The Noble Milan: Entering the House of The Barons Bagatti Valsecchi

 Hello, my friends! Welcome to My Own Italy to discover Italy with my personal touch!
Our travel today is to Lombardy and we are going to the historical center of Milan to visit an ancient house: the Barons Bagatti Valsecchi Museum.

 The Bagatti Valsecchi Museum is situated in the historical center of the city: the most famous center, I mean the one of Montenapoleone and of the most cool and trendy streets.
  The so-called “noble” floor of the Bagatti Valsecchi mansion, restructured in the 1880s in the Neo-Renaissance style, houses the splendid home of the brothers Fausto and Giuseppe Bagatti Valsecchi.

The Lombard Renaissance art and decorative arts collections of the barons Bagatti Valsecchi are displayed in their home as they wished them to be.

In this way, the rich collection of paintings and 15th-16th century objects was melded with the rooms destined to contain it in order to form a fascinating unified ambiance . 

 Paintings by Old Masters, such as Giovanni Bellini or Giampietrino, majolica, Renaissance glass, 15th century furnishings, ivory, objects in precious metals, arms and armor compose the exceptionally rich patrimony of the house museum.

Everything has been haused to embellish the striking rooms created under the careful supervision of the two Bagatti Valsecchi brothers. 

The visit to this beautiful House, that you can't miss while visiting the cities of art in Italy, is even more exciting if you can count on a very special guide; I was so lucky as I had the good fortune to be accompanied by Stella: she is so prepared and so kind, really a nice lady of the house!

Leisure with me: this is my tourism!
 

Lake Como: the surprising harmony of a unique landscape

Hello, my friends! Welcome to My Own Italy to discover Italy with my personal touch!

Today travel is to Lombardy and I suggest a hike truly suggestive and beautiful: let's go to Lake Como and relax in the enchanting garden of Villa d'Este!

The Lake Como is the third largest basin in northern Italy; it has three branches with a curious shape of inverted epsilon.

Ideally located in the center of the Alps, it is really appreciated by visitors from the North who see in it a glimpse of the Mediterranean among the mountains.

 

 A really surprising and fascinating landscape of innumerable shades: hues of blue and green waters, rocky peaks covered with snow or with forests, villages built of stone castled between lake and mountains, cities rich in history and culture.

If you like to enjoy an exciting and very charming walk, I suggest you visit the gardens of Villa d'Este: think that in the park surrounding the Villa there is one of the longest-running plane trees of Lombardy, 500+ years old!

The countless varieties of plants make it a real botanical garden: chestnut, magnolia, wisteria, laurels, agaves, palms, cypresses, pines, oaks and many other trees which are flanked by jasmine, azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas, oleanders, rhododendrons and also daffodils, pansies, geraniums. In short, a riot of colors and scents for a really surprising landscape and harmonious!

If you wish to enjoy a drink in total relax, I suggest you sit in the gazebo and contemplate the calm waters of the lake: a truly unique experience!

My personal experience was a day of poetry: the one of a place a bit magic in which sometimes you have to dip, a must-see destination during your holiday in the italian lakes.

Leisure with me, this my tourism!

Lombardy: Franciacorta, land of wines and traditions

 Hello, my friends! Welcome to My Own Italy to discover Italy with my personal touch!
 
Today travel is to Lombardy and I'd like to introduce you one of the most unique focus on Italian sparkling wine: Franciacorta.
So, I guess then you will be curious to discover the most famous winery in the world for the production of sparkling wine: Berlucchi!

 The territory of Franciacorta is mostly hilly and dotted with ancient woodland; it has been recently transformed by the planting of numerous vineyards that characterize its peculiarity: a must-see destination toi discover the italian villages.

 The origin of the name Franciacorta comes from  "curtes francae", the small community of Benedictine monks settled in the Middle Ages in a hilly area near Lake Iseo.

In Franciacorta there were very important noble families, such as Oldofredi Iseo, the Sala Gussago, the Lantieri Paratico, the Lana de 'Terzi di Borgonato, the Della Corte di Nigoline, the Bargnani di Adro, who had properties and power, not only in the city of Brescia, but even in this area, where they built their large countryhouses.

 Even from a long history, the new course of the Franciacorta winemaking begins in effect at the beginning of the sixties with the birth of the first wineries. In the late seventies the Italian wine experienced a period of great turmoil and many entrepreneurs invested in Franciacorta and pointed on the cultivation of the vine.
 From there, the growth was rapid up to today's Franciacorta, considered by many the only area of Italian sparkling wine production which has reached levels comparable to those of the French Champagne.

 The Franciacorta was the first Italian wine, made exclusively by the method of second fermentation in the bottle (Classic Method), to have been awarded in 1995 the Denomination of Origin Controlled and Guaranteed. Today on the label reads only the name Franciacorta, the only term that defines the territory, the method of production and the wine. In Europe, only 10 denominations have this privilege, and among these only three are produced by fermentation in the bottle: Cava, Champagne and Franciacorta. 

The Consortium joins the  Franciacorta Wine Route, which enhances the cultural and culinary heritage of an area more and more appreciated as a tourist destination in every season.



The Franciacorta Wine Route offers the possibility to personalize your itineraries, dedicating to the visit of the cellars, discovering the area with its medieval villages and old houses, abbeys and monasteries, and also the Lake Iseo: perfect destination for your italian holiday!
I invite you to follow me to enjoy one of most famous and appreciated wineries in the world: Berlucchi!
 
Leisure with me, this is my tourism!


 

Montevecchia: enjoy a breathtaking view of Milan and Brianza

Hello, my friends! Welcome again to My Own Italy to discover Italy with my personal Touch!
Ou travel today is to Lombardy and I'd like to suggest you a pleasant trip from Milan to a destination in the Alpine foothills of the rich and aristocratic Brianza: Montevecchia!

Montevecchia is a small town situated in the north of Milan;due to the geographical location (located on a hill about 500 meters above sea level) has a very particular climate more mild in winter and less hot in the summer ... a real treat!

Montevecchia has prehistoric origins: in the surrounding park, at the end of the seventies, were found two camps dating back to Neanderthal and human sapiens, dated respectively the first and the second in 60,000 years to 32,000. These settlements are among the oldest in Lombardy! 

 The word "Montevecchia" is believed to be due to a Roman fortress which was located in place of the actual sanctuary, surrounded by a circle of protective walls of more than 800 meters long. The original name was Mons Vigiliae (Watchtower).
 In the highest point of the hill of Montevecchia there is the Sanctuary of  Beata Vergine del Carmelo  of medieval origins. They think that this church was one of the first built by the Lombards.
     The lombard church on the top of Montevecchia resisted until 1570, when a fire due to "the neglect of the priest" (read by the acts of the visit of St. Charles Borromeo) completely destroyed both the vestments and the church vestments. In 1924 the current sanctuary was dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

  In Montevecchia you can also admire Villa Albertoni-Agnesi, home of the world-famous mathematical Gaetana Agnesi .
It was built in '700. The main entrance and the wrought iron balcony above, the staircase, the balustrade carved in garlands intertwined with "putti", are a clear reference to Rococo style. The beautiful Italian garden was perfectly preserved.

Cyclists are enthusiastic visitors of the slope leading to Montevecchia. Once you reach the top you can enjoy a truly breathtaking landscape!! 

Of course, there is nothing better than a meal outdoors enjoying this magnificent view: I suggest you to have a break at Tavern Galeazzino , and taste a typical menu of this place: cold cuts, cheese and good wine!  

Leisure me: this is my tourism! 

Milan: Discover Gallerie d'Italia Museum, Piazza Scala

Milan, Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery (Italy)

Hello, my friends! Welcome in My Own Italy!
Today I suggest you a different itinery in Milan, away from the most famous tourist destinations; you know that I love to let you discover Italy with My Personal Touch!

In the very center of the city, Piazza  Scala, you can visit a new museum: Gallerie d'Italia .

Symbols of the history of Milan, the buildings that together form the architectural complex that houses the Galleries were designed by leading Italian architects between the end of the eighteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century.

The Galleries, Milan (Italy)

The exhibition Twentieth Century Worksite presents Italian art of the second half of the 20th century, in a selection of approximately 200 art works from the Intesa Sanpaolo collections.

Organised into 12 sections, they are enriched by the inclusion of sculptures, by a themed study dedicated to Colour as a plastic form.


If you want, you can enjoy a short presentation of the Galleries in this video:

 

This is me inside the Galleries

The art works of the twentieth century are organized in 12 sections and 2 single-subject itineraries. The leading artistic movements of the period –  Informal Art , Spatialism ,  Nuclear Art, Concrete Art Movement , Kinetic and Programmed Art, Arte Povera, Conceptual Art  and Italian Pop Art  – are retraced through the most important artists.

The Galleries (Milan, Piazza Scala)

For me it was a really exiting experience: not only for the incredible richness of the works in the exhibition, but also because you can play with multimedia screens and customize your itinerary and deepen the arguments that you prefer.

The Galleries, Milan (Italy)

I hope that while you are visiting Milan, you can have enough time to visit this art Gallery.
Milan in the capital not only of fashion, but also of Italian art and design!!



Ciao, 
Carlotta

Lombardy: Cremona and the ancient tradition of Nougat

Cremona, Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall), Italy

Hello, my friends, welcome in My Own Italy!
Here in Italy we are in the pre-Christmas period, and in my blog  I'd like to introduce you to one of the most famous italian product: the Nougat (in italian: Torrone) and also the city that is its homeland.

Nougat in Cremona (Italy)

Today I suggest you to visit  Cremona, a little hystorical town in Lombardy. It is one hour from Milan, and even it isn't so famous, it can offer you to discover an interestiong architecture of the Middle Ages.

Cremona was conquered by the Romans in 218 BC who made it a military stronghold and an important settlement.

Cremona (Italy)

Focus of Cremona is historic Piazza del Comune, where you overlook the main monuments of the city: The Torrazzo, the Baptistery, the Loggia of the Soldiers and the Town Hall!


 

Looking at the Torrazzo (Cremona)

The Il Torrazzo is an imposing tower built between the thirteenth and fourteenth century, it is certainly the most famous monument of Cremona.


Il Torrazzo is the highest historical bell tower in Italy!

On the fourth floor, you can admire one of the largest astronomical clocks in the world.

Built around the end of the '500 the clock represents the sky with the zodiacal constellations through which the motion of the Sun and the Moon.

The clock in the Tower Torrazzo (Cremona)

By the way, once a year, at this time, in Cremona takes place the Festival of Nougat!

Nougat is the typical cake of Cremona: it's a mixture of egg white, honey and sugar, stuffed with almonds, walnuts, peanuts, hazelnuts, often covered with two wafers.

This is Carlotta @ Festival of Nougat (Cremona)

The Festival of Nougat  is an appointment for the gourmands.

The streets and squares of Cremona are animated by events, shows and tastings.

Festival of Nougat (Cremona, Italy)

I invite you to join tourism and gastronomic tradition: taste the nougat also means living the
Cremonese tradition.

Nougats (Cremona, Italy)

The theme of the 2012 was the sweetness; more than 60 initiatives between games, entertainment moments, cultural events, food and wine designed to celebrate the combination of nougat-sweetness in a magical atmosphere rich in history and traditions!

Carlotta and Nougat! (Cremona)

In fact, it is said that this cake is created to celebrate the marriage of Francesco Sforza and Bianca Maria Visconti back in 1441.

As you can see, I let myself really win! 
Enjoy, and let me know... :-)


 
Ciao, 
Carlotta!

Lombardy: The majestic Certosa di Pavia (Gratiarum Carthusia)

The Certosa di Pavia (Pavia, Lombardy)

Hello, my friends!
Welcome to My Own Italy, to discover Italy with my Personal Touch!
Today I'll introduce you to one of the most famous and majestic church in Italy: The Certosa di Pavia .

Certosa di Pavia, the Entrance

The Certosa di Pavia is a monastery  and complex situated near Pavia, in northern Italy.

Built in 1396-1495, it was once located on the border of a large hunting park belonging to the Visconti family of Milan.

Certosa is the Italian name for a house of the cloistered monastic order of Cartusians founded by St. Bruno in 1044 at Grande Chartreuse.

Particular of the Church, Certosa di Pavia

Though the Carthusians in their early centuries were known for their seclusion and asceticism and the plainness of their architecture, the Certosa is renowned for the exuberance of its architecture, in both the Gothic and Renaissance styles, and for its collection of artworks which are particularly representative of the region.

The Church

The church is built on a Latin Cross plan with a nave, two aisles and transept, typical of Ghotic architecture.  The chancel terminates with an apse. It is covered by crossed vaults on Gothic arches and is inspired, on a reduced scale, by the Duomo of Milan.

Chiostro Piccolo, Certosa di Pavia

An elegant portal, with sculptures by the Mantegazza brothers and Giovanni Antonio Amadeo, leads from the church to the Small Cloister (in Italian: Chiostro Piccolo.)

Chiostro Grande, Monastery Certosa di Pavia

This has a small garden in the center. The most striking feature is the terracotta decoration of the small pilasters.
Similar decorations also characterize the Grand Cloister (Italian: Chiostro Grande), which measures c.125x100 meters. 

The Coloumns, Certosa di Pavia

 
The elegant cells of the monks open to the central garden.
The arcades have columns with precious decorations in terracotta, with tondoes portraying saints, prophets and angels, alternatively in white and pink Verona marble.


Today the monastery is the home of only seven  Cisterian monks .
The monks are able to manage to get the financing basis in the monastery and doing the guided tours of the monastery and the church, either by selling a wide variety of products directly from them: honey, chocolate, liqueurs prepared in teas!

Listen to Padre Gabriele, here on my short interview!

In the shop of the monks can also be found trinkets to take home as a souvenir of this very special place and publications relating to the monastery itself.

Carlotta in The Monastery of Certosa di Pavia

I hope you will enjoy this visit as I did.
It was really a so mystic experience and enthusiastic time to spend in a rainy sunday....

Ciao,
Carlotta!