Archive for 'Lombardy'

In the lovely little town of Sirmione, right on Lake Garda, there stands a rather unique building. A rare example of medieval port fortification, Scaliger Castle, or Castello Scaligero, was begun in 1277 by Mastino della Scala and work was continued in three phases into the fifteenth century.

Why not find a vacation villa rental on the Garda lake and spend a pleasant afternoon exploring the grounds of this magnificent structure before descending into the historic centre of Sirmione below and grabbing something to eat in a local restaurant?

Sirmione is a small town with a population of less than 9,000 which is located on Lake Garda. However, despite its relatively small size, it is jam-packed with things to see and do, history and architectural gems. The area has been settled since the Stone Age when it was probably home to fishermen who lived in houses on stilts on the banks of the lake.

One such settlement found nearby at Lugana Vecchia is part of the collection of such sites across a variety of countries in the vicinity of the Alps, including Slovenia, Austria, Germany, France and Switzerland and is now considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Spend a superb few days in the beautiful town of Limone sul Garda, situated on the shores of Lake Garda in Lombardy.

It’s named after the famous cultivation of lemons here and is a very popular tourist destination.

As well as visiting Limone sul Garda you could also stop off in other communes here such as Malcesine, Sirmione and attractions like Scaliger castle.

Spend a phenomenal time in the city of Bergamo in Lombardy. Located about 40 kilometres northeast of Milan and 30 kilometres from Lake Como, this scenic city is situated on the foothills of the Alps.

This lively place offers a lot for tourists to do and see. It’s the second most visited city in Lombardy after Milan and is famous for its prominence in music history.

Music has been taught and sung here to pristine standards for over eight hundred years, most notably in the magnificent church of Santa Maria Maggiore. Despite Bergamo being a striking walled city, in many ways its streets and character still retain the look of a busy medieval village.

The upper city side of Bergamo however has the look of great wealth and expense. Walk around the Piazza Vecchia here and walk through the beautiful Palazzo della Ragione and the white decorative Angelo Mai Library.

If you want to see something truly breath taking then a vacation in Lombardy at Lake Lugano will bring you face to face with the majestic Monte San Giorgio! This huge mountain rises up from the shoreline of the lake to form an unusual shape.

Stay in a charming vacation rental in Lombardy where you can visit Monte San Giorgio and other enticing attractions of the region.

It lies between the borders of Lombardy and Switzerland and earned itself a rightful place on the 2003 UNESCO World Heritage Site list.