South of Pavia are the Oltrepo Pavese hills, famous for their vineyards. The best Lombard wines are produced here. The famous thermal spa is also located here. Salice Terme , based on local hydrogen sulfide and salt sources. Lake Como is located 40 km north of Milan at the foot of the Alps. It stretched from south to north for 46 km. This is one of the deepest lakes in Europe, its depth reaches 410 m. The lake is surrounded by mountain peaks up to 2400 m high, and along the shores of the lake there are small towns, villages and old villas. In ancient times, Pliny the Younger had villas on the shores of Lake Como, and today there are villas of world celebrities, including the villa of Gianni Versace, where he was killed and then buried. Como is thelargest city in Lake Como .. This is more of an industrial city, so you can go on excursions here, and for relaxation it is better to choose the cozy resorts of Menaggio, Bellagio and Varena. The resorts have everything you need for a holiday: hotels, restaurants, shops, public and private beaches, water sports centers.
From the northern tip of Lake Como to the east stretches the Valtellina mountain valley – one of the most beautiful corners of Lombardy, its main ski region and one of the largest wine regions in Italy. The valley is famous for its landscapes with glaciers, alpine rivers, lakes, meadows, orchards and vineyards, numerous hiking trails and historical monuments. The center of the valley is the town of Sondrio . In the northeastern part of Valtellina is the famous Alta Valtellina ski region, which includes resorts such as Bormio , Santa Caterina , Valdidentro and Livigno . All of them are located on the border of the largest national park in Italy – Stelvio.. Here on an area of 1307 sq. km, the majestic glaciers of the mountains Ortles (3905 m) and Cevedale (3769 m), picturesque valleys, dense forests, alpine lakes and rivers, ancient villages and medieval castles adjoin.
According to psyknowhow.com, 40 km northeast of Milan is the city of Bergamo , consisting of two parts: the “Upper City” and the “Lower City”. The fortress walls, rebuilt from Roman fortifications, cobbled streets and Renaissance buildings of Bergamo ‘s “Upper Town” (Old Town) take visitors back to the Middle Ages. In the modern part of Bregamo (“Lower City”) is the Accademia Carrara containing one of the finest Italian art galleries. Its collection is represented by 1800 canvases of the 15th-19th centuries (among them the works of Pisanello, Botticelli, Bellini, Mategna, Rafael Santi, Moroni, Bashenis, Galgario, Tiepolo, Canaletto and Picio), works of Italian and foreign masters of the 20th century (Bocioni, Balla, Morandi, Campigli, Casorati, Savigno, De Quihiro, Kandinsky, Sutherland and Manzu), as well as drawings, engravings, sculptures, porcelain and period furniture.
Also from Milan you can go on vacation to the Iseo and Garda lakes, located at the eastern borders of Lombardy. Lake Iseo – a small foothill lake with an area of 65 sq. km. The tiny lake is more suitable for a short rest, mostly Italians who are tired of the working week rest here. Interesting excursions are offered on the lake, including cruises, and steady winds blowing from the mountain valleys allow windsurfing and sailing. Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy, its area is 370 square meters. km, the most popular for recreation and the cleanest lake in the country. Sandy beaches, citrus and olive groves and vineyards stretch along its coast. Picturesque landscapes and clear waters of the lake attract tourists from all over the world.
In the vicinity of these lakes are such medieval cities as Brescia and Mantova. Brescia – the second largest city in Lombardy, a major industrial and commercial center. To this day, the city has preserved the remains of Roman buildings and many medieval buildings, including the Cydnean Castle, which was built in the 12th century on the site of a Roman temple. The historic center of Mantua with masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The heyday of the city fell on the reign of the Gonzaga dynasty (14-18 centuries), at which time Mantua became the center of art, and the architectural monuments built under Gonzaga still attract tourists here.
In addition, excursions are organized from Milan to the city of Cremona, located southeast.. Fame was brought to him by the violin makers Amati, Stradivari and Guarneri who worked here. Founded in Cremona in the 20th century, the Academy of Violin Making is now famous throughout the world. There are many violin museums in the city, where the works of the great violin masters are exhibited. In addition, such masterpieces of the Romanesque-Gothic style as the Baptistery (12th century) and the Cathedral (12-13th centuries) with the Torazzo bell tower, which is one of the highest hand-made belfries in Europe (height – 113 m), are located in Cremona.
