Discover Lombardy: Adamello, Cultural Heritage and Franciacorta

On the Lombard side of the Adamello range, Parco dell’Adamello covers 51,000 hectares. Italy’s largest glacier lies within the range; its area is currently estimated at around 18 square kilometres. These figures describe different scales: the extent of a protected area and the estimated area of an alpine natural feature.

Alpine landscapes and trails

Parco dell’Adamello has a network of trails stretching for almost 1,000 kilometres. One named route within it is Alta Via dell’Adamello, Trail No. 1: it runs for about 50 kilometres through almost the entire park. While the trail network describes the scale of the area, Alta Via provides a specific route and an approximate distance.

The Lombard sector of Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio also offers activities, excursions, workshops and events. They take place throughout the year at representative locations on the Valtellina and Brescia sides of the park; dates for individual programmes may vary. Visitor experiences focus on alpine biodiversity and the relationship between people and nature.

Industrial history and urban planning

Crespi d’Adda is an outstanding example of company towns built in Europe and North America during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The settlement was founded to house the workers of a textile factory. The factories, homes and services have been preserved as elements of the industrial townscape. These features reveal the connections between production, housing and the services associated with them.

Mantua and Sabbioneta represent two aspects of Renaissance urban planning. Sabbioneta has a grid of streets; its defensive walls, public spaces and monuments make it one of the finest examples of ideal cities built in Europe. The Mantua and Sabbioneta World Heritage Site includes numerous historic buildings, among them an 11th-century rotunda and a Baroque theatre.

The Sacri Monti, also called the Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy, are another form of cultural heritage. This UNESCO World Heritage site comprises nine separate complexes in the mountains of northern Italy. Val Camonica—also known as Valcamonica or Valle Camonica—offers a different kind of geographical reference: it stretches for about 90 kilometres between the provinces of Brescia and Bergamo, runs along Lake Iseo and ends at the Tonale, Aprica and Gavia passes.

Wine, cuisine and cycling routes

Franciacorta brings together traditional dishes, renowned wines and dedicated food and wine routes. One distinctive feature of Franciacorta vintage wines is their ageing period: they are released onto the market only after at least 37 months. Traditional dishes from the area include Manzo all’olio di Rovato, a meat dish served on a bed of polenta. The Monastero di San Pietro in Lamosa houses important frescoes.

Cyclists will also find a variety of routes in Lombardy: flat cycle paths for families, rides on e-bikes or gravel bikes, and more technically demanding routes for road cycling and mountain biking enthusiasts. The range described therefore extends from flat paths to technically challenging routes, while Franciacorta offers cycling, trekking and Nordic walking through the vineyards.

When planning your trip, you can choose between different focuses: alpine nature and trails, industrial and urban history, or wine, cuisine and outdoor activities amid the landscape.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Cremona, Lecco, Lodi, Mantua, Milan, Monza and Brianza, Pavia, Sondrio, Varese.

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