Itineraries in Lombardia

The beauty of the outskirts
Milano
Magazine: June 2008

«Milan, three million people breathe with just one lung» sang Dalla depicting the reality of the Lombardian capital whose concentric physiognomy means that the city continues to expand, constructing an agglomerated mass over a huge area. However, it is a collective unit also made up of natural and architectonic beauty. The outskirts are a less well-known area, but not for this worthy of less attention. The Alto Milanese is delimitated by the radius of the old Milan-Monza train lines to the east and the river Seveso and the old Comasina road to the west. An urbanised belt, only broken up by the green patch of Parco Nord. The towns are still belonging to the Madonnina core community but have known how to keep their own identity intact. The numerous villas in Paderno Dugnano date back to ‘600 and ‘700. The villas of the Lombardian aristocracy are the leit motif of the territory. For example, Villa Ghirlanda Silva in Cinisello Balsamo. Baranzate can boast one of the most famous buildings of Italian architecture: the Mater Misericordiae church, more commonly known as the glass church.

Dettaglio

Artistic canals
Lombardia
Magazine: March 2008

«What motivates you, o man, to abandon your city habits and go to country places if not the natural beauty of the world which, if considered well, is the very source of your sense of sight you?» Leonardo da Vinci was right. Today his question seems even more current for he who leaves Milan to discover unexpected corners of beauty. If the architect who designed the large cover of the canals in Milan confessed his regret for having taken away the city’s best feature, those nostalgic for the past find traces of beauty of the Milanese canals in Darsena where the Grand Canal crosses the Pavese canal. Along the two banks: artesian workshops, fashionable bars and restaurants, the San Cristoforo church, and the dams designed by Leonardo. Only a short distance from the city, you can discover a world that has remained almost identical to that of centuries ago when the Milanese aristocrats passed their “holidays” in the villas constructed on the towline of the Grand Canal. If you go towards Pavia from Abbiategrasso, you cross the Parco del Ticino. Woods and farmhouses are the dominating themes here. In between, a place of incomparable beauty: the abbey of Morimondo.

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A jewel in the Lombardian crown
Cremona (CR)
Magazine: December 2007

Stroll through Cremona at a gentle pace. Our suggested route winds through the historical streets and enables you to savour the beauty and the exquisite fl avour of the city. With your back to the river, proceed towards the centre following viale Po. Continue to corso Vittorio Emanuele, lingering in the gourmet shops. Not to be missed, the Grana Padano. A pause at the bar of the Teatro Ponchielli precedes the arrival in the large piazza Stradivari. From here to the piazza del Comune is a brief walk. The fi rst glimpse of the square is amazing, with the wonderful cathedral and the bell towers. The former was started in 1107, whilst the construction of the Torrazzo, the 112mt bell tower and main symbol of the city, was concluded at the beginning of ‘300. In the tiny streets that lead off the main square it is possible to buy the “cotechino di Cremona”. On a historical note, the lute maker’s workshops are a tradition that is famous worldwide and came into being in 1500 thanks to Andrea Amati, founder of the Lute Institution of Cremona. Last but not least, the traditional sweets like the famous torrone, on sale in the local pastry shops.

Dettaglio

A Vip's life on lake Como
Como (CO)
Magazine: September 2007

This was well and truly the start of a whirlwind.
A tourist whirlwind of course, but also a property one. Because until then Como was considered a kind of... vintage destination, but thanks to Mr Martini it became a place of prime interest for VIP watching. A pretty disruptive effect for that quiet expanse of water which had seemed for so many years to be lost in its characteristic autumn mist.
It has to be said The George effect travel vita da Vip sul lago di Como that the Clooney effect does not just concerned fans but also an entourage of VIPs who have simulated the American actor and come the lake to look for property.
Then there is Clooney’s assortment of guests. Last year it was Brad Pitt e Angelina Jolie. This year it Catherine Zeta Jones’ turn, Michael Douglas’ beautiful wife who seems to have suddenly remembered an invitation received several months ago by Mr Clooney, and has informed him of her imminent arrival. She will arrive with her husband and two babysitters. Moreover George has become a perfect citizen, with interest in local needs. There was news this summer that he personally went to the main town square and signed, not an autograph this time, but a petition against the concrete lakeside developments.

Dettaglio

Close to the great river
Lombardia
Magazine: June 2007

Mantua province is an unending source of achingly beautiful landscapes and artistic and architectonic masterpieces. A heritage of nature and man at the core of which lies the regional capital, the opulent city of art of the Gonzaga family. To the north, the southern area inland of Lake Garda unveils sumptuous villas, castles and vineyards that produce superb wines. Features that detract nothing from Polirone, the less known tract of Virgil’s country, named after the River Po and the now-vanished River Lirone. In the fl uvial area that used to be an island of the Bassa Padana south of the ‘Great River’, the artistic and gastronomic infl uences of Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia can leave even the most welltravelled visitor in raptures. Speaking of the Mantua area of Oltrepò brings to mind Lambrusco, Parmesan cheese, salami, asparagus, geese and river fi sh. Lambrusco Mantovano DOC suffers some competition from the Garda wines to the north and from Emilia Lambrusco to the south. However, the Mantua Lambrusco DOC has its own special dignity and is less sweet (and often less alcoholic) than its rivals from Modena or Reggio Emilia. The fragrant nectars of the social wine cellars of Quistello and Viadana offer several full-bodied varieties.

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