DESTINATION:
Northern Italy – Lombardy
The region of Lombardy is bordered to the north by Switzerland and to the south by Emilia Romagna and is an area of outstanding natural beauty in the form of its mountains and lakes, and striking cities and towns which testify to centuries of art and culture.
Recommended duration - 4 nights/5 days
KEY VISITS (Recommended)
MILAN – located on the plains of Lombardy, is the principal city of the region and is the most populated and developed of the twenty Italian regions. Lombardy takes its name from the word ‘Longobards’, a dynamic Germanic race who established their kingdom in this area in the 6th century. The independent communes, which developed in the 12th century, established Milan as a dominant economic force but by the late 13th century, the Visconti family had seized control and under their rule the city enjoyed political and cultural supremacy. The Sforza family came to power in the mid-15th century; their rule coincided with the Renaissance in Italy and brought about a period of remarkable artistic creativity. Later influences by the Borromeo Cardinals and the Habsburgs have also left their mark and today the city has emerged as Italy’s main centre for commerce, finance, fashion and design.
- CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA DELLE GRAZIE – in whose refectory is housed Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. The painting was completed just before Da Vinci’s patron, Duke Lodovico Sforza, died in 1499. Leonardo’s masterpiece has undergone numerable restoration projects due to the unprecedented manner in which Leonardo painted it, and what we see today is perhaps as close as we will ever get to da Vinci’s original. The church itself is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture, including work by Bramante.
- BRERA GALLERY – the city’s finest art collection, located in the imposing 17th century Palazzo di Brera, where the Academy of Fine Arts was founded in the 18th century. Some of the finest Italian Renaissance and Baroque art is housed here, including work by Piero della Francesca, Mantegna, Bellini, Raphael, Tintoretto, Caravaggio and Veronese.
- THE PINACOTECA AMBROSIANA – founded in 1618 by Cardinal Borromeo as an art academy, it has a collection of extraordinary richness. Leonardo’s Portrait of a Musician, Caravaggio’s early masterpiece, the Basket of Fruit, major works by Botticelli, Titian and, remarkably, Raphael’s full size cartoon for The School of Athens.
- MUSEO POLDI PEZZOLI – a private collection left to the city in 1879. It is rich in paintings by Lombard artists and also has works by Botticelli, Piero della Francesca, the Pollaiolo brothers, Mantegna, Perugino, Tiepolo, Cranach and much else. The applied arts section is endowed with items ranging from rugs to glass, enamels and porcelain, as well as sculpture, jewellery and sundials, displayed in fine settings.
- CASTELLO SFORZESCO – the building is a magnificent example of 15th century military architecture. It contains numerous museums including a picture gallery that contains important works by Lorenzo Lotto, Mantegna, Giovanni Bellini, Correggio, Van Dyck, Titian and others.
- DUOMO – the vast gothic style Cathedral is one of the largest in Europe. It took over five centuries to complete and is faced with Candoglia marble. Its pink and white hues preside over the Cathedral square and it has become the symbol of the city. It is lit by remarkable stained glass depicting scenes from the bible, and the treasury contains medieval gold and silverwork. The rooftop gallery affords spectacular views of the city and of the mountains beyond.
- SANT’AMBROGIO – one of the oldest churches in Milan, the Romanesque Basilica boasts very early mosaics and a beautiful 10th/11th century pulpit. The crypt houses the remains of the patron saint of Milan, St Ambrose, who founded the sacred site in AD 379.
- VILLA NECCHI CAMPIGLIO – nestling in quiet grounds just off of the Corso Venezia, the Villa Necchi Campiglio resembles an oasis of calm in the heart of Milan. It was built between 1932-1935 for Angelo Campiglio, a wealthy business tycoon who made his money from sewing-machines, his wife and her sister Nedda Necchi. They were part of the industrial bourgeoisie and renowned for their lavish parties. The house survived occupation by the army during World War II and its restored interiors are juxtaposed with its rich collection of decorative arts to present a stunning ensemble.
ALTERNATIVE VISITS
- BAGETTI VALSECCI – located in the former home of the Bagetti Valsecchi family, this historic house recreates the atmosphere of the 19th century and boasts, amongst its collection, a great painting by Giovanni Bellini.
- LA SCALA MUSEUM (Teatro alla Scala) – inaugurated in August 1778, this world renowned opera house is still recognised as one of the leading ballet and opera theatres in the world. The museum contains a collection of paintings, drafts, statues, costumes and other documents regarding the history of La Scala and opera in general.
FURTHER AFIELD
MANTUA – was once one of the greatest Renaissance courts in Europe but the Mantua we see today is a pleasant provincial town surrounded on three sides by lakes. Ruled by the Gonzaga Family from 1328 until 1708, the city was at the height of its power and influence in the 16th and early 17th centuries. The historic centre of Mantua, with its three interlinked squares and arcaded palazzo, has changed little, and the vast Ducal Palace still gives a vivid impression of the brilliance of the Gonzaga court.
- PALAZZO DUCALE – once the largest palace in Europe covering 34,000 square metres with a population of more than a thousand courtiers. The official residence of the Gonzaga lords of Mantua until the 17th century, it was filled with priceless treasures, now largely dispersed. There are many wonderful rooms still to admire, particularly the Camera degli Sposi with its glorious frescoes of Lodovico II Gonzaga and his family by Andrea Mantegna, and an unfinished series of frescoes by Pisanello depicting the exploits of the Knights of the Round Table.
- PALAZZO TÉ – an early 16th century grandiose suburban villa designed for Duke Federico Gonzaga II by Giulio Romano as a base from which the Gonzaga family could explore the surrounding countryside. The Palazzo remains one of the best-preserved examples of 16th century Italian architecture, and the artworks and architecture conspire to produce striking effects such as those of the frescoed Sala dei Giganti and the Camera di Psiche.
- FONDAZIONE D’ARCO – housed inside the former Renaissance home of the aristocratic d’Arco Family, its impressive collection includes 18th century artwork, furniture and ceramics. The palazzo was bequeathed to the town of Mantua during the last century and provides a stunning vision of life in a patrician Mantuan house.
BERGAMO – The Upper Town of Bergamo is one of the most attractive old city centres in Italy. The Romanesque Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is part of the superb architectural complex of Piazza del Duomo. The adjacent Cappella Colleoni has frescoes by Tiepolo. The Accademia Carrara houses an excellent collection of paintings including works dating from the 15th to the 19th century, and in the Lower Town there is an altarpiece by one-time resident Lorenzo Lotto.
BORROMEO ISLANDS – are a group of three small islands and two islets located in the Italian part of Lake Maggiore. They have been the property of a local aristocratic family from Milan, the Borromeo family, since the 17th century. The Isola Bella houses an opulent Baroque Palace built for the family and set in elaborate Italian gardens, which are also home to white peacocks. A visit to the islands will also include the Isla Pescatore where lunch can be arranged.