Tour Guide, Milan, Italy
| 7 mins read
1. The Monastery of Santa Caterina del Sasso
Santa Caterina del Sasso is undoubtedly one of the top sights on Lake Maggiore: a charming monastery perched on a rocky spur that overlooks the lake's azure waters. It was founded in the 12th century by a merchant who wanted to spend the rest of his life in prayer and solitude after surviving a shipwreck.
The monastery features three different chapels, each beautifully decorated with splendid frescoes. Externally there are some charming porticoes where visitors can admire stunning lake views.
2. Nesso and its Orrido
A little village placed on the lake's eastern shore between Como and Bellagio, reachable by the ancient Strada Regia. It has a marvellous panoramic point, where you can easily take incredible pictures of Lake Como. But, Nesso is famous for the same-name Orrido, a natural canyon in the rocks, dug by two rivers that confluence there, where the strength of the water through the centuries has opened a deep break in the stone.
The union of the rivers explodes in a waterfall 200m high! The Orrido and the waterfall are divided into two parts the little village, a real jewel set in the rocks above the lake's calm water.
3. Soncino, the Walled Village
It's a beautiful village sitting at the center of the Lombard plain. The main attraction here is the magnificent fortress built by the Sforza family in the 15th century, which is considered one of the finest examples of military architecture in Lombardy. Other interesting things to see in Soncino are the frescoed interiors of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, just outside the walls.
Soncino is also renowned for its past as a flourishing printing center thanks to a Jewish family who came from Germany in the 15th century. They printed the first Jewish Bible complete with accents and vowels, and traces of their precious contribution can still be seen at the local Printing Museum.
4. Villas of Cassinetta di Lugagnano
A name that is not easy to be pronounced if you're not Italian but one of the most gorgeous Lombard villages that has preserved all its ancient buildings, its elegant mansions built for the Milanese aristocracy who went there to spend the hot Summer or to escape the plague. Villa Castiglioni Nai Bossi, with a charming baroque country church, the imposing Villa Visconti Mainieri Castiglioni Mörlin, where the Visconti heirs still live. Crossing the stone bridge guarded by the statue of Milan's most famous archbishop and saint, Carlo Borromeo, other mansions can be seen, such as the neoclassical Palazzo Trivulzio or the plain Villa Birago Clari Monzini.
The typical villages of Cassinetta di Lugagnano, Robecco Sul Naviglio, Boffalora Sul Ticino, Bernate and many more will provide romantic escapes in a district known only by locals. We want to suggest a few itineraries that can't be missed.
5. Vigevano, the Ideal City
There's one of the most beautiful Italian squares at a short distance from Milan, described by the famous Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini as a "symphony on four sides". What are we talking about? Vigevano!! The town where the last great duke of Milan, Ludovico the Moor, was born and later commissioned the architect Bramante to turn this ancient village into a perfect Renaissance city. And even Leonardo da Vinci was invited to organize in the elegant castle courtyards parties and tournaments. He even designed a special solution for the castle stables that housed 180 horses, the most elegant and expensive in the whole Italian peninsula.
The best conclusion to this tour is to sit at one of the bars in the ducal square at sunset, drinking our most favourite Aperitivo, waiting for the street lamps to be switched on and making the square even more magic.
6. San Colombano al Lambro and its Vineyards
Did you know that there's a wine district right in the province of Milan? It's called San Colombano al Lambro and is Milan's only wine-producing region. What's more, the excellent red and white wines bottled here received the DOC mark in 1984.
The village of San Colombano itself is charming. It forms part of a special itinerary called "The Road of San Colombano Wine and the Food", which connects Milan to Lodi by passing through beautiful hamlets brimming with history, art, as well as food and wine delights.
7. Morimondo Abbey: Ora et Labora
A peaceful oasis just a short drive from downtown Milan, the Morimondo Abbey is built along a slope above the Ticino River. Highlights include the church, which has typical Cistercian architecture outside and gothic arches soaring above a 16th-century wooden choir inside; the monastery, home to the historic cloister and halls used by the monks in their daily life.
The village seems frozen in time, with picturesque alleys, lovely cottages, and green fields. There are various walking and cycling paths leading to the fields and the farms that dot the area.
8. Sirmione, the Pearl of Garda Lake
If you walk through the old town, which is surrounded by the castle's walls, you get lost between the alleys, and you can discover hidden glimpses, buildings and shops of any kind.
The Castle of Sirmione was built by the noble family of the Scaliger, even if we don't know the exact construction date. The complex is entirely surrounded by the water of Lake Garda; it's protected by three towers.
Not to miss are the remains of the ancient mansion of Catullus, one of the largest Roman villas in northern Italy, while in summer Jamaica Beach, right on the tip of the peninsula, is a popular stretch of coast with large slabs of rock lapped by crystal-clear waters.
9. Sabbioneta, the UNESCO Site
Since 2008 Sabbioneta is a UNESCO site for the successful application of classical theories in Rinascimento town. Sabbioneta is a reflection of Vespasian Gonzaga's great personality. His life was marked by bad luck and strong ideas achieved with an almost heroic determination. He decided to create an "ideal city" based on Rome's aesthetic and architectural canons. Solid walls enclose the village, creating the shape of a six-pointed star.
Only half an hour's drive from Mantova, in the valley of the Po River, this is my favourite destination in Lombardy!
10. Zavattarello and the Oltrepo' Pavese
An interesting historic hamlet is immersed in Oltrepò Pavese, a beautiful corner of Lombardy that combines two major Italian attractions: excellent wines and beautiful sceneries. A grandiose castle towers majestically over the village, offering stunning views of the surrounding countryside from its terraces. Also, a curious thing to see is the local cemetery with its unique octagonal shape.
Combine the tour with a visit to some local wineries and other pretty places like Fortunago, Varzi, and the mysterious – and quite isolated – Abbey of Sant'Alberto di Butrio to further explore this undiscovered side of the region.
Don't miss: Salami di Varzi. A high-quality cold cut with a sweet and delicate aroma is produced only in Oltrepò Pavese, following the same recipe and procedures used in the past. Traditions, artisanal skills and great care are combined in this high-quality delicacy that has earned the European Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, indicating the close link to the territory where it comes from.
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