Here you will find all our Italian destination related content, based on our local life in Ticino close to the border of Italy. Since we live so close, it felt right to have an Italian category to share all our latest and most popular Italian inspired posts. These are related to hiking, exploring and personal experiences in Northern Italy, close to Switzerland. Read on to see what we have to share!

Northern Italy Regions We Visit Near Ticino Switzerland

Northern Italy has many regions, which are Lombardy, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Liguria, Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Valle d’Aosta. The two main Italian regions we are close to and visit often are Lombardy and Piedmont. See below more information on these:

Lombardy

The region of Lombardy is perhaps the most famous of the Northern Italian regions, being home to the bustling city of Milan, the stunning Lake Como, and the picturesque towns of Bergamo and Brescia. This region is also famous for its culinary traditions, including the famous risotto alla Milanese and the delicious cotoletta alla Milanese.

Facts about Lombardy:

1. Lombardy has over 10 million residents.
2. The region is home to Milan, one of the world’s leading fashion and design capitals.
3. Lombardy is known for its rich culinary tradition, including dishes like risotto alla Milanese, ossobuco alla milanese, and panettone, a sweet bread typically eaten during Christmas.
4. The region is home to several scenic lakes, including Lake Como, Lake Garda, and Lake Maggiore (check Ascona!).
5. Lombardy is also an important economic hub, with a diverse economy that includes industries like fashion, design, manufacturing, and finance.

Piedmont

Piedmont, on the other hand, is renowned for its rich gastronomic heritage, being the birthplace of the Slow Food movement and famous for its truffles, Barolo wine, and delicious chocolate. The region of Emilia-Romagna is home to the historic cities of Bologna, Parma, and Ravenna, known for their stunning architecture and rich cultural heritage.

Facts about Piedmont:

1. Piedmont is bordering France and Switzerland, surrounded by the Alps, and it is known for its stunning mountain landscapes, picturesque villages, and historic cities. Many of these being great Italian Destination spots to visit!
2. The region is home to the city of Turin, which was once the capital of Italy.
3. Piedmont is one of the most important wine regions in Italy, producing world-renowned wines such as Barolo, Barbaresco, and Barbera.
4. The region is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Royal Palace of Venaria Reale, the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy, and the Sacri Monti (sacred mountains) of Piedmont and Lombardy.
5. Some famous dishes from Piedmont include agnolotti (a type of pasta), bagna cauda (a warm dip made with anchovies, garlic, and olive oil), and vitello tonnato (a dish made with veal and a tuna sauce).

Our LATEST ITALIAN Destination POSTS:

Campione d’Italia: An Italian Village Surrounded by Switzerland

Campione d’Italia is an Italian exclave, located entirely within the territory of Switzerland in Ticino. It’s easily reachable from Lugano with a local bus, or you can simply drive in and explore. Curious to know how it all is and what rules they follow? Read on!

The Scenic Centovalli Railway: Between Locarno and Domodossola

Between Switzerland and Italy, the Centovalli Railway is a stunning panoramic train journey for every season between Locarno and Domodossola. It’s a beautiful route to take any time of the year, with scenic spots along the way alongside waterfalls and views along the valley.

Our Experience On The Simplon Car Train

Our journey on the Simplon Car Train super easy, efficient and definitely recommended. We used this train with our car on the way to Zermatt and back from Ticino. We found it easy and efficient through the mountains with our car. heck our review from our experience!

Exploring Milan: Enjoyable things to see, do and experience!

Discover the enchanting city of Milan Italy through our latest blog post, sharing many things that you can explore, see and do!

Lake Lugano VS Lake Como: Differences and Similarities

Lake Lugano is very close to Lake Como. They have many similarities but also some differences! Want to know what those differences and similarities are with Lake Lugano vs Lake Como? Read on with our specific post!

Pitstop At Menaggio Italy

For a romantic, idyllic little location in Italy, find yourself spending time at Menaggio Italy. This is one of the villages around the pretty lake of Lake Como. It’s a great little village to stop at, whether for a day trip, during a road trip or for more than a night

Feel free to save this post for later, as we’ll be adding more Italian inspired posts based on our experience to this list. Else, feel free to check our Italy category for all!