Hotels in Lombardy
Italy

Hotels in Lombardy, Italy

Lombardy or Lombardia is a northern region of Italy. Major tourist destinations in Lombardy include the historic, cultural and artistic cities of Milan, Brescia, Mantua, Pavia, Cremona and Bergamo, and the lakes Garda, Como, Maggiore and Iseo.

The great Lombard lakes, all of glacial origin, lie in this zone. From west to east these are Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano (only a small part is Italian), Lake Como, Lake Iseo, Lake Idro, then Lake Garda, the largest in Italy.

While not recognisable for its sights, Milan is more about the lifestyle of enjoying worldly pleasures: a paradise for shopping, opera, and nightlife. Milan is the region's most important centre for clothing and high fashion. In 2009, Milan was regarded as the world fashion capital, even surpassing New York, Paris, Rome and London. Most of the major Italian fashion brands, such as Valentino, Gucci, Versace, Prada, Armani and Dolce & Gabbana (to name a few), are currently headquartered in the city. Milan remains the marketplace for Italian fashion – fashion aficionados, supermodels and international paparazzi descend upon the city twice a year for its spring and autumn fairs.

Bergamo is a pretty town nestling in the foothills of the Alps. Widely acclaimed as a city of rare beauty, Bergamo is famous for its wealth of artistic treasures and enchanting medieval atmosphere.

Lake Como is part of the Italian Lake District popular with visitors for well over 100 years for its combination of fresh air, water, mountains and good weather. Lake Como becomes more mountainous as you head northwards into the Alps. Some of the nearby peaks go slightly above the tree-line so the views are really impressive. In the winter, there is skiing in the nearby valleys.

There are small towns located all around Lake Garda. The north of the lake seems to be more for the people who enjoy a quiet, peaceful holiday, but a bell rings from the Northern most town of Riva Del Garda often early in the morning! The south has a theme park and a few man-made beaches so is for the more outgoing, adventurous person.