www.Lombardia-Traveller.com - Itineraries

Salt Road of Old Piedmont

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0200

The little wedge of land south of Milan known as Oltrepò Pavese, is covered by great expanses of grapevines, carpeting hills for as far as the eye can see, living proof of the area's centuries-old wine making tradition.

Pavia, the ancient capital of Val Padana and an important transit and resting station on the via Francigena since the Middle Ages, has perfectly conserved its appearance of a wealthy provincial capital: its colonnaded streets and piazzas lined with any number of elegant shops and stylish street cafés. Among the city's many historic buildings, Palazzo degli Eustachi, Collegio Borromeo, the University, and Visconteo Castle are, perhaps, the most worthwhile visiting. Of course, all these risk paling into insignificance when compared with the Charterhouse of Pavia, the stunning religious complex located just a few kilometers north of the city.

Voghera, surrounded by gently undulating hills, is the most important tourist destination in Oltrepò Pavese and...

The treasures of the Gonzaga

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100

One single family made the entire province of Mantua famous: the Gonzaga. From the 13th century onwards, this dynasty reigned supreme over the city of Mantua and much of the surrounding territory. The position of Mantua is itself worthy of note, on a small peninsula on the banks of the Mincio river.

Our journey starts in Piazza Sordello, seat of the city's principal religious and civic institutions. This is where to find Mantua cathedral, the origins of which date all the way back to 313. Over the centuries, the edifice has been the victim of more than one fire and rebuilt and restructured on various occasions in Romanesque, gothic, and baroque style'''.

The opposite side of the Piazza is dominated by Palazzo Ducale which, with it's 34 thousand square meters and 500 rooms, is one of the largest palaces in the whole of Europe and an ostentatious symbol of the Gonzaga's power. Piazza delle Erbe takes its name from the traditional fruit and vegetable market held here. Piazza delle Erbe...

Milan, shopping and art

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Milan's cathedral, with its soaring spires and wonderfully ornate façade, is the most famous of the city's historic buildings and, without shadow of doubt, Italy's finest example of Gothic architecture. Although the first stone was laid by the Duke Gian Galeazzo Visconti in 1386, building work continued for some 400 years. Inside the cathedral, comprised of a central nave and 4 side aisles, visitors can admire the majestic tomb of Gian Giacomo dei Medici, and Marco D'Agrate's stunning 16th century sculpture of St Bartolomeo.

To the right of the cathedral, there is the Palazzo Reale, an elegant building reconstructed in neo classical style by the architect Giuseppe Piermarini. Next to Palazzo Reale there is the Arengario, an exhibition center built during the fascist period, which will soon house the city's Museum of the 20th century.

The Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery is often described as the sumptuous drawing room where Milan's high society meet. Designed by...

Lake Como and its villas

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Dramatically beautiful scenery and a seemingly interminable series of sumptuous villas: this is Lake Como. To visit the lake, we take the old "Strada Regina" road. We make our first stop at Cernobbio, at Villa Erba, a magnificent residence with extensive park overlooking the lake. This is where the director Luchino Visconti spent his childhood. Cernobbio, a town of medieval origins, is the preferred destination of Italian and International celebrities who, when not hidden behind the well-guarded perimeter walls of the glamorous villas which surround the lake, are frequently spotted in the town's fashionable Piazza Rinascimento.

Montrasio, with its maze of little narrow lanes, is an enchanting place. Not to be missed, the Church of Sant'Agata, built in the 11th century in Romanesque style using the grey-coloured local stone. Next to the church there is the 18th century Villa Passalacqua, surrounded by a marvellous, terraced garden. Known for Villa Oleandra and Villa...