Being honest, sea is all that’s missing. Because Lombardy, about the rest, offers so much, almost everything.
Mountains, with Val Chiavenna, Valtellina and Valcamonica. And here are the many famous places for relaxation, well-being and winter sports: Bormio, Santa Caterina, Livigno, Madesimo, Orobian Valleys near Bergamo.
Hills, among which areas of Franciacorta and Oltrepo’ Pavese stand out, both famous for a high-quality wine production.
The great lakes. Some shared with other regions (Garda with Veneto and Trentino: Maggiore with Switzerland and Piedmont), others totally located inside Lombardy (Lake Como and Iseo). All with strong vocation for tourism and rich in history. The quiet and peaceful landscapes have inspired artists of all kinds and still work as an effective lure for nature, sports, nightlife lovers.
Typical of region are also large expanses of the Po Valley, with rice paddies and ponds, extensive farmlands and old farmhouses, witnesses of an ancient community life.
The story begins from the dark depths of Camunian people (in the Neolithic) and the culture of Golasecca (Bronze Age). It passes through the Etruscan, Gallic and Roman influence to reach the qualified Longobard domination. With the Visconti family, Lords of Milan, prevailed that civic feudalism that paves the way to Communal Age, with Lombardy in a position of protagonist of the most significant movements wanting to conquer their freedom from Holy Roman Empire (Battle of Legnano, 1176)
Since the end of the fifteenth century, Lombardy was submitted to French, Spanish and Austrian domination..... in few words, here everyone’s got the power. At least until the second war of independence, in 1859, with which Lombardy joined the Kingdom of Sardinia and, therefore, Italy.
Favored by its useful geographic location, close to the centre of Europe and to the soil resources, Lombardy is a rich Land: nature, history, art and culture blend harmoniously with innovation, technology, fashion, fun, modernity. Legacies made fruitful by work.
It’s true that industry, trade, economy and finance find their privileged venue in Milan, but every corner of the region seamlessly integrates itself with the other, enhancing the quality of crafts, food, tourism, culture and traditions .
No less than five UNESCO sites: Mantua and Sabbioneta; Sacred Mountains of Varese and Ossuccio; the prehistoric Valcamonica cave paintings; Rhaetian Railway in the Albula and Bernina; Crespi d'Adda, and finally The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci in Milan.