In the vineyards and cellars of Lombardy, you can take part in the ancient rituals of grape harvesting and pressing and get to know the land where some of the region's best wines are produced

Where is it written that you can only enjoy the mountains in Lombardy during the winter with skis on your feet? We would like to suggest some high-altitude activities you can do, from hiking to fat bikes, from snowshoeing to skating. Here are some alternative proposals for enjoying the splendid panoramas and pure air that only mountain peaks can give you.Take your pick!     1.    Hiking and practising an alternative sportIf the objective is to be outdoors and enjoy the magic of landscapes blanketed in white, Lombardy is the ideal destination. It can be lots of fun to try a sport for the very first time, and even more fun if it involves a shot of adrenaline!  In addition to the countless hikes, you can take along trails of trodden snow, there are other ways of walking on the snow... like Nordic walking or snowshoeing. A winter excursion with snowshoes on your feet is a wonderful experience and perfect for children and adults alike! Another fun alternative to skiing is ice skating. In Lombardy, you can also try the exhilaration of “rafting on the snow” with snow tubing. Amazing downhill rides with “donuts” on the snow! Many mountain locations in Lombardy also offer another excursion option that is ideal for all ages: you can enjoy the experience of sliding on the snow on a sled pulled by a team of sled dogs!    2.    Pedalling on the snow with a Fat BikeFinally, two-wheel enthusiasts will no longer have to wait for spring to come to cycle in the mountains. Lombardy also offers numerous structures for renting fat bikes that organise excursions in total safety, accompanied by qualified guides.It will certainly be an opportunity to enjoy wintertime mountains in a unique and fun way.   3.    Savouring tradition As a day on the snow comes to a close, your appetite will take over! One of the things to do in Lombardy during the winter is to enjoy the pleasures of fine dining by sampling traditional dishes accompanied by a glass of excellent local wine. The pizzoccheri della Valtellina (buckwheat pasta traditionally seasoned with savoy cabbage, potatoes, butter, garlic, pepper and abundant Casera cheese), regional cheeses and salami, and the many versions of polenta (grits) and desserts.  The mountains of Lombardy can become a true gourmet tour!    4.    Visit mountain villages With the right seasonal clothing, there are many pleasant wintry walks to be taken in the various mountain towns and villages.The heartland of northern Lombardy is a microcosm on a human scale, where there are small hamlets where it is still possible to come across small artisan workshops.Many valleys of Lombardy are oases of peace and relaxation. This makes them ideal for people seeking silence and those wishing to immerse themselves in pristine natural settings. These destinations offer a precious artistic heritage and are the keepers or age-old traditions.    5.    Instagrammer for a day The effects of the colours and lights reflected by the snow transforms many excursions into the Lombard mountains true “Instaplaces”; highly suggestive and to be immortalised! But even those who are not “social addicts” will certainly be astounded by natural scenarios of breath-taking beauty!All you need to do is photograph the magical snowy landscapes that the Lombard mountains offer and share them on your account. You’re sure to get hundreds of likes!And don't forget to tag us: #inLombardia!    

An ancient alpine connecting corridor, a transit route for goods, people and culture

Lombard vineyards and wineries are eager to welcome tourists and visitors to enjoy the last phases of the harvest. 

The Fabiolo Valley is a small and enchanting valley that leads from the village of Forcola, on the banks of the Adda River, to Campo Tartano, in the province of Sondrio. This valley, is known as the valley of mysteries, there are in fact several legends that inhabit it. It is said that, after sunset, passing outside some of the huts, one can hear the mysterious tinkling of a "zampugnìi," the bell that is tied around the goats' necks to locate their position, and one can see mysterious figures dancing while holding a torch. The explanation for these events is traced back to an ancient landslide that, in the Sponda locality, buried a group of people intent on gobbling, without restraint or fear of God. It seems that their souls still wander and meet, sometimes, to renew the thrill of unrestrained dancing: many say they have seen and heard them, passing on the mule track, on the clearest nights. The proposed route, starting from Somvalle, a small hamlet of Forcola, descends the Fabiolo valley to the Scalòcc junction and then climbs the east bank reaching Ca' Redunda at Pramusìi. A walk suitable for everyone, including children, at any time of year. The Round House, the destination of the itinerary, is a small building, which, as its name implies, has the particular characteristic of being round. This particular hut was designed after World War II by Giuseppe Toccalli, an original type, who, finding no reason to build it with the four classic sides, decided to make it round. From the meadows of Pramusìi, where the hut stands, the view runs along the lower Valtellina, first crossing the opposite side of the Fabiolo valley with the group of huts of Sostila, and the peaks of Culmine and Crap del Mezzodì. Going further we cross the Costiera dei Cech and Mount Legnone and, further in the distance, the peaks of the upper Lario surrounded by the Lepontine. The path, always evident and well marked, crosses the broadleaf forests, typical of the Orobie at low altitudes, which, in autumn, give shades from the bright red of chestnut trees to the light yellow of birch trees. From Somvalle we descend, on a wide, often damp path, to a first group of huts, Sponda, which, thanks to its meadows, allows us to enjoy the granite giants of Val Masino. Past the mountain pasture, we continue downhill to an anonymous junction, called Scalòcc. Here the ascent begins, following the signs for Ca' Redunda; we climb the slope that, with several hairpin bends, leads to Motta, a group of houses facing west. The path bends right immediately after the last house and resumes the ascent. After a short while it comes out in a clearing surrounded by dry stone walls: the Pramusìi and the unmistakable Ca' Redunda, this last passage seems to have been, in times long past, manned by a fearsome basalèsk, an indefinite being, part lizard, part dragon, part rooster, who paralyzed wayfarers with his terrible whistle but has long since gone unheard, seeming not to have survived the disenchantment of the contemporary world. - Ph: Mattia Bedetti

Religious rites, centuries-old traditions, and folklore: this is how Lombardy is preparing for Easter

Bormio, Colere, Adamello Ski, Livigno, Madesimo and Santa Caterina Valfurva, ideal destinations for a ski-in, ski-out Easter

Lakes, mountains, countryside, and cities - Lombardy offers countless options for your romantic elopement

Cycling mecca and sportsman's paradise: a bike route to discover

In the park that includes a hundred of lakes, both natural and artificial, the ptarmigan and the golden eagle are at home

This trail was dedicated to the memory of the inhabitants of Castione who, in the past generations, walked along this path carrying heavy pack baskets. The path linked the highest part of the town to the valley floor and allowed people to carry out farm works.

Camping holidays in Lombardy: discover the 4 trends for Summer