Our tour of Lombardy's painted villages concludes with Cadorago, a village located on the railway line to Milan, home to Murarte 90, a cultural initiative that has, since the 1990s, led to the permanent display of around 300 works of art on the walls of the village (and its hamlets of Caslino and Bulgorello), transforming the streets into Italy's largest open-air art gallery.   This ever-expanding project has also involved the Brera Academy and has allowed the municipality to feature on the list of the Italian Association of Painted Villages. Established as a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Premio Lario Cadorago, a painting competition held 14 times until 1988, its objective is to involve the local population in the re-appropriation of their identity and to make art a public domain asset, usable by all free of charge. Executed by Italian and international artists working directly on walls or on panels subsequently applied to the walls of houses, it features paintings, sculptures, and ceramics realised with different techniques (including fresco, graffito, and acrylic), creating an aesthetic that ranges from the 1990s to the present day. A joyful experience of harmony and beauty that you will never forget.  (Ph: cadoragoarte.it)

The town of Oramala in the Val di Nizza area is one of the most evocative places in the upper Oltrepò valley. Built in the 10th century on a high rocky outcrop by the Malaspina family, the castle's current appearance is 15th century dating to the period in which it was fortified with a massive semi-circular tower to bring it up-to-date with the new defensive requirements caused by the advent of artillery.

In the midst of upper Val di Nizza and upper Val Tidone this site is still wild and uncontaminated with a typically mountainous climate. It is an ideal place for walks in the forests or mountain bike trips. It also has a wide range of agricultural and wild forest foods. The town's 13th century Chiesa Parrocchiale di Santo Stefano is also worth a visit. Built in earthenware and sandstone with a beautiful 1581 baptismal font it also has a belltower topped with a conical spire.

    This thousand-years-old monument populating the Imagna Valley features a rare circular shape reminiscent in some ways of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem or an ancient pagan pantheon, and a sign of a significant development of the area since Roman times.   The Temple of San Tomè has not yet completely revealed the mystery of its origin. It was thought to have been built on the ruins of a pagan temple, although supporting evidence has not been found. However, what is certain is that during the Lombard domination it was an important spiritual centre, to the point that the female monastery “Degli Agri” was built in the Middle Ages to expand the religious complex.It is easy to reach as it stands almost opposite the Brembo river, in Almenno San Bartolomeo, ten kilometres from Bergamo, almost welcoming us to the Imagna Valley.  (Ph: fondazionelemine.eu)

    The Ethnographic Museum offers a fascinating retrospective on the history and culture of the Imagna Valley, through the careful preservation of the equipment and items used daily by the local master artisans, the care with which the environments are replicated, and the direct contact with the tools of the time that take visitors back centuries in time, when people sat by the rows of vines to weave their garments in front of the crackling of the fireplace. Admission to this small treasure of the valley's historical memory is free of charge, but a free donation is always recommended to support the activities of the volunteers. Besides the museum, it is also pleasant to spend a few hours wandering around the streets of Strozza.  (Ph: museovaldimagnino.it)

An autumn adventure of history & beauty: explore the autumn charm of Lombardy's villas and castles.

A village of Roman origins that, since ancient times, has been a fortified center inserted in a vast defensive system

A barge bridge full of charm, which has left an indelible mark on the territory's history.

A delightful rural village, characterized by its narrow streets and historic houses conveys the genuine ambiance of the Mantuan countryside.

The major drainage plant highlights the value of the precious water resources in the vast surrounding region.

Commessaggio: a picturesque rural village with a close-knit community offering a blend of tradition, nature, and a historical Gonzaga Tower.

Before becoming a wine making centre Broni was a stronghold of the Beccaria family, lords of Pavia, and had a troubled past. There are wonderful panoramas from the hill with views as far as Milan on a clear day. Basilica di San Pietro Apostolo contains a significant number of handwritten volumes and ancient sacred vestments.