/h3>\n

Brescia<\/strong>, the second most populous city in Lombardy, is a dynamic city of Roman origin, of which it preserves interesting remains. \"Brescia\"<\/a>It is a very pleasant city with many faces, whose streets retain traces of every era, with its churches, its medieval quarter or its magnificent Lombard Monastery of Santa Giulia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/i> Brescia<\/span><\/a>\n

Como<\/a> \"interest<\/b><\/h3>\n

Como is a beautiful city south of the western arm of Lake Como<\/strong><\/a> \"interest, <\/span>with medieval, Gothic and Renaissance buildings such as arcades and squares, including its old walls, the Piazza San Fedele<\/strong>, the Broletto Palace<\/strong>, its cathedral<\/strong> in late Gothic style, or the neoclassical Volta Temple<\/strong> and the 18th-century Villa Olmo<\/strong>. You can enjoy beautiful walks along the shore, and discover beautiful surroundings, including the Lake Como Poetry Way<\/strong> trail.<\/p>\n<\/i> Como<\/span><\/a>\n

Varese<\/a><\/h3>\n

Varese<\/strong> is a charming garden city spread over seven hills, just upstream of the lake of the same name. It attracts as much for its lake and villas as for its heritage, such as the Palace of Este<\/strong> and its park, the Masnago Castle<\/strong>, or the sanctuary of the Sacred Mount<\/strong> where the Via Sacra has 14 chapels.<\/p>\n<\/i> Varese<\/span><\/a>\n

Lakes of Lombardy<\/h2>\n

The three large lakes located in the north of the Lombardy region are fed by water descending from the mountains: Lake Garda<\/strong> to the east (shared with Veneto and Trentino), Lake Maggiore<\/strong> to the west (shared with Piedmont and Switzerland), and Lake Como<\/strong> north of Milan.
In addition, between Bergamo and Brescia lies the more modest but no less charming Lake Iseo<\/strong>, near Lake Garda is the small and cold Lake Idro<\/strong>, or the Lake Lugano<\/strong> near Como, which is shared with Switzerland.<\/p>\n

\"cote-lac-de-garde-malcesine-brenzone_9766\"<\/a>Lake Garda<\/a> \"interest<\/span><\/h3>\n

The very beautiful Lake Garda<\/strong> is the largest in Italy, straddling three administrative regions. Its southern part is a holiday resort, while the north is more like a fjord, a destination with many aspects, between small villages, castles, beaches, water sports, lemon groves and olive groves, trekking in the surrounding mountains, and its own gastronomy.
Historic villages are to be discovered, the pearl of which is Sirmione<\/strong><\/a> \"interest<\/b> on its strip of land protected by a medieval castle, not far from the water fortress of Peschiera del Garda<\/strong><\/a> \"interest<\/b>, to the north Riva del Garda<\/strong><\/a> and its windsurfing spot, several small ports and beautiful castles, and even amusement parks such as Gardaland<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/i> Lake Garda<\/span><\/a>\n

Lake Maggiore<\/a> \"interest\"Lake<\/a><\/h3>\n

Lake Maggiore<\/strong> charms the traveller with its beautiful islands, villas, villages, landscapes and micro-climate, straddling Piedmont, Lombardy and Switzerland to the north. It also attracts hikers and cyclists who come to enjoy its nature and landscapes. A good way to discover the lake is by boat linking its islands and several remarkable sites.
On the western side, in Piedmont, the Borromean Islands<\/strong><\/a> \"interest<\/b> transformed into true works of art with their palaces and lush gardens, the gardens of the Villa Taranto<\/strong><\/a> in Verbania, Stresa<\/strong><\/a> with the park of the Villa Pallavicino<\/strong><\/a> or the Mount Mottarone<\/strong><\/a>.
On the eastern side in Lombardy, let us mention the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso<\/strong><\/a>, and the castle of the Rocca d’Angera<\/strong><\/a> which houses the largest toy museum in Europe.<\/p>\n<\/i> Lake Maggiore<\/span><\/a>\n

\"Lake<\/a>Lake Como<\/a> \"interest<\/h3>\n

Lake Como<\/strong> is the deepest lake in Italy, and the one with the longest perimeter, with its two southern arms giving it an inverted Y shape. It is probably the most beautiful of the great lakes, also appreciated for its elegant villas and old villages, and frequented by the international jet set. The peaks framing its northern part quickly exceed 2,500 metres. Many itineraries allow you to discover its treasures, both on foot and by boat.
Como <\/strong><\/a>\"interest<\/b> is a beautiful city south of the western arm, with its Roman, medieval, Gothic and Renaissance heritage, including the Broletto Palace, the late Gothic cathedral and the neoclassical Volta Temple. Other emblematic sites of the lake are the cinematic Villa Balbianello<\/strong><\/a> and the charming village of Bellagio<\/strong><\/a> \"interest<\/b> at the tip of the two southern arms, and on the eastern shore Varenna<\/strong><\/a> and its surroundings.<\/p>\n<\/i> Lake Como<\/span><\/a>\n

\"Lake<\/a>Lake Iseo and Franciacorta<\/a> \"interest<\/b><\/h3>\n

Between Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, between Bergamo and Brescia, the smaller Lake Iseo<\/strong> is an enchanting and peaceful site, ideal for a short stay, between its preserved natural surroundings, its Franciacorta<\/strong><\/a> cellars near Iseo, its beautiful villages such as Lovere, Pisogne and Iseo, its good food, or Monte Isola<\/strong>, which is the largest lake island in Europe.
<\/b>Lovere<\/strong> is listed among the most beautiful villages in Italy, with its picturesque streets and beautiful walks along the lake.<\/p>\n<\/i> Lake Iseo and Franciacorta<\/span><\/a>\n

\"Lake<\/a>Lake Idro<\/a><\/h3>\n

At an altitude of 400 metres, the small Lake Idro<\/strong> is little known and enjoys few visitors. In a beautiful wooded natural setting, at the foot of the Little Dolomites<\/em>, it is close to Lake Maggiore, 15 km as the crow flies, in the province of Brescia.<\/p>\n<\/i> Lake Idro<\/span><\/a>\n

Lake Lugano<\/h3>\n

Although Lake Lugano<\/strong> is mainly in Switzerland, a good part upstream is in the province of Como, not far from Lake Como, and its south-western shores are in the province of Varese.<\/p>\n

Northern Alps of Lombardy<\/h2>\n

Stelvio National Park \"interest<\/b><\/h3>\n

The vast area of Stelvio National Park<\/strong>, straddling Lombardy, Trentino and South Tyrol, is a destination for holidays in the heart of nature, with peaks approaching 4,000 metres and hundreds of trails to explore on foot or by mountain bike.<\/p>\n