This is the leading economic region in Italy, to the south of Switzerland and to the west of the Veneto. It is certainly not lacking in charm. Take a break in the capital, Milan, before going on to visit some of the stunning sites in the surrounding area.

Make a stop in Lombardy on your way to Venice, by road or by train, and consider staying for several days. Its culture and architecture combine the Germanic and Latin cultures to perfection. After a long occupation by Austria, the region was only attached to the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1859 after a treaty between Napoleon III and the founders of Italian unification. Since the 20th century it has been a flourishing economic region. It is set in the rich agricultural land of the Po Valley amidst numerous lakes and waterways and next to the foothills of the Alps. Milan shines like a diamond in the heart of Lombardy. Stop and enjoy the bubbling activity of the major northern capital, a design and fashion city. You will see a striking contrast between its business district with its contemporary buildings and its historic centre. Its splendid Duomo, the main piazza in front of the majestic cathedral with a 108-metre-tall façade and 200 statues in a lacework of stone, is one of the gems of the city. Next to it, spend some time in the Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele II, a shopping mall built in 1867, with luxury boutiques and chic restaurants. After visiting the legendary la Scala Theatre, continue your exploration of Lombardy by visiting some of its fabulous UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Mantua, the “ideal city” of the Italian Renaissance; the Sacri Monti, places of pilgrimage in the area surrounding Varese; and the prehistoric rock drawings in Valcamonica. And, as a perfect final stop on your itinerary, visit Lake Como and soak up its blissful romance.