Brera gallery in Milan, Lombardia. Milan is a global capital of fashion and design, a financial hub also known for its high-end restaurants and shops. The Gothic cathedral and Leonardo da Vinci’s mural The Last Supper, testify to centuries of art and culture

Provinces of Lombardy

 

Guide to Property for Sale in Lombardy

Real estate in Lombardy is popular, as the region offers the Alps for skiing, Milan for business and fashion, and the Lakes of northern Italy to relax and unwind.  Properties for sale on the Italian Lakes of Como, Maggiore and Garda are always in demand. There are also investment opportunities to be had on the Italian lakes. Properties offer high returns from rental income, especially villas with lake views, or beautiful apartments in a lakeside residence with pool.​ Please see our Guide to Property on the Italian Lakes 

Lombardy is in northern Italy and is the wealthiest Italian region. Its capital, Milan, is a centre of fashion, commerce and finance, with many high-end shops and restaurants.

The gothic cathedral, il Duomo di Milano, and the convent of  Santa Maria delle Grazie which houses Leonardo's Last Supper are testimony of the centuries of art and culture.

To the north of the region are the alps with dramatic scenery and wonderful alpine resorts. To the south is the great plain of the river Po.

Overview of Lombardy

Italian Alps and Lake Como

Lombardy is one of Italy’s largest and wealthiest regions and lies in the north of the country, bordering Switzerland.  In the north of the region there are the alps: Valchiavenna, Valtellina and the Camonica Valley which descend to the lowlands of the Po Valley.

Lombardy also has an expanse of rolling hills in the Franciacorta area, famous for its vineyards and wine production.

The charm of the lake attracts visitors from all over the world. The beauty of the lake Como is complemented by stately homes, parks and picturesque small towns.

Art and Culture of Lombardy

Milan Cathedral

Lombardy has so much to offer in terms of its art and architecture.

Milan

The Duomo in Piazza del Duomo is one of the greatest cathedrals of Christendom. Constructed in white marble, the cathedral is dedicated to the Madonna.

Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie that houses Leonardo Da Vinci fresco of the Last Supper.

An architectural masterpiece is the Teatro alla Scala.

Mantova UNESCO World Heritage Site. A wonderful castle once ruled by the Gonzaga family

Sabbioneta The “ideal city” of the Italian Renaissance

Monti Sacri  UNESCO World Heritage Site. Devotional route in the Varese and Ossuccio area

Camonica Valley

Prehistoric rock paintings (petroglyphs)

Rhaetian Railway that makes its way through the mountainous landscapes of Albula and Bernina

Villa Reale Former royal residence and the Cathedral

Brescia Saint Salvatore Monastery

Bergamo 

Accademia Carrara, one of the largest Italian art galleries

Teatro Donizetti, dedicated to the composer

Lake Como

On the western branch of the lake, is known for its gorgeous villas such as Villa Olmo, an imposing Neoclassical structure.

On the eastern shore Varese is called the Garden Province. Sondrio has the stupendous Masegra Castle. Lecco's fame can be attributed to I Promessi Sposi, a novel by Italian author Alessandro Manzoni, who opened the book with the image of the splendid branch of Lake Como where the city stands.

Towns in Lombardy

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele Milan

Milan The main city in northern Italy and the economic, financial and fashion capital of Italy. A centre of art and culture.

Cremona The home of violin-making, most famously seen in the work of Stradivarius.

Monza Race track where the grand prix is held every September.

Pavia "City of 100 Towers,” the Visconti Castle, and a renowned University.

Mantua
Aristocratic, cultured, and surrounded by an extraordinary natural environment, Mantua was transformed by the powerful Gonzagas family (1328-1707) into a city-state of great splendor.  UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Franciacorta Famous for its production of high-quality sparkling wine.

Sports and Leisure in Lombardy

Monza Grand Prix

Winter sports enthusiasts should head to the mountain peaks. Ski and snowboard in Camonica Valley and Valtellina at resorts such as Livigno, Bormio, Aprica, Tonale and Madesimo with hundreds of kilometers of slopes.

In summertime, the mountains offer the excitement of climbing, on the Adamello and other ranges.

Rafting, trekking and mountain biking are all popular and the Stelvio Glacier offers skiing even in the warmest months.

Thermals Spas at Boario and Bormio.

Lakes Como, Garda and Iseo provide the chance to sail, windsurf and water ski.

Monza The Autodromo, the state-of-the-art motor racing track.

Food and Wines of Lombardy

Wine Corks

Lombardy’s specialties are delicious saffron risotto and cotoletta alla Milanese, a bread crumbed cutlet. Valtellina’s dishes include pizzoccheri (buckwheat tagliatelle), bresaola (salt beef), cured salame of Varzi and finally, fresh water fish, especially lake whitefish.

Lombardy's most celebrated cheese is Gorgonzola, from the town of the same name. Mascarpone,  parmesan-style Grana, Robiola soft cheese and Bel Paese are all from the region.

Panettone and almond-flavoured Amaretto liqueur from Saronno are traditional at Christmas

Lombardy’s wines Bonarda and Barbera are Pavia in the Po Valley. Sparkling wine is produced in the Franciacorta area.

History of Lombardy

Originally inhabited by populations of Celtic stock, the region was occupied by the Gauls until the Roman conquest in the 3rd century BC. After the fall of the Roman empire the region was occupied first by the Goths and later by the Langobards (from the Old German langbärte, meaning long beards) or Lombards, who established their capital at Pavia and gave their name to the region. In 774 the Lombards were defeated by the Franks, who introduced the feudal system.

In the early 13th century the Visconti family of Milan rose in power and unified the whole region under the strong central authority of the family, who gave way after the death of Gian Galeazzo Visconti in 1428 to the Sforza.

In the mid-18th century when the region was under the Austrians who, after the Congress of Vienna in 1815 established in Northern Italy the Lombardo-Veneto Kingdom.

During the Second War of Italian Independence the region was among the first to be annexed to Italy, in 1859, when the Milanese rose against the Austrians in the glorious "Five Days" and Victor Emmanuel II was installed as the first king of a unified Italy.

Geography of Lombardy

Surface of 23,844 square kilometers

Population 10 million

Bordered by Switzerland to the north, Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto to the east, Emilia-Romagna to the south and Piedmont to the west.

Lombardy is one of the few Italian regions without a coastline.

Provinces

Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Cremona, Lecco, Lodi, Mantua, Milan (regional capital), Monza and Brianza, Pavia, Sondrio and Varese.

Getting To Lombardy

Airports

Three of Italy's four busiest airports are in Lombardy

Milano Malpensa Airport is an intercontinental airport, and Italy's second aviation hub after Rome Fiumicino. It has multiple direct connections to Africa, Asia and North America, as well as across Europe, where it is served by both full-service and low-fare carriers.

Milano Linate is Milan's city airport, served by business-oriented flights to European major commercial centres, as well as a dense Italian domestic network.

Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport is served almost exclusively by low-fare carriers, taking advantage of its proximity to both Milan and the Alps.

By Train

Milan is a major rail hub. Links connect the region with the rest of Italy, Switzerland and France . 

Road 

Excellent infrastruture of roads throughout the region. 

Climate 

Lombardy has hot summers of around 27-29C, and a cold, continental winter.