Brescia, the lioness of Italy

One of the most beautiful experiences in Lombardy is to visit the small historical cities.

 

Graceful and elegant, Brescia is one of the main historical places in Lombardy. The city has been a protagonist of many important historical events. It is very emotional to hear the stories of its historical past and to feel its glorious spirit.

 

 

A piece of the extraordinary history of Brescia can be admired at every corner. Visiting Brescia is a perfect opportunity to discover a place rich in charm and priceless ancient historical treasures.

 

 

The charming city is also known for its huge castle complex, one of the largest in Italy and his construction took several centuries.

The tower of prisoners.

Located on the top of a hill, the castle reveals splendid views towards the city of Brescia and the region. This is definitely a fabulous place to visit and admire.

 

 

 

Brescia has its flair and fascinating atmosphere. Tourists remain impressed by the beauty of the main square Paolo IV, surrounded by several buildings, particularly interested with their architecture.

The historical heart of Brescia is an amazing vivid place, full of life and music and offers unique views. A perfect spot which should be seen and experienced.

 

 

The Old round Cathedral, La Rotonda built in 11^th century.

 

 

Close to it is the New Cathedral. Inside is a monument of Pope Paul IV, one of the famous Brescia’s citizens.

 

 

Right close to the cathedral is Broletto, housing governmental offices.

 

 

A view of the two cathedrals and the tower of Broletto.

 

 

 

Another main highlight in the city is the magnificent Benedictine monastery Santa Giulia-San Salvadore, offering a splendid travel through history and art. The Basilica of San Salvadore is dating back to 8^th century and was founded by the kings of Lombardy. The expositions organized here represent wonderful examples of several historical periods like: Antiquity, Celtic, Roman, Langobardic, till the Venetian domination. The monastery Santa Giulia-San Salvadore is definitely an important emblematic cultural and historical site of Brescia

 

 

 

Close is Piazza del Foro with impressive remains of the ancient Braixa, the Roman city represented the glorious history of the Roman Empire.

 

 

The Capitolium built in 73 AD is a part of a new archaeological park. Right behind it is located the Roman Theater, one of the largest in Northern Italy and representing the glory of the Flavian period.

 

 

It is so wonderful to stroll through the streets here, immersed in its historical atmosphere.

 

 

The city bears the marks of the greatest architects of its time.

Piazza della Loggia and the arcades with the splendid astronomical clock.

The attractive old square is remarkable with its old buildings. Best place to sit here and enjoy the typical Italian feeling with a nice food or a cup of coffee.

 

 

The Renaissance city hall. The atmosphere here is indescribable.

 

 

 

Brescia is a remarkable and memorable place, a small Italian jewel with a wonderful Mediterranean atmosphere.

The memory of its glorious past is still vivid in every corner.What an outstanding experience! Definitely a different way to learn more about Lombardy. 

Magic in Bergamo

 

Bergamo is one of the most beautiful cities in the Italian province of Lombardy. Rich in history, Bergamo strikes visitors with its extraordinary charm. The unique city consists of two parts-Lower Town and Upper Town, located on a hill.

 

La citta alta impresses with its old charm. The historical city center can be reached by a funicular, which within a minute brings you to another place and time, a total contrast to the modern downtown.

 

 

Panoramic views, a gift to the eye and the heart.

 

The old churches, charming buildings, narrow streets, good restaurants, everything here looks so welcoming.

 

The heart of the old town is Piazza Vecchia, a totally charming place in every aspect. The best place to take a rest in one of the many restaurants and admire the amazing scenes around.

Palazzo della Ragione, in the middle of Piazza Vecchia, is a key attraction of the beautiful square. Built in the 12^th century by the Venetians, the building testifies the long period of Venetian dominance.

 

A splendid square surrounded by stunning buildings and Fontana Contarini.

 

The Angelo Mai Library at Piazza Vecchia.

 

 

From here we had a fantastic view to the Campanone and Torre Civica. The municipal tower, built is 12^th century, is 54 meters high. For centuries the main bells have been rang to mark the hour when city gates were closed.

 

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in the center of Bergamo impresses by its beautiful proportions and stunning architecture.

The tranquil atmosphere inside brings enjoyable moments of silence. We really like the stunning tapestries and the rich decorations.

Cappella Colleoni  is a church and mausoleum at the same time. The façade is so fascinating with its many details, sculptures and colorful. The chapel was commissioned by the great condottiere Bartolomeo Colleoni. Colleoni fought for Venetians and as recognition of his loyalty he was given Bergamo. Colleoni tomb is inside the chapel. There is also an altar and statues.

 

 

The area around is also very impressive by its stunning historical architecture. A real gem!!!

 

The elegant octagonal Baptistery.

 

Walking around the Citta Alta we found a wonderful stroll through time, a perfect opportunity to discover Bergamo’s secrets like Rocca di Bergamo.

 

Situated on the top of a hill, the citadel reveals fantastic views towards the city and the region.

Perfect opportunity to come into direct contact with nature in an extraordinary area.

 

Bergamo has a prominent place in the history of music and the famous composer Gaetano Donizetti was born here.

Bergamo truly projected the atmosphere of the Renaissance. The town is so lovely, a wonderful example of a small historical Italian town.

Milano and its cosmopolitan charm

Milan or Milano is the second largest city in Italy and the capital of Lombardy. This the main industrial, commercial and financial center of Italy and hosts several international events and fairs.

Malpenza airport connects Milano to the main European cities. Large, living, industrial, international, Milano fascinates us with its dimensions.

Here we find variety of architectural landscapes of great interest. Each of these sightseeing represents different parts of the glorious city´s history and is in harmonious combination with the huge boulevards, squares, and cultural institutions.

The first stop of our tour is Castello Sforza, definitely the most impressive citadel we have ever seen.

Located right in the city center, the building fascinates with its dimensions.

We also take  a moment to admire the building from different corners.

This imposing castle was used as a residence by the powerful Sforza family, and now houses several museums.

It is worth visiting the castle courtyard and the museums. 

Here we spent the whole day, admiring the art collections and the unique architecture.

Milano offers cheerfulness and cosmopolitan charm.From here a long street takes us to Piazza del Duomo, a common meeting point in Milano and an absolute highlight for fans of architecture from all over the world.

 

The statue of Vittorio Emanuele II in Piazza del Duomo. The square is surrounded by several important buildings like: Palazzo Carminati, Palazzo dell'Arengario, The royal Palace of Milano and Milano cathedral, Duomo.

Duomo marks the center of the city with its importance from a religious, cultural and social point of view. This is the second largest cathedral in Italy and a landmark of Milano.

 

The white impressive facade, superbly rich on elements, statutes, spires, harmonizes with the interior of the cathedral which includes numerous marvelous pieces of art.

Here international and local visitors admire the spectacular cathedral architecture.

Another particularity of the square are numerous pigeons, often regarded among the symbols of the city.

Right to the cathedral is Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II ,one of the oldest malls in Europe and definitely a symbol of Milano.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is famous with its glass arcades, expensive boutiques and restaurants

 

and wonderful mosaics including the coat of arms of the three capitals of the Italian Kingdom (Turin, Florence and Rome) including the one of Milano. 

It takes some effort to drag yourself from here and continue on your way along the entertaining route to La Scala, the most famous opera house in the world.

This is one of the leading opera and ballet theaters in the world.

Right in front is the monument of Leonardo da Vinci, who revealed his genius here in Milano. 

Another must visit destination is the church Santa Maria delle Grazie, containing the mural depiction of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, a  place with enormous cultural significance.

Milano has a lot to offer. This leading global city is not only world famous with the two big football clubs: Milan and Inter but also as a capital of fashion and design. Here we find theaters, museums and international events which bring additional cultural flair of our visit in this metropolitan city.

Lake Como and Monza

The Italian region of Lombardy is impressive with its hills, lakes, mountains and plains, an area of rich history and traditions. Located in the north of the country and sharing a border with Switzerland, Lombardy is largely known as an industrial and economic region.

The main stop of our trip is Milano, a city of innovation, technology, fashion, entertainment, history, art and culture. Here we find some of the main touristic attractions.

We combine our stay in Milano with a day trip to Lake Como, a very popular tourist destination in Lombardy. The best way to reach the lake is by train from Milano. There are regular trains to the charming historical city of Como.

Once arrived at Como we take the main street from the train station to the lake. Walking along the promenade we got fascinated by admirable sceneries. The natural beauty and the stunning landscapes make this highly-pleasant walk an unforgettable experience. 

The mountain lake is very popular for its landscapes.

Since the Roman times the lake has attracted the reach aristocracy which selected the place as the best destination for retrieve. Nowadays many celebrities have villas here.

Como water aerodrome.

We take a rest in one of the local restaurants and taste the traditional dish polenta. From here we enjoy the panoramic views of Lake Como and the Alps.

Lake Como offers magnificent sceneries and a unique contact with nature. This is one of the most beautiful European lakes, a place which is a well worth visiting.

On the way back to Milano we visit the city of Monza, another attractive and world-famous destination. 

The small city is best known for its motor racing circuit which hosts the Italian Grand Prix of Formula One.

Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral with the white and black marble façade and the campanile.

The arengario

Lombardy has many facets and countless attractive spots to offer in terms of its natural, cultural and architectural sightseeing. The region has its own charm and this unique journey offers us one restful and entertaining holiday.