Lombardy, Italy

State guide with cities, regions, and key information.

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Introduction
Lombardy, the wealthy region of northern Italy, pairs the country's business, fashion and design capital, Milan, with the most glamorous of the Italian Lakes and a string of art-rich historic cities — all backed by the Alps. For travellers it is the gateway to northern Italy: a world-class city of cathedral, opera and shopping, the villa-lined shores of Lake Como and its neighbours, the walled hill town of Bergamo, the Gonzaga palaces of Mantua, and alpine valleys for wine and skiing.

Discover Lombardy

Milan is Italy's most modern and cosmopolitan city, and a rewarding few days. Its heart is the Duomo, an astonishing pinnacled Gothic cathedral of white marble — climb to the roof to walk among the spires and statues with the Alps on the horizon. Beside it, the soaring glass-and-iron Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II leads to La Scala, one of the world's great opera houses. Milan's supreme treasure is Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper (Il Cenacolo), the fragile fresco in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which must be booked well in advance. The city is a capital of art (the Brera Gallery, the Castello Sforzesco, the contemporary spaces of the Fondazione Prada and the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana) and, above all, of fashion and design — the luxury 'Quadrilatero della Moda', the design showrooms, and the springtime spectacles of Fashion Week and the Salone del Mobile furniture fair. Aperitivo in the canal-side Navigli district rounds off a Milanese evening.

Travel Types

Milan — City & Design

The Duomo and Galleria, da Vinci's Last Supper, La Scala opera and the fashion and design capital.

The Italian Lakes

Glamorous Lake Como and its villas, plus Garda's western shore, Maggiore's Borromean Islands and Lake Iseo.

Art Cities

Walled Bergamo, the Gonzaga palaces of Mantua, the violins of Cremona and the Certosa of Pavia.

Wine & the Alps

Franciacorta's sparkling wine and the alpine Valtellina valley with its terraced vineyards and ski resorts.

Frequently asked questions

Yes — Lake Como is one of the easiest and most popular day trips from Milan, about an hour by train to the lakeside towns of Como or Varenna. From there, ferries link the prettiest villages (Bellagio, Menaggio, Varenna) and the famous villa gardens. A day gives you a good taste, but the lake rewards an overnight stay to enjoy the towns once the day-trippers leave; go on a clear day for the best mountain views.

Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie, is one of the world's most famous paintings and access is strictly limited — small timed groups for about 15 minutes each. Tickets sell out far in advance, so book online as early as you can (or join a guided tour that includes a slot). Bring your booking confirmation and arrive on time, as latecomers may lose their place.

Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are ideal across the board — pleasant for Milan and the art cities and lovely on the lakes, with fewer crowds than high summer. The lakes are at their best from late spring to early autumn; summer is warm and busy. Winter suits Milan's culture and shopping and the Valtellina ski resorts, though some lakeside hotels and gardens close in the colder months.

Cities in Lombardy

1 city with detailed travel information

Milan