• Art & Culture
    • Active & Green

11 addresses for villas and parks

Relive the charm of the past between villas, parks and castles in Lombardy

Castles, parks and villas. Where the fascination of the past is brought back to life. Amidst towers, frescoes, ballrooms.

Lombardy has a very rich history and it is still possible to appreciate it inside the fascinating residences of the well off people of this region.

A blast from the past to live, once again, the charm of the old times, losing yourself in those beautiful places where culture and nature join together in harmony.

1. In the Oratorio di Villa Suardi, in Trescore Balneario (Bergamo), face to face with the naïve beauty of the frescoes by Lotto.

2. Where life is inimitable: at the Vittoriale degli Italiani in Gardone Riviera (Brescia), in the museum house of the poet D'Annunzio.

3. The enchantment of a home with a literary vocation, which was the set of Star Wars. The address: Villa del Balbianello in Tremezzina (Como).

4. At the court of Leonardo's "Dama con l'ermellino" at Villa Medici del Vascello in San Giovanni in Croce (Cremona).

5. Agaves, African palms: two kilometres of exotic vegetation on the lake side in the gardens of Villa Monastero in Varenna (Lecco).

6. A journey through the history of bread and Lombard agriculture in the Musei del Castello Bolognini in Sant'Angelo Lodigiano (Lodi), where Giacomo Casanova once slept. 

7. Among nature, leisure and history. In the magnificent Palazzina Gonzaghesca of Bosco della Fontana, in Marmirolo (Mantua).

8. Façade by Piermarini and eclectic furnishings: all the beauty of Villa Cusani Tittoni Traversi in Desio (Monza e Brianza).

9. From aristocratic residence of Gian Galeazzo II to cultural centre. The Castello di Belgioioso (Pavia) and its many lives.

10. A plunge in the 14th century. In Montagna in Valtellina (Sondrio), the Castel Grumello is a single fortress made up of two twin buildings.  

11. Among frescoes and rose gardens, a baroque ‘garden of wonders' featuring a theatre, stairs, statues and fountains surrounds Villa Della Porta Bozzolo in Casalzuigno (Varese).

On the same topic

Cremona drone effect

Booked a weekend in Cremona? Then you can’t afford to miss piazza del Comune, the stunning heart of the city’s historic centre.
Cremona vista dall'alto
  • Art & Culture

The historic houses of Bergamo

Gardens, art, culture and beauty: the historic homes of the noble families of Bergamo are well worth a visit.
The historic houses of Bergamo
  • Art & Culture

Milan, a fun with the children

Ancient castles, amusement parks and interactive museums. Discover what Lombardy offers for children. First stop, Milan.
A spasso con i bambini
  • Art & Culture

Cremona, le Botteghe di liuteria

Maestri del legno e del violino. Botteghe storiche e collezioni. La liuteria a Cremona è patrimonio culturale immateriale Unesco dal 2012
  • Art & Culture

Lomello and its Christian buildings

Village of strategical importance since ancient times, here you can discover the great Romanesque Lombard architecture
Lomello and its Christian buildings
  • Art & Culture

Discovering Pordenone

  • Art & Culture

Monuments Bergamo

Bergamo and its province offer monuments of rare beauty. Discover the main monuments to visit
Monuments Bergamo, choose what to see in Lombardy
  • Art & Culture

Milan and its bridges

  • Art & Culture

More than just cows

Everything you need to know about the Baronchelli dairy farm. A trip to Lodi to discover what's behind the milk we drink
More than just cows
  • Art & Culture

Fossils Civic Museum

Museo Civico dei Fossili di Besano
  • Art & Culture

Open museums in Lombardy: an ode to female talent 

Lombardy’s museums are once again welcoming the public, art lovers, and other visitors with a wealth of exhibitions dedicated to women: artists, works of art, and mythological figures who have inspired exhibitions and shows
  • Art & Culture

Pavia Photo Gallery

An area full of attractions and experiences to experience
Pavia from A to Z, art and culinary traditions
  • Art & Culture

What to see in North Milan

The North Milan Area, between North Park and some must-see gems
North Milan Area
  • Art & Culture

Seriate, and its charming historic villas

  • Art & Culture

Soncino - the water system

Special guided tours for those who are keen to learn
  • Art & Culture

Between ancient memories and majestic landscapes

Cultural itinerary in lower Valtellina
View of the village of Traona (Ph. Wikipedia)
  • Art & Culture

A visit to the Basilica of the XII Apostles

Una visita alla Basilica dei XII Apostoli - San Bassiano
  • Art & Culture

Lombardy in 5 Castles

Impregnable fortresses, with enchanting lake views, legends of ghosts. Five castles in Lombardy to be visited
Lombardy in 5 Castles
  • Art & Culture

Brebbia and the pipe factory

In the province of Varese, wet from Lake Maggiore, well protected by a hilly setting hidden from the wind and sudden storms
Saints Peter and Paul Church and the Pipe Museum
  • Art & Culture

Museum Sondrio

Centuries of local traditions and alpine identity in its museums
Museum Sondrio, what to see?
  • Art & Culture