Do you need to get away from the city and relax, or maybe you want to spend a day a little more adventurous than usual in the open air? Among traditions to discover, walks and typical cuisine, here are the 20 villages of Lombardy elected among the most beautiful in Italy to discover and rediscover as soon as possible.
Bienno
Province of Brescia
The name of this village in the province of Brescia in ancient times meant “stream of the mines” and has always been known for its iron craftsmanship. In fact, the ancient town and its history developed around the production and forging of iron. The village is the perfect place to retrace the artisan tradition thanks to its ancient forges. Stop to taste the casunsei, stuffed ravioli seasoned with butter, sage and cheese.
Cassinetta of Lugagnano
Province of Milan
Once divided into two different inhabited centers, Cassinetta and Lugagnano, the village now offers the perfect landscape for walking and cycling. The stretch between Cassinetta di Lugagnano and the nearby Castelletto di Cuggiono is completely surrounded by greenery and can be admired from the Naviglio Grande, which can be navigated by boat. At the end of the day spent outdoors, the typical dish of the village awaits you: risotto with gorgonzola.
Castellaro Lagusello
Province of Mantua
Castellaro Lagusello is the perfect village to enjoy some peace and serenity before returning to the hectic life of the city. The enchanting landscape and the heart-shaped lake will be the setting for an unforgettable day, to be concluded by enjoying one of the DOC wines of the area.
Castelponzone
Province of Cremona
In Castelponzone, time seems to have never passed: the rural dimension of the village has not been altered by recent urban expansions. In this rural atmosphere let yourself be tempted by the typical dishes of the village: I marubini, stuffed pasta typical of Lombardy, here served in a broth created by the union of three different broths, that of hen, that of beef and that of salami.
Cornello di Tasso
Province of Bergamo
If you are a lover of outdoor life and physical activity, this small village in the province of Bergamo is for you. Excursions in the mountains, rafting, canoeing and trekking for the more daring, or a more relaxing walk on the ancient via mercatorum which, crossing woods, meadows and valleys, ends in front of what is known as the “house of Arlecchino”, a fifteenth-century building where Alberto Ganassa lived, who was the first to interpret the famous Bergamo mask.
Fortunago
Province of Pavia
An oasis of peace in this small village where you can find the emotions, scents and traditions that were believed to be lost. Outside the village there are 400 hectares of protected forest, where you will find equipped paths and trails. The typical dish of Fortunago are malfatti, made with spinach and breadcrumbs served with butter and cheese.
Gardone Riviera
Province of Brescia
Gardone Riviera is located on the Brescia side of Lake Garda, where D’Annunzio had the Vittoriale degli Italiani built in collaboration with the architect Giancarlo Maroni. The building, which has a symbolic and historical value, also hosts various forms of art and expression in its open-air theater, including ballet, a review of prose, music and cabaret. The Liberty Festival takes place in Gardone between April and October, perfect for lovers of Strauss music, theater and waltzes.
Gradella
Province of Cremona
The village brings to mind rural life, with its communicating courtyards and characteristic yellow houses. During your walk in the village you may encounter a group of fallow deer, perfectly set in the life of the town, brought to Gradella by Countess Camilla Maggi. At the edge of the village it is possible to admire Villa Maggi, renovated and modified in the last century, inside which today there is also a beautiful park.
Thanks
Province of Mantua
During your visit to Grazie you cannot miss the sanctuary of the Beata Vergine delle Grazie, a Gothic style church facing the village and behind which the river Mincio flows. After the visit, stop to taste pike in sauce, a synthesis of peasant tradition and freshwater fish.
Gromo
Province of Bergamo
If you want a day outdoors a little more adventurous than usual in Gromo you can do sport fishing, photo hunting, winter sports on the ski slope, hiking trails and, in the nearby Spiazzi, you will find the Suspended Park, where you can appreciate the landscape that surrounds you from another point of view: at 1300 meters, using bridges, lianas, ropes and nets.
Lovere is also an excursion destination where you can go trekking, sailing, canoeing and rowing. At the same time, the beautiful panorama of the basin of Lake Iseo and the sanctuary of San Giovanni in Monte Cala make this village also suitable for those who want to spend a quiet day contemplating the surrounding lake and nature. If you get hungry, polenta is the star here. Served hot or grilled, accompanied by meat or fish from the lake: the choice is yours.
Monte Isola
Province of Brescia
The perfect place for those looking for some peace and quiet. Monte Isola can only be reached by ferry and can be visited by bus, bicycle or on foot. Each of the eleven hamlets that make up the municipality has a story to tell. Absolutely to try the Montisola salami and the fritulì, the typical pancakes with apples.
Morimondo
Province of Milan
The village rises around the Cistercian abbey of Morimondo and both, village and abbey, take their name from the French abbey of Morimond. An excellent opportunity to visit Morimondo is the fourteenth century, in May: one of the most famous European medieval events, during which moments of the battle of Casorate in 1356 are recreated.
Pomponesco
Province of Mantua
Small romantic village built on the bank of the Po. Perfect for bicycle lovers who enjoy paths closed to traffic dotted with poplars and accompanied by the tranquility of the river. The local specialty is called, in dialect, luadèl, a puff pastry bread that accompanies meats and cheeses.
Sabbioneta
Province of Mantua
A sixteenth-century-style village where you can taste agnolini in meat broth, one of the traditional dishes of Mantuan cuisine. Those who love cycling will be pleasantly surprised by the cycle path inside the Oglio Sud Park, a real ecological corridor.
San Benedetto Po
Province of Mantua
The village is entered through the door of the monastery, founded in 1007 by Tedaldo di Canossa. Matilde di Canossa wanted to be buried here, since she had always had a special bond with these places. In the Gorgo hamlet there is the Astronomical Observatory, with a terrace for observations and a computerized telescope, for those who are enchanted by looking at the stars.
Soncino
Province of Cremona
Village characterized by agricultural tradition, Soncino is the perfect place for a walk in the countryside. The village is in fact also the cultural center of the Oglio Nord Park.
Tremezzina
On the shores of Lake Como, just in front of Bellagio, Tremezzina is the result of the merger of four villages: Lenno, Mezzegra, Ossuccio and Tremezzo. Between the hinterland and the lake, the culinary tradition of the village reflects its multifaceted reality, with typical dishes both from the lake, such as risotto with perch, and from the land, such as polenta.
Tremosine sul Garda
Province of Brescia
Located on a structural terrace overlooking Lake Garda, Tremosine is a real paradise on the cliffs. It offers numerous itineraries for those who love hiking and mountain biking and a breathtaking view of the lake below.
Zavattarello
Province of Pavia
According to scholars, Zavattarello is the most historic town in the province of Pavia. The village takes its name from the activity that characterized it, namely that of cobblers: savattarellum would in fact be the name that indicates the place where the slippers are made. In fact, the town is still called Savataré in dialect.
