Bergamo is the city above
Italy
The city of Bergamo is located in the north of Italy, in the foothills of the Alps, 40 km northeast of Milan. The city is average by Italian standards - 120 thousand inhabitants. It has an interesting topographic feature - it is clearly divided into two parts: the Upper (Citta Alta) and the Lower City (Citta Bassa). The lower part is larger and more modern. But the historical center with the main attractions is located at the top, on a high hill surrounded by fortress walls of the 16th century.
Brescia is a city and a fortress.
Italy
The city of Brescia is located in northern Italy, in the foothills of the Alps, roughly halfway between Milan and Verona. It is not as popular in terms of tourism as its famous neighbors, but there are many sights and ancient monuments preserved here, so a walk in Brescia is like a journey through time - from one historical era to another.
Why go to the island of fishermen
Italy
It’s already clear from the silhouette of Isola dei Pescatori that the island is very compact - the bell tower of the ancient church of San Vittore rises above several three-story houses. Among the Borromean Islands only on this, the smallest - 100 by 350 m, now live permanently about three dozen people. Compared to the other two islands of Maggiore and Bella, it looks very modest. There is a small square, a central narrow street, a circular embankment, many small fish restaurants "Peskeriy" and one church.
Visiting Borromeo
Italy
Among the Borromean Islands on Lago Maggiore, the largest Isola Madre stands out among others with a beautiful English-style park. This botanical garden with an area of over eight hectares consists of seven terraces on which you can see cypresses, rhododendrons, magnolias, maples, palm trees and a collection of camellias.
A walk in Horta San Giulio
Italy
It’s not always that when traveling it’s possible to carry out all the plans, it happens that for various reasons it is necessary to change plans on the spot. So, at the end of September last year, it turned out with a trip from Stresa to Lake Orta. On a half-full sightseeing bus in the afternoon, we drove along the picturesque mountain roads for about an hour, and then went downhill from Villa Crespi along a cobbled street running along the lake. Amazing views of the island of San Giulio and the hilly opposite shore of the lake opened in the alleys.
Sforza Castle in Milan
Italy
It is believed that the Milan castle of the Dukes of Sforza is a kind of prototype of the Moscow Kremlin. Indeed, the restructuring of the Moscow Kremlin at the end of the 15th century was led by Italian architects. Sophia Paleolog, the wife of Ivan III and the niece of the Byzantine emperor, personally asked Sforza to let architect Aristotle Fioravanti go to Moscow.
Venice: City in a Swamp
Italy
Venice has never been on my wish list of places to visit. A terribly public place, as a rule, should have wild price tags, crowds of tourists and the absence of even a hint of authenticity. But everything changes when they come - New Year's holidays. And here, oddly enough, it turned out that starting a new 2019 year in Venice is a very good deal.
Vicenza - love at first sight
Italy
Now I know for sure - love at first sight exists! On a pleasant, clear day, glancing at Vicenza from Monte Berico, I was convinced of this. To get to Vicenza - the city in which more than two dozen buildings of Andrea Palladio survived, dreamed a long time ago, but thought that this would remain a cherished desire. But dreams, it turns out, come true!