If you opt for a European tourist destination, consider the city of Bergamo and Lake Como in Lombardy in northern Italy. Could be, depending on their interests, this beautiful area is an ideal holiday destination. You can get classic Italian food, and wash yourself with fine wine. It is hardly undiscovered, but that should not stop you going. With a little effort it should be possible to find some relatively pristine spots. Be sure to read the article accompanyingIn this series, the present Milan, Lombardy small town outside the capital, Milan, and the lake district with its interesting political past.
We begin our Tour of Lombardy in Bergamo, east of the capital, Milan. Then we are heading northeast to Varenna on the shores of Lake Como and Lake tour to explore counter-clockwise to Bellagio, Villa Melzi to stop, Como and on the southern tip of the lake and then head back to the north of Cernobbio, the island of Isola and Comacinaonly then our tour in Tremezzo Villa Carlotta with its center. For those who still want to see more of this beautiful region to the west of Lago Maggiore and Lago d'Orta. You will not be disappointed.
Bergamo, about 120,000 inhabitants, was founded by the Celts did over two thousand years. It is the only city in this article, not on or near a lake, but that should not stop to visit. This medieval city, tucked away behind ancient walls, overlooks, or perhaps we should saylooks under the Alps. It is divided into two sectors, divided by combined lifts (lifts), the older Bergamo Alta (Upper Town of Bergamo) and the modern Bergamo (Bergamo). Can you guess what I prefer to Bergamo?
The large Romanesque church of Santa Maria Maggiore was begun in the twelfth century, but it took centuries to build. The Torre Civica (bell tower) was completed towards the end of the fifteenth century. The church is located directly on the Piazza Vecchia (Old Square) in BergamoAlta. Climb to the summit for a magnificent view over the Old Town.
Bergamo is the birthplace and home of Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848), composer of some 75 operas, including the famous Lucia di Lammermoor, 16 symphonies, and a variety of other musical works. He is buried in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. If you like opera, visiting the Museo Donizettiano (Donizetti Museum.) Another citizen of the Russian-born Enrico Rastelli (1896-1931) was perhaps the world's greatest juggler. This wizard couldto juggle 8 plates, 8 rods and 10 balls. Another of his favorite tricks of juggling 6 plates, while spinning, spinning a hoop around one foot and skipping a rope by an assistant. I very much doubt that you will see all the musicians just as Rastelli Bergamo on your tour.
The Cathedral of San Vincenzo and Battistero are both on the Piazza Duomo (Cathedral Square), the ancient heart of the medieval city and in all probability the heart of the Roman city back is attached. Its morebeautiful neighbor is the fifteenth century Renaissance Cappella Colleoni (Colleoni) Chapel.
Lake Como is a glacier, like an upside down Y. It is about 28 miles (54 km) long and up to 2 miles (3 km) wide, making it the third largest lake in Italy characterized. Lake Como is one of the deepest lakes in Europe. We will Varenna begins on the eastern shore.
The village of Varenna, population under eight hundred, is home to Italy's shortest river, the Fiumelatte.I doubt that you will come here to see the river, but if you can not be avoided, so in mid-October to mid-March, when it is usually dry. Varenna is home to a beautiful villa, Villa Monestero, originally built as a monastery at the beginning of the thirteenth century. Monestero villa is located in a beautiful park for more than half a mile (km) long and has become an international cultural and scientific center. You can take the ferry from Varenna to our next destination, Bellagio.
BellagioPopulation of three thousand, sits in the middle of the Y. Lake Como, it was a tourist center, also in the days of the Romans. The famous composer Franz Liszt and Schubert vacationed here, as the writer Pliny the Elder (Classical Novel), Longfellow, and Shelley. This city is so special that she has honored with Las Vegas hotels. I do not see both of Bellagio, where I know better. Try to get here outside the high season in July and August.
Be sure to see it to to the Villa Serbelloniby a large and surrounded by acres of gardens laid out in a variety of styles. The villa itself was built in 1605 and finally in the possession of the Rockefeller Foundation. It is now an international conference center for scholars and artists.
Back in 1801-1803, Count Francesco Melzi d'Eril Vice-President of the Italian Republic was Napoleon. Some years later, perhaps to drown his worries about the brevity of the Republic, he built the neoclassical Villa Melzi in the southern end of theBellagio right on the lake. The garden, which is only a part of the villa open to the public, is the first example of an English garden on Lake Como. The garden includes a Japanese water lily pond with Japanese maples and cedars, surrounded the Egyptian sculptures and Roman statues.
Como, the population of sixty thousand, lies at the southern tip of Lake Como. Can you believe it was the capital of Lombardy Milan back nearly a decade to little way to the defeat of ComoTwelfth Century? Not long afterwards, Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor destroyed Milan and built several fortified towers ringing Como. Only the tower Bardadello still. Climb it for a great view of the entire lake.
Like most Italian cities, Como has to visit a beautiful row of old churches. Here are a few of them: The Duomo (cathedral), a fourteenth-century Renaissance-Gothic building with statues of two of the most famous inhabitants of the city, Pliny the Elder and Pliny arethe younger of the classical Roman times, San Fedele, an eleventh-century Romanesque church with a beautifully carved door, Saint Augustine, fourteenth-century Cistercian church with old frescoes and Baroque ornamentation, the Romanesque church Sant'Abbondio Eleventh Century full of old paintings and frescoes and eleventh-century church of San Carpoforo built on a temple dedicated to the Roman god Mercury.
Italy produces more than 90% of silk in Europe and most of the Italian silk is produced in the ComoRegion. Italian silk is one billion euros (more than one billion U.S. dollars) industry. Learn more in Didacttico Museo della Seta (Silk Museum). The rooms of the hotel you through the steps of the silk making process, the silkworm to the printing process of the silk. You can shop for fine silk, in the vicinity are many shops and sales departments.
Cernobbio, population seven thousand, is best for the investment of the Villa d'Este in the middle of the sixteenth century, built for a Cardinal, who apparently forgot to knownhis vow of poverty. Single rooms start at just under three hundred euros per night, including tax and service. Check the exchange rate as many, many people know that U.S. dollar. Have I mentioned, off-season? High and peak season is approximately 100 euros per night more. Double the price if you take a look at the lake. Prices for the Cardinal Suite are available upon request. It is said that the spaces such as museums and galleries. One of the swimming pools on the lake. You will receive a breakfastand they pick you up at the airport in a helicopter. If you stay there you join the likes of Napoleon and Duchess of Windsor.
Comacina Island (Comacina Iceland) is the only island in Lake Como. Do you remember the wars between Como and Milan? Now, at this time the islanders sided with Milan and it was hell to pay. In the words of the bishop, "Not so ring, no stone will be set in stone, no one will be host, under pain ofunnatural death. "At the beginning of World War Comacina Island, the King of Belgium, which has been donated it to Italy after the war. It has now been home for artists and scholars.
Head north to the spa town of Tremezzo, population 1300th The main attraction is the Villa Carlotta, built for fifty some years beginning in the late seventeenth century. If this villa you know why it took so long to construct. The grounds are spectacular, for example, they also haveAzelias and 150 species of rhododendrons. His art museum is devoted to neo-classical art. For a change of pace, visit the Museum of Agricultural Tools in an old greenhouse is located on the property. While you can not stay at the Villa Carlotta, the Grand Hotel Tremezzo definitely very noble.
And the food? In this part of Lombardy, the kitchen is divided into three sectors. The lake cuisine is based on fish with some local specialties like dried shad based. The area aroundTremezzo is famous for vegetables such as asparagus. The mountain cuisine is based on polenta, a kind of corn bread often flavored with cheese or cheese, butter and garlic. Other specialties are mountain free-range chickens, child, and game. The third category is the valley kitchen on cattle and cheese, is based primarily Taleggio and several goat cheeses.
Let's suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with fettuccine con funghi (fettuccine with mushrooms.) Then, try Agnoni all comasca (Lake Como fried fish with anchovy fillets). For dessert, you can tart with mascarpone con Paradiso (sponge cake with mascarpone.) Make sure to increase your dining pleasure, including local wines with the meal.
We conclude with a brief look at Lombardy wine. 11 Lombardy is one of the 20 Italian regions for both land dedicated to vines, and for the total annual wine production. The region produces about 62% white red and rosé wines and 38%> Wine, but there is little rosé. There are 15 DOC wines. DOC stands for Controlled Denomination of Origin, as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine can be translated. The G in DOCG stands for Guaranteed, but it is in fact no guarantee that these wines are truly superior. About 47% of the Lombardy wine carries the DOC or DOCG designation. There are three DOCG wines: the sparkling Franciacorta is with French Champagne prices and competitionaccording to the red Sforzato di Valtellina, and the red Valtellina Superiore.
Interestingly, no DOC wines in the vicinity of Lake Como, Lago d'Orta, Lago Maggiore, or originate. However, Bergamo is home to two DOC wines, and Valcalepio Scanzo / Moscato di Scanzo. Valcalepio DOC is vinified in a variety of styles. The dry red and dry white wines come from international grape varieties such as Merlot and Chardonnay. The sweet white wine comes from a local grape and was recentlyClassified information to the Scanzo / Moscato di Scanzo DOC. I have not had the pleasure of tasting these wines, either. I have the frustration of the tasting of sparkling Franciacorta DOCG wine had not far to the east of Bergamo.
