Day Trips
Here are a list of some interesting places to visit which are all within easy reach of Milan.
Journey south to the town of Pavia to check out the unmissable Certosa di Pavia. A Carthusian monastery founded in 1396, it is truly magnificent and one of the most notable buildings produced during the Italian Renasissance.
What really draws visitors to Lombardy, however, are the lakes. Lake Maggiore is around 65 kilometres long is home to the beautiful Borromean Islands. Check out the Palazzo Borromeo on Isola Bella which houses Flemish tapestries and works by Tiepolo and Van Dyck; sample the idyllic fishing village atmostphere on Isola dei Pescatori. Visit the town of Orta San Giulio on the lesser-known Lago d'Orta on the border with Piedmont. Less crowded than other lakeside towns, it is an attractive, relaxing place.
Lake Como's blue-green waters are set against the snowy peaks of the Alps. Visit the heart of the old town, to admire the 400-year old buildings and its basilica. Take time to visit some of the charming villages that dot the shores of the lake. Lake Garda is the biggest of the lakes, lying between the Alps and Pianura Padana. The towns of Sirmione and Riva del Garda are well worth visiting.
Bergamo
Bergamo official tourism website
12 top tourist attractions in Bergamo & easy day trips
The town of Cremona has a century-old tradition of making violins, all of the famous violin-making families started here - Stradivari being the most well known. Visit some of the violin workshops and see how they are made.
One of the most beautiful cities in Lombardy is Mantova. The Palazzo Ducale and the 15th century Basilica di Sant'Andrea dominate the city and are well worth a look.