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MILANO - BERGAMO - LECCO |
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BERGAMO
It is a very ancient town. Traces of a first settlement,
which date back to the prehistorical era, have been found
on the hill where later the town developed. Probably the
place was chosen because of its dominant position at the
outskirts of the Lombard plain, between the rivers Serio
and Brembo with their valleys that take to the Orobic
Alps. These Valleys had been inhabited since the paleolitical
era and in Val Camonica there are some rock engravings
of that time. It is due to its first inhabitants that
the town took the characteristic plan that distinguishes
it from any other Lombard town, making Bergamo one of
the most singular town in Italy as it is set half on the
plain and half on the hill. This also explain the origin
of its name, which root of is berg that stays either for
mountain or for house on the mountain The old town is
set on the hill and it appears in the distance like a
vision. The heart of the upper town is the Piazza Vecchia,
one of the most beautiful Italian squares, flanked by
the most important historical buildings of Bergamo on
which overlook an imposing tower. In the light and shade
of the portico of the Palazzo della Ragione (the ancient
town hall), outstand the marbles of the portions of the
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore and Colleoni's Chapel,
a Renaissance masterpiece, work of Amadeo.
In its monuments Bergamo reveals its tight relationship
with the Republic of Venice with which it shared four
centuries of history, art and culture. And it was the
Venetians who built the great walls that since 1500 enclose
the upper town, disjoining it from its environment. The
clusters set along the winding down the slope roads toward
the lower town witness the original connections between
the two souls of Bergamo.
How to reach Bergamo from Tremezzina: By car ferry
from Cadenabbia or Menaggio to Varenna then by train to
Lecco - connection to Bergamo.
LECCO
The town is situated on the south most end on the eastern
branch of Lake Como. It is surrounded by high, arsh
mountains, emerging from the water where the lake ends
to become river Adda, well described by Alessandro Manzoni.
This setting gives the impression of being on a fjord
stretching into the wide basin of the lake and dominated
by the spurs of the two Grignas and the uneven crests
of the Resegone. Where the fjord ends, the river starts
its flowing towards Milan, crossing the Milanese plain.
Leonardo da Vinci projected and created a channel, the
Naviglio, to connect Milan to Lake Como and only recently
the final part of it that ended into the very heart
of Milan, has been covered and turned into roads.
Because of its strategical position right in the middle
of the piedmont roads and of its water transport system,
Lecco has always been densely populated. It always drew
its living from its commercial and craftsmen traditions,
mainly based on iron workshops and on the market that,
since 1149, is held in the main square (Piazza XX Settembre)
every Wednesday and Saturday. This square is still the
very heart of the ancient town, flanked by the Mayor's
palace, of which the only remain, is the Visconti's
coat of arms embodied in the wall of the now dismissed
Custom House, together with the Castle. During the Spanish
domination the castle became a stronghold on the border
with Switzerland, the Republic of Venice and the Dukedom
of Milan: Today the only remain of the ancient castle
is the Visconti's tower next to the old doorway toward
Milan.
How to reach Lecco from Tremezzina: 1 -By car ferry
from Cadenabbia or Menaggio to Varenna and train to
Lecco. 2 -Car Ferry from Cadenabbia or Menaggio to Bellagio
and bus to Lecco.
MILAN
Milan is the economic and industrial capital of Italy.
It was founded by the Celt Gauls and in 222 b.C. it
was occupied by the Romans who named it Mediolanum because
of its geographical position that was right in the middle
of the roads which from Rome lead to Central Europe.
Under Diocletian it was one of the capital of the Tetrarchy
and it was contended with cruel fights between the Goths
and the Byzantines. In 539 a.C. it was completely destroyed
by the Goths and it was neglected during the first period
of the Lombard dominion. During the Carlovingian reign
it started its revival under the Archbishop's rule.
In the 13th century it became domain of the Torriani
first and of the Sforza Visconti afterwards. In 1501
the French occupied the Dukedom of Milan, but the Augsburg
contended it starting endless bloody wars on Lombard
soil. In 1535 it passed under the rule of Spain which
lasted until the Spanish war for succession. In 1713
it was conquered by the Austrians but, with the advent
of Napoleon 1st, it became the capital of the Cisalpine
Republic first (1797) and of the Italian Republic afterwards
(1802). In 1815 it became the capital province of the
Lombard Venetian region under the rule of the Austrians
until 1860, when Italy became a Nation. Milan cathedral
is known as il Duomo and it is right in the heart of
Milan. It is an imposing Gothic building. Its taller
spire is 108,50 meters high on top of which there is
la Madonnina, a golden statue of the Madonna that dominating
Milan. The Duomo is decorated with 3159 limestone and
marble statues together with valuable bas-relives and
beautiful glass windows. Next to the Duomo there is
the Galleria which connects Piazza Duomo with Piazza
della Scala. Here there is the world wide famous Teatro
alla Scala, (its museum is open 9 -12 and 14-18) on
one side, and Palazzo Marino (now the Town Hall) facing
it on the other side of the square. Within walking distance
from the Duomo there is the Castello Sforzesco, a beautiful
and perfectly kept Medieval building which houses some
museums and it is open to the public. Not far from the
Castle, there is the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
by which there is the convent with Leonrdo's Last Supper
which stands out for importance. Those who wish to visit
it have to book in advance: Tel. 02 89421146. At the
back of La Scala, within walking distance, there is
the Academy of Brera, one of the most important and
rich Art Galleries in Italy.
How to reach Milan from Tremezzina: 1 - ferry
to Varenna and Train to Milan. Buy your ticket on the
train. 2 - Como by bus and train to Milan. In Como there
are two station: the main international line at Stazione
San Giovanni that ends at Stazione Centrale in Milan,
and the local Northern Line by the lake next to the
bus terminal, where there are more frequent trains,
that ends at Stazione Cadorna near the Castello Sforzesco.
In both stations there is the underground that takes
right at Piazza Duomo
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