Despite being one of the most industrialised and densely populated areas of Italy, if you have found a villa in Lombardy you will quickly discover that it is in no short supply of natural wonders alongside its endless manmade delights and surprises. Here you will find Italy's beloved Lake District that is one of the country's most sought-after tourist areas and is a wealth of incredible scenery, lakeside palaces, pretty little towns, excellent hiking opportunities, and brilliant water sports facilities – it is no wonder that Hemingway, Goethe, and DH Lawrence all fell in love with, and wrote at length about, the area. And the Alpine peaks of the region are a further natural blessing of indescribable beauty and a resource that affords the facilities for a rich range of outdoor pursuits.
The region's capital, meanwhile, is one of the world's major fashion destinations, Milan, and there are plenty of other charming towns and cities around the region. However, one of the most interesting among them is, no doubt, Mantua. This city, once ruled and shaped by the powerful Gonzaga family for almost four centuries, is full of extraordinary architectural gems, works of art, and an immensely rich cultural and historical heritage. It is, however, also home to one of the most wondrous examples of where nature and man have come together to make something truly exceptional and stunning: the Isola dei Fiori di Loto (or Lotus Island).
The region's capital, meanwhile, is one of the world's major fashion destinations, Milan, and there are plenty of other charming towns and cities around the region. However, one of the most interesting among them is, no doubt, Mantua. This city, once ruled and shaped by the powerful Gonzaga family for almost four centuries, is full of extraordinary architectural gems, works of art, and an immensely rich cultural and historical heritage. It is, however, also home to one of the most wondrous examples of where nature and man have come together to make something truly exceptional and stunning: the Isola dei Fiori di Loto (or Lotus Island).
The Isola dei Fiori di Loto is located on the Lago Superiore, one of the three lakes of the river basin of the River Mincio, that is positioned just outside Mantua and is part of the Valli del Mincio Nature Reserve. The largest of the three lakes, the Lago Superiore becomes a truly astounding sight to see during the summer months when the Lotus flowers (Nelumbium nucifera) begin to bloom on the large beds of green leaves that float together in the lake like a magical island plucked from the pages of a fairytale. The leaves are up to a meter in diameter and on top of these massive green pads there appear large white and pink flowers, the likes of which are not seen elsewhere outside of Asia. With a small waterway splitting the island down the middle to allow boats to cross, the Isola dei Fiori di Loto is an utterly unique and extraordinary thing to witness and unmissable for plant-lovers on vacation in Lombardy.
Introduced by Maria Pellegreffi, a young graduate in Natural Sciences at the University of Parma, in 1921, who had received some of the plants from missionaries who were returning from a stint in China. Pellegreffi planted them in front of the Valletta di Belfiore with a plan to breed them in order to make a flour from their rhizomes but the flour never took off in Italy. The lotus blossoms, however, firmly took hold and became an iconic fixture of the Lago Superiore. Now the largest expanse of lotus flowers outside of Asia, they have become a symbol of Mantua in recent years and a popular tourist attraction in the region.
If you have found a villa in Lombardy and are interested in planning a daytrip to Mantua to see the blooms, be sure to come in July and August, when they are at their best. Companies such as Naviandes will take you on boat trips out onto the lake and through the waterway to see the blossoms but there is also the option to simply view them from the shore. Don't miss taking in this unbelievable sight with your own eyes if you find yourself in this part of Italy over the summer months, it is absolutely breathtaking!
Introduced by Maria Pellegreffi, a young graduate in Natural Sciences at the University of Parma, in 1921, who had received some of the plants from missionaries who were returning from a stint in China. Pellegreffi planted them in front of the Valletta di Belfiore with a plan to breed them in order to make a flour from their rhizomes but the flour never took off in Italy. The lotus blossoms, however, firmly took hold and became an iconic fixture of the Lago Superiore. Now the largest expanse of lotus flowers outside of Asia, they have become a symbol of Mantua in recent years and a popular tourist attraction in the region.
If you have found a villa in Lombardy and are interested in planning a daytrip to Mantua to see the blooms, be sure to come in July and August, when they are at their best. Companies such as Naviandes will take you on boat trips out onto the lake and through the waterway to see the blossoms but there is also the option to simply view them from the shore. Don't miss taking in this unbelievable sight with your own eyes if you find yourself in this part of Italy over the summer months, it is absolutely breathtaking!
Photo credits
Picture 1: Carlo Pelagalli / CC BY-SA 3.0;
Picture 2: Serena Trivini Bellini / CC BY-SA 2.0
Picture 1: Carlo Pelagalli / CC BY-SA 3.0;
Picture 2: Serena Trivini Bellini / CC BY-SA 2.0