Lombardy Green Travel Guide

Lombardy is known especially for its economic possibilities, but it also hides many places of great artistic and naturalistic interest which attract every year many tourists.

Places are very different moving from one province to another and in cities you can admire art and great architectures. Read our green travel guides and discover the eco-friendly accommodations of Lombardy:

Bergamo

Brescia

Como

Cremona

Lecco 

Lodi

Mantova

Milan

Monza e Brianza

Pavia

Sondrio

Varese

Slow path itineraries in the Nature

If you are looking for holidays in the nature, valleys in Lombardy can be the perfect destination. Between the Alps there are Valtellina, Valchiavenna and Valcamonica. Here you will find many itineraries to follow on foot or by bike, crossing woods and mountain tops. In Valtellina on the board with Trentino Alto Adige, extends the Stelvio National Park, with high mountain tops: the Ortles Group, perfect destination for these who likes challenging itineraries. To be visited there is also the Adamello National Park and the Orbie Bergamasche National Park, as well as all the surrounding area. 

The three most famous lakes of the Region are Garda, Como and Iseo lakes, perfect place if you love water sports such as sailing, surfing and rowing, but also if you want to relax and sunbathe. Very characteristic is the small city of Sirmione on Garda Lake, founded on a thin strip of land, reaching out towards the lake, famous for its thermal waters and medieval architectures.

In the south part of the Region there is a wide flat land, called Pianura Padana, across which flows the Po river. This land is particularly suitable for agriculture, such as paddies, in the area of Lomellina, rich of traditions and folklore.

Along the levees of the river, runs a bicycle path, across poplars and herons.

Culture to discover

All cities in Lombardy have a great tradition of art and culture. It's a Region with a lively past, many traces are still well visible, so that walking across the streets you will have the impression to walk trough the past!

From the prehistory period, you can admire petroglyphs on the rocks in Valcamonica and ancient villages in the Alps. From the mediaeval time you can visit churches and castles, for example in Bergamo, Brescia and Sirmione. During the Rinascimento, many churches were built trough all Lombardy, inspired by new architectural styles. One of the most interesting places to visit is the Civic Temple of Beata Vergine Incoronata, in the city of Lodi.

Many are also the artists, that lived in Lombardy and got inspired by this place: Leonardo da Vinci who painted the Last Supper, a fresco in the church of St. Ambrogio in Milan, Caravaggio who did a lot of paintings, Alessandro Manzoni who wrote a famous novel, “I promessi Sposi” that took place in the area of Lecco,..

Traditional Flavors

In this Region mountains and pastures, but also lowland crops represent an important economic activity. For this reason, local foodstuffs, from which traditional products are made, are genuine and tasty. You surely need to try Bresaola, made in Valtellina, or cheese, such as Taleggio, Gorgonzola and Casera. The are of Mantova is well known for the production of pears, while the mild climate of the area of Garda Lake is perfect for the production of lemons.

Not to be missed is the typical “Risotto alla Milanese”, a plate of yellow rice for the presence of saffron, but also the “Pizzoccheri of Valtellina”, made with buckwheat and seasoned with potatoes and cabbage. 

Tasty local cakes to try are the Christmas Panettone in Milan, the Easter Colomba in Pavia, Sbrisolona in Mantova and Torrone in Cremona.

Where to sleep in Lombardy

In Lombardy you can also find ecofriendly accommodations. Here are some suggestions:

B&B Adelchè, Val Brembana, Bergamo. This small charming building welcomes you in the heart of Val Brembana, only 32 Km far from Bergamo and 15 minutes from San Pellegrino Terme. Situated in the middle of the Valley at 700 meters above sea level. The resort offers you a spectacular view of Mount Concervo and Mount Venturosa.

Cascina Santa Brera, near Milan. It is an ancient farmhouse, full of history and restored according to the rules and with the materials of eco building. It sleeps around 40 people. The rooms are spacious with large en-suite bathrooms, while the one room self-catering apartments have a kitchenette and a bathroom.

Discover other ecofriendly accommodations in Lombardy

If you are looking for other suggestion for your eco-friendly trip to Lombardy, you can read the following articles:

Mount on your bicycle: a green itinerary just outside busy Milan

Garda Lake weekend tour

Ride the clouds discovering Val Camonica, in the Italian Alps

Cicle path from Mantua to Garda lake

Author: Anita Cason 

Cover image: Mantua, ph. by drs1ump via Flickr