Lombardy and the Lakes
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Lombardy and the Lakes - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Heller Garden
This 2½-acre garden is a place to get lost on a scavenger hunt while navigating stepping stones over lily ponds, climbing rock formations, and walking...
This 2½-acre garden is a place to get lost on a scavenger hunt while navigating stepping stones over lily ponds, climbing rock formations, and walking across wooden bridges. The treasures to be found are nearly 100 different Alpine, subtropical, and Mediterranean plant species and 30 modern art installations by the likes of Roy Lichtenstein, Joan Mirò, and Auguste Rodin. A former vineyard, Heller Garden was first cultivated in 1903 by Austrian dentist and botanist Arthur Hruska, and bought in 1988 by artist Andrè Heller (although he is no longer the owner) who collaborated with artists to transform the garden into an open-air contemporary art gallery. There are dozens of places to sit and contemplate the merger of art and nature through a whimsical arrangement of plants by color to complement the art on display. A small café at the top of the garden offers panoramic views of Lake Garda.
Via Roma 2, Gardone Riviera, Lombardy, 25088, Italy0366-410877Sight Details
Rate Includes: €12, Closed Nov.–Feb. -
2. Isola Madre
All of this Borromean island is a botanical garden, with a season that stretches from late March to late October due to the climatic protection...
All of this Borromean island is a botanical garden, with a season that stretches from late March to late October due to the climatic protection of the mighty Alps and the tepid waters of Lake Maggiore. The cacti and palm trees here, so far north and so near the border with Switzerland, are a beautiful surprise. Take time to see the profusion of exotic trees and shrubs running down to the shore in every direction. Two special times to visit are April, for the camellias, and May, for azaleas and rhododendrons. Also on the island is a 16th-century palazzo, where the Borromeo family still lives for part of the year. The palazzo has an antique puppet theater on display, complete with string puppets, prompt books, and elaborate scenery designed by Alessandro Sanquirico, who was a scenographer at La Scala in Milan.
View Tours and ActivitiesIsola Madre, Piedmont, Italy0323-933479Sight Details
Rate Includes: €17 (palace and garden), Closed early Nov.–mid Mar. -
3. Monte Isola
The largest island within any European lake, Monte Isola allows no cars (except authorized vehicles), making it the perfect place for leisurely walks and bike...
The largest island within any European lake, Monte Isola allows no cars (except authorized vehicles), making it the perfect place for leisurely walks and bike rides. The main towns are Siviano, with medieval mansions; Peschiera Maraglio, an old fishing village with 16th-century homes and the Church of St. Michele; and Carzano, with the 18th-century San Giovanni Battista church. Walk around the water and stop at the many restaurants and gelaterie, or, for more exercise, trek uphill to admire the views back to the shore. Frequent ferries from Sulzano stop at Peschiera Maraglio, and ferries from Sale Marasino arrive at Carzano; there are less frequent ferries from Iseo and Tavernola Bergamasca.
Lombardy, Italy -
4. Museo del Violino
At this lovely and informative museum dedicated to all things violin, even those not already enamored by the instrument will find something to appreciate. Historic...
At this lovely and informative museum dedicated to all things violin, even those not already enamored by the instrument will find something to appreciate. Historic violins made in Cremona by masters, including Stradivari, are presented as works of art; be sure to get the audio guide included with admission to listen to recordings as you stroll. An audio chamber lets you hear a musical performance in "3D audio"—and if you're lucky, there will be a live concert going on at the innovative on-site auditorium, where the seats wrap around the stage and musicians for an immersive experience.
Piazza Marconi 5, Cremona, Lombardy, 26100, Italy0372-801801Sight Details
Rate Includes: €12, Closed Mon. and Tues. -
5. Palazzo Ducale
The 500-room palace that dominates the Mantua skyline was built for the Gonzaga family, though much of the art within the castle was sold or...
The 500-room palace that dominates the Mantua skyline was built for the Gonzaga family, though much of the art within the castle was sold or stolen as the dynasty waned in power and prestige. A glimpse of past grandeur can still be spotted in the Camera degli Sposi (literally, the "Wedded Couple's Room") where Duke Ludovico and his wife held court. Mantegna painted the hall over a nine-year period at the height of his power, finishing at age 44. Only 25 people at a time are allowed in the room and for only five minutes at a time (though sometimes longer in low season); reservations are recommended, either by phone or online (www.ducalemantova.org).
Piazza Sordello 40, Mantua, Lombardy, 46100, Italy041-2411897Sight Details
Rate Includes: €15, Closed Mon. -
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6. Palazzo Te
One of the greatest of all Renaissance palaces, built between 1525 and 1535 by Federico II Gonzaga, is the Mannerist masterpiece of artist-architect Giulio Romano,...
One of the greatest of all Renaissance palaces, built between 1525 and 1535 by Federico II Gonzaga, is the Mannerist masterpiece of artist-architect Giulio Romano, who created a pavilion where the strict rules of courtly behavior could be relaxed for libertine pastimes. Romano's purposeful breaks with classical tradition are lighthearted and unprecedented; note, for example, the "slipping" triglyphs along the upper edge of the inside courtyard. Two highlights are the Camera di Amore e Psiche (Room of Cupid and Psyche), which depicts a wedding set among lounging nymphs, frolicking satyrs, and even a camel and an elephant; and the gasp-inducing Camera dei Giganti (Room of the Giants) that shows Jupiter expelling the Titans from Mount Olympus. The scale of the latter is overwhelming; the floor-to-ceiling work completely envelops the viewer. The room's rounded corners, and the river rock covering the original floor, were meant to make it seem cavelike. It is a "whisper chamber" in which words softly uttered in one corner can be heard in the opposite one. Note the graffiti from as far back as the 17th century.
Viale Te 13, Mantua, Lombardy, 46100, Italy0376-323266Sight Details
Rate Includes: €15 -
7. Villa del Balbianello
The relentlessly picturesque Balbianello may be the most magical house in all of Italy; you probably know it from cameos in the movies Casino Royale...
The relentlessly picturesque Balbianello may be the most magical house in all of Italy; you probably know it from cameos in the movies Casino Royale and Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. It sits on its own little promontory, Il Dosso d'Avedo, around the bend from the tiny fishing village of Ossuccio. The villa is composed of loggias, terraces, and palazzini (tiny palaces), all spilling down verdant slopes to the shore, where you'll find an old Franciscan church, a magnificent stone staircase, and a statue of San Carlo Borromeo blessing the waters. The villa is usually reached from Como and Bellagio by boat, which leaves you at the village of Lenno. From there, marked signs lead you to the villa—it's either accessible by foot via a 20-minute walk or a more challenging 45-minute hike.
View Tours and ActivitiesVia Guido Monzino 1, Lenno, Lombardy, 22019, Italy0344-56110Sight Details
Rate Includes: €22 villa and gardens, includes 1-hr guided tour; €11 gardens only, Closed Mon., Wed., and early Jan.–mid-Mar. -
8. Accademia Carrara
Bergamo is home to an art collection that's surprisingly rewarding given its size and remote location. Many of the Venetian masters are represented—Mantegna, Bellini, Carpaccio...
Bergamo is home to an art collection that's surprisingly rewarding given its size and remote location. Many of the Venetian masters are represented—Mantegna, Bellini, Carpaccio (circa 1460–1525/26), Tiepolo (1727–1804), Francesco Guardi (1712–93), and Canaletto (1697–1768), as well as Botticelli (1445–1510).
Piazza Carrara 82, Bergamo, Lombardy, 24121, Italy035-234396-weekdaysSight Details
Rate Includes: €10, Closed Tues. -
9. Bardolino
This small town—one of the most popular summer resorts on the lake—is 32 km (20 miles) north of Sirmione along Lake Garda's eastern shore, at...
This small town—one of the most popular summer resorts on the lake—is 32 km (20 miles) north of Sirmione along Lake Garda's eastern shore, at the wider end. It's most famous for its red wine, which is light, dry, and often slightly sparkling; the Festa dell'Uva e del Vino (Grape and Wine Festival), held here in early October, is a great excuse to indulge in the local product. Bardolino has two handsome Romanesque churches, both near the center: San Severo, from the 11th century, and San Zeno, from the 9th.
Bardolino, Veneto, 37011, Italy -
10. Campanone
The massive 13th-century Torre Civica (Civic Tower), known as the Campanone, offers a great view of the two cities. Climb the stairs or take an...
The massive 13th-century Torre Civica (Civic Tower), known as the Campanone, offers a great view of the two cities. Climb the stairs or take an elevator to the top of the tower, where the bells ring every half hour and then 100 times each night at 10 to commemorate the closure of the city gates during Venetian rule.
Piazza Vecchia, Bergamo, Lombardy, 24129, Italy035-247116Sight Details
Rate Includes: €5, Closed Mon. -
11. Cappella Colleoni
Bergamo's Duomo and Battistero are the most substantial buildings in Piazza Duomo. But the most impressive structure is the Cappella Colleoni, which boasts a kaleidoscope...
Bergamo's Duomo and Battistero are the most substantial buildings in Piazza Duomo. But the most impressive structure is the Cappella Colleoni, which boasts a kaleidoscope of marble decoration and golden accents.
Piazza Duomo, Bergamo, Lombardy, 24100, Italy035-210061Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. -
12. Casa del Mantegna
Serious Mantegna aficionados will want to visit the house the artist designed and built around an intriguing circular courtyard, which is usually open to view....
Serious Mantegna aficionados will want to visit the house the artist designed and built around an intriguing circular courtyard, which is usually open to view. The exterior is interesting for its unusual design, and the interior, with its hidden frescoes, can be seen by appointment or during occasional art exhibitions. Hours and prices vary depending on the exhibition.
Via Acerbi 47, Mantua, Lombardy, 46100, Italy0376-360506Sight Details
Rate Includes: Varies by exhibition -
13. Castello di Malcesine
Dominating the town is a 12th-century castle built by Verona's dynastic Della Scala family. It now contains a small museum of natural history....
Dominating the town is a 12th-century castle built by Verona's dynastic Della Scala family. It now contains a small museum of natural history.
View Tours and ActivitiesVia Castello 39, Malcesine, Veneto, 37018, Italy045-6570333Sight Details
Rate Includes: €6, Closed early Nov.–mid-Mar. -
14. Castello Scaligero di Sirmione
As hereditary rulers of Verona for more than a century before they lost control of the city in 1402, the Della Scala counted Garda among...
As hereditary rulers of Verona for more than a century before they lost control of the city in 1402, the Della Scala counted Garda among their possessions. It was they who built this lakeside redoubt, along with almost all the other castles on the lake. You can go inside to take in a lake view from the tower, or you can swim at the nearby beach.
View Tours and ActivitiesPiazza Castello, Sirmione, Lombardy, 25019, Italy030-916468Sight Details
Rate Includes: €6, Closed Mon. -
15. Castello Visconteo di Pavia
The town's 14th-century fortress-castle now houses the local Museo Civico (Municipal Museum), with a Romanesque and Renaissance sculpture gallery, an archaeological collection, and a large...
The town's 14th-century fortress-castle now houses the local Museo Civico (Municipal Museum), with a Romanesque and Renaissance sculpture gallery, an archaeological collection, and a large picture gallery displaying works by Correggio, Bellini, Tiepolo, Hayez, Pellizza da Volpedo, and la Foppa, among others.
Viale XI Febbraio 35, Pavia, Lombardy, 27100, Italy0382-399770Sight Details
Rate Includes: €10, Closed Tues. -
16. Ca’ del Bosco
Modern sculptures adorn the grounds of this respected Franciacorta winery (one of the largest in the region). Enjoyable hour-long cellar tours conclude with a 30-minute...
Modern sculptures adorn the grounds of this respected Franciacorta winery (one of the largest in the region). Enjoyable hour-long cellar tours conclude with a 30-minute tasting; information about tour availability can be requested online.
Via Albano Zanella 13, Erbusco, Lombardy, 25030, Italy030-7766111Sight Details
Rate Includes: From €35, Closed weekdays 12:30–2 -
17. Certosa di Pavia
The main draw in Pavia is its certosa (Carthusian monastery), 9 km (5½ miles) north of the city center and a 15-minute walk from the...
The main draw in Pavia is its certosa (Carthusian monastery), 9 km (5½ miles) north of the city center and a 15-minute walk from the Certosa di Pavia train station. Its elaborate facade shows the same relish for ornamentation as Milan's Duomo. The Certosa di Pavia's extravagant grandeur was due in part to the plan to have it house the tombs of the family of the first duke of Milan, Gian Galeazzo Visconti (who died during a plague, at age 49, in 1402). The best marble was used, taken undoubtedly by barge from the quarries of Carrara, roughly 240 km (150 miles) away. Although the floor plan is Gothic—a cross shape divided into a series of squares—the gorgeous fabric that rises above it is triumphantly Renaissance. On the facade, in the lower frieze, are medallions of Roman emperors and Eastern monarchs; above them are low reliefs of scenes from the life of Christ and from the career of Gian Galeazzo Visconti.
Località Monumento 4, Pavia, Lombardy, 27012, Italy0382-925613Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Free -
18. Duomo
Cremona's Romanesque Duomo was consecrated in 1190. It's an impressive structure in a breathtaking piazza, and certainly one of the most beautiful churches in Italy....
Cremona's Romanesque Duomo was consecrated in 1190. It's an impressive structure in a breathtaking piazza, and certainly one of the most beautiful churches in Italy. Here you can find the Story of the Virgin Mary and the Passion of Christ, the central fresco of an extraordinary cycle commissioned in 1514 and featuring the work of local artists, including Boccaccio Boccaccino, Giovanni Francesco Bembo, and Altobello Melone.
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19. Duomo
The splendid 15th-century Renaissance-Gothic Duomo was begun in 1396. The facade was added in 1455, and the transepts were completed in the mid-18th century. The...
The splendid 15th-century Renaissance-Gothic Duomo was begun in 1396. The facade was added in 1455, and the transepts were completed in the mid-18th century. The dome was designed by Filippo Juvarra (1678–1736), chief architect of many of the sumptuous palaces of the royal house of Savoy. The facade has statues of two of Como's most famous sons, Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger, whose writings are among the most important documents from antiquity. Inside, the works of art include Luini's Holy Conversation, a fresco cycle by Morazzone, and the Marriage of the Virgin Mary by Ferrari.
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20. Funivia
For amazing views, take the funivia, a cable car that takes you to heights from which you can see seven lakes: Maggiore, Orta, Mergozzo, Varese,...
For amazing views, take the funivia, a cable car that takes you to heights from which you can see seven lakes: Maggiore, Orta, Mergozzo, Varese, Camabbio, Monate, and Biandronno. Situated between Lakes Maggiore and Orta, it offers tourists 360-degree views of the Po Plain right across to the distant Alpine peaks. At the top, nature- and adventure-lovers can rent mountain bikes and ride on properly marked paths, while others can just relax at a local restaurant.
Piazzale Lido 8, Stresa, Piedmont, 28838, Italy0323-30295Sight Details
Rate Includes: €20 round-trip, Apr. 1–Oct. 31, daily 9:30–6; Nov.–mid-Mar., daily 8:10–5:40
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