• Religious Tourism
    • Food & Wine

Holy honey

A centuries-old tradition still alive in the abbeys

Where can you buy honey made by monks in Lombardy? Find out with our religious tourism adventures – we'll take you to the sacred places where beekeeping is flourishing.

Not many people know that Saint Ambrose, the patron saint of Milan, is also the patron saint of beekeepers. So what better way to put the Benedictine mantra of "Ora et Labora" into practice than by keeping bees?

The Benedictine monks at the Nostra Signora dell'Annunciazione monastery in Laveno, in the province of Varese, and the Abbazia di Morimondo near Milan make and sell fantastic honey.

So where else can you by honey and other bee-related products – like propolis, royal jelly, sweets and other treats – from monks? Simply head to the Abbazia di Chiaravalle or the Certosa di Pavia and you'll be met with an array of top-quality artisanal products.

The apiary of the Abbazia di San Benedetto in Seregno no longer produces honey after the death of father Francesco Colzani, but in his memory the workshop still jars and labels the best local honey.

Tourism in Lombardy opens all sorts of new doors: discover the many talents of our local monks, who are proving that the Benedictine mantra is more alive than ever! 

On the same topic

A tour of the colours in art locations

A colour itinerary to rediscover some of Lombardy’s most fascinating locations for art and culture.
  • Religious Tourism
Tour luoghi d'arte

The via Francigena

A road travelled for centuries by pilgrims, who headed South and made enormous sacrifices to reach the goal of the longed-for eternal city.
  • Religious Tourism
The via Francigena

The herbalist traditions of Lombardy’s monasteries

In the monasteries and abbeys of Lombardy, knowledge and flavors translate into high quality herbal products
  • Religious Tourism
Herbal products: where to buy them from Lombard monks

From the Abbey of Chiaravalle M.se to the Basilica of Santa Maria in Calvenzano

  • Religious Tourism
From the Abbey of Chiaravalle M.se to the Basilica of Santa Maria in Calvenzano

From Milan to the Charterhouse of Pavia

The 25th day of the Saint Augustine's Way.
  • Religious Tourism
from Milan to Certosa di Pavia

From Ca' de Mazzi to Corte Sant'Andrea

Stage 5 of the Monk’s trail
  • Religious Tourism
From Ca' de Mazzi to Corte Sant'Andrea

Visit the mill at the Abbazia di Chiaravalle

Gita fuoriporta alla scoperta dell’Abbazia di Chiaravalle
  • Religious Tourism
Head out of the city and discover the Abbazia di Chiaravalle

Km-0 in Lombardy: agriculture in monasteries

In the monasteries there is still the atmosphere of the past. If you want to buy genuine products, at Km 0, you can contact the monks
  • Religious Tourism
Km-0 agriculture in the monasteries of Lombardy

Churches Brescia

The religious one is a richness for Brescia which is one of the Italian cities with the highest number of churches on its territory
  • Religious Tourism
Churches Brescia, what to see in Lombardy

Churches Bergamo

Bergamo: a city with more beauties than you think. They are silent behind centuries-old facades of churches
  • Religious Tourism
Churches Bergamo, religious tourism

Via Francigena Renana

A Roman road between Reno and Po
  • Religious Tourism
Via Francigena renana, a roman way between the Rhine and the Po

The Saint Columbanus way

The Saint Columbanus way is the route that,crossing the entire area of Eastern Lombardy, once led to Bobbio
  • Religious Tourism
The Saint Columbanus way

Churches Como

Como, appreciated for the beauty of its landscapes, combines beautiful villas and glimpses of the lake with beautiful churches
  • Religious Tourism
Churches Como, a guide to Lombardy

Orio Litta and the Via Francigena

An evocative route that combines nature, faith and art, to explore on foot or by bicycle.
  • Religious Tourism
Orio Litta and the Via Francigena

The churches and jubilee paths of Lombardy

  • Religious Tourism
The churches and jubilee paths of Lombardy

Churches Mantua

Discovering the places of worship of the Mantuan area. To fill the spirit between faith and religious art
  • Religious Tourism
Churches Mantua, spiritual journeys in Lombardy

Monks and beer cross paths in Monza and Buccinasco

Craft breweries in the monasteries of Lombardy
  • Religious Tourism
Craft beer brewing in the monasteries of Lombardy

Hospitality, monastery-style

Convents and monasteries places historically open to hospitality
  • Religious Tourism
Stay the night in a Lombardy monastery

Cammino di Sant'Agostino

Retracing the Way of one of the most important figures of history will give an important new dimension to your awareness of life
  • Religious Tourism
Cammino di Sant'Agostino

Dom Perignon and Franciacorta

The strange story of the most famous wine in the world
  • Religious Tourism
The strange story of the most famous wine in the world