Lombardia – Territory
The territory of Lombardia includes both mountains and plain (the Pianura Padana), and also a small part of hills. In the mountains of Lombardy there are renewed ski resorts as Livigno, Bormio, Tonale and Madesimo.
But also it is possible to find interesting archaeological sites, such as Val Camonica, rich in rock carvings, or Monte San Giorgio, on the border with Switzerland, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for the high presence of fossils.
In the “Pianura Padana” – the plain of river Po – there are many rice fields – particularly in Lomellina, while the hilly area of Franciacorta is famous for the production of top quality white sparkling wines.
Tha main Italian lakes can be found in Lombardia: Lake Garda, where tourists go for windsurfing or to enjoying the thermal waters of Sirmione; for relaxing holidays in Stresa, but also beloved for canoeing and kayaking; or Lake Como, celebrated by the writer Alessandro Manzoni’s in its novel “The Betrothed”. The little town of Bellagio, on the promontory in the center of the lake, gave its name to Bellagio Las Vegas. The beauty of the lake inspired George Clooney that decided to buy a villa here.
Lombardia offers a great variety of landscapes and business activities in endless opportunities for holidays: a trendy shopping, wine tasting tours or cultural tours in historic cities, museums, exibitions, music, sports: golf, sailing on the lakes, trekking, mountain biking, skiing, rafting, canyoning and paragliding.
NATIONAL PARKS IN LOMBARDIA:
The National Parks of Italy are natural areas of land, sea, river, or lake whose value is a well-preserved ecosystem. Thus their nature, together with their cultural, educational, or recreational values are protected by the Italian Government in order to be preserved for the future. Currently, in Italy there are 25 National Parks, covering an area of over 1,500,000 hectares (15,000 km²), about 6% of the Italian territory.
REGIONAL PARKS IN LOMBARDIA:
The Italian Regional Parks are land, river, lake, and sea areas facing the coast. Their value is being like a system including the nature of the places, art, and cultural traditions of the local inhabitants. The Italian Regional Parks are more than 150 and cover an area of approximately 1million and 500,000 hectares.
Alto Garda Bresciano Regional Park
Campo dei Fiori Regional Park
Monte Barro Regional Park
Adamello Regional Park
Pineta di Appiano Gentile and Tradate Regional Park
Lambro Valley Regional Park
Spina Verde di Como Regional Park
Ticino Valley Regional Park
Montevecchia and Curone Valley Regional Park
Adda Nord Regional Park
Colli di Bergamo Regional Park
Nord – Milano Regional Park
Adda Sud Regional Park
Grigna Settentrionale Regional Park
Groane Regional Park
Sud Milano Regional Park
Mincio Regional Park
Oglio Nord Regional Park
Oglio Sud Regional Park
Orobie Bergamasche Regional Park
Orobie Valtellinesi Regional Park
Monte Netto Regional Park
Serio Regional Park
Bernina, Disgrazia, Masino Valley and Codera Valley Regional Park
Livignese Regional Park
NATURE RESERVES IN LOMBARDIA:
Nature Reserves, also called Protected Natural Areas or Natural Oasis, their mission is to maintain their “equilibrium” by conserving and increasing biodiversity. These areas are characterized by heterogeneous landscapes and they are home to different species of animals and plants. They are the animal’s shelter for reproduction. Hunting is prohibited. Actually Protected Natural Areas in Italy are more than 145
In the Province of Mantua:
Bosco Fontana Nature Reserve
In the Province of Pavia:
Bosco Siro Negri Nature Reserve
UNESCO BIOSPHERE RESERVES IN LOMBARDIA:
Unesco Biosphere Reserves are areas representing important land, sea, coast ecosystems in which the conservation of its biodiversity is associated with the sustainable use of natural resources for the benefit of local communities. The worldwide network of Biosphere Reserves includes 669 reserves in 120 countries on five continents, of which 16 Biosphere Reserves in Italy
Ticino Valley
WWF NATURE RESERVES IN LOMBARDIA:
The WWF Oases are the first Italian network of protected areas managed by a private association. WWF activities in the Oases range from ecotourism to nature holidays, education, training, and environmental information programs. There are more than 100 WWF Oases in Italy, covering more than 30,000 hectares of land in 18 regions. They are visited by more than 500,000 people a year.
In the Province of Como:
Montorfano
Parco dei Fontanili
Torbiere del Bassone di Albate
In the Province of Mantua:
Bosco di Suzzara
Le Bine
In the Province of Milan:
Bosco Villoresi
Foppe di Trezzo
Il Caloggio
Levadina
Parco delle Noci
San Giuliano Milanese
Vanzago
Zivido
In other Provinces:
Fosso del Ronchetto (Monza e Brianza)
Galbusera Bianca (Lecco)
Valpredina (Bergamo)
BLUE FLAGS IN LOMBARDIA:
Blue Flag is an International recognition reserved for lakes or seaside tourist resorts that comply with sustainable land management criteria. The Blue Flag is awarded annually by the non-governmental and non-profit organization “Foundation for Environmental Education” (FEE). Only the localities whose waters have been excellent in the previous season can apply. In 2020, more than 195 municipalities and over 407 Italian beaches have been awarded as “Blue Flag”.
In the Province of Brescia:
Gardone Riviera – lido/casinò
ORANGE FLAGS IN LOMBARDIA:
Orange Flag is a tourism-environmental quality mark awarded by the Italian Touring Club to small towns in the Italian inland (maximum 15,000 inhabitants) which stand out for their quality hospitality. The Orange Flag has been awarded to over 200 Italian municipalities.
In the Province of Bergamo:
Clusone
Gromo
In the Province of Brescia:
Bienno
Gardone Riviera
Tignale
In the Province of Como:
Menaggio
Torno
In the Province of Mantua:
Castellaro Lagusello
Sabbioneta
In other Provinces:
Bellano (LC)
Chiavenna (SO)
Pizzighettone (CR)