Places of art and gardens in the surroundings
For those wishing to stay at Villa Medici Giulini, a proposal of great cultural and enviromental interest could be the visit of famous cities of art and gardens in Lombardy in the sorrounding.
Villa Medici Giulini is located on the Brianza hills, between Como and Milan, and it is very close to Bergamo, Varese, Pavia and Cremona, some of the Lombardy cities of greatest interest for cultural tourism and for gardens.
Milano, art and shopping
From Villa Medici Giulini the center of Milan can be easily reached for a special day that begins with a visit to the most important museums in the historic center, which is also one of the most famous Italian shopping spots with Via Montenapoleone. The most significant places of art are Poldi Pezzoli Museum, with paintings porcelain and jewelery collections. Next to Poldi Pezzoli Museum is Bagatti Valsecchi Museum and the Pinacoteca of Brera. The day core is represented by a visit to La Scala Theater Museum and La Scala Theater followed by the Chiesa delle Grazie with Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper.
Museo Poldi Pezzoli www.museopoldipezzoli.it
Museo Bagatti Valsecchi www.museobagattivalsecchi.org
Pinacoteca di Brera www.accademiadibrera.milano.it
Museo Teatrale alla Scala www.museoscala.org
Cenacolo www.cenacolo.it
Monza, Villa Reale and Dom
Villa Medici Giulini, Briosco, is in the province of Monza, from which it is about half an hour far. The first stop can be done in Agliate where is the Basilica dei Santissimi Pietro e Paolo with the annexed Baptistery built in the tenth century. This is one of the oldest monuments in Lombardy. In Monza a must-visit is the Duomo with the Chapel of Queen Teodolinda, frescoed by the Zavattaris, a masterpiece of Lombard art. The Iron Crown is kept in the chapel. The visit continues to the Villa Reale, a masterpiece by Giuseppe Piermarini. The park around the villa extends over many hectares with important architectural constructions that embellish the park’s avenues.
Basilica di Agliate www.basilicadiagliate.com
Cappella della Regina Teodolinda www.museoduomomonza.it
Villa Reale www.villarealedimonza.it
Bellagio and the Como Lake
Bellagio is a picturesque town, a small Portofino overlooking the lake, not far from Villa Medici Giulini.You can visit the gardens of Villa Melzi d’Eril, a masterpiece of the Empire period. By boat from Bellagio you can reach Varenna on the opposite side of the lake and visit Villa Carlotta, Tremezzo, one of the most famous gardens in Lombardy. Then you can continue on the road that runs alongside the lake and reach the island of Balbianello, owned by the F.A.I. The gardens are designed with great elegance and are full of suggestive corners. In Como you can visit the Cathedral with its square.
Villa Melzi d’Eril www.giardinidivillamelzi.it
Villa Carlotta www.villacarlotta.it
Villa del Balbianello www.fondoambiente.it
Cattedrale di Como www.cattedraledicomo.it
Stresa and Maggiore Lake
You can reach Stresa, coasting the Maggiore Lake, and arrive by boat on Isola Bella, famous all over the world for the wonder of the Italian gardens and for the richness of the art collections placed in the palace. Next to Isola Bella you can see Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori. Returning to Stresa you can visit Villa Pallavicino, with the large park and the animals that live free in the wide spaces of the garden.
Isola Bella www.isoleborromeo.it
Bergamo, the old town and the private estates
Arriving in Bergamo, which is about 40 minutes from Villa Medici Giulini, you can go directly to the Old Town. You can visit Piazza Vecchia with the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Baptistery and Colleoni Chapel. The visit can continue with Donizetti’s birthplace. The private estates, opened to visitors, represent an exceptional itinerary by themselves. Palazzo Terzi has a precious sitting room with mirrors, Palazzo Moroni preserves intact the works of art collected by the family, Palazzo Agliardi overlooks a rare roof garden. Another gem of Bergamo is the Carrara Academy, one of the most important art galleries in Lombardy.
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore www.fondazionemia.it
Cappella Colleoni www.visitbergamo.net
Palazzo Terzi www.palazzoterzi.it
Palazzo Moroni www.fondazionepalazzomoroni.it
Palazzo Agliardi www.contiagliardi.it
Accademia Carrara www.lacarrara.it
Varese and the Italian gardens
Villa Cicogna Mozzoni in Bisuschio dates back to 1463 and it was then completed in 1550. Campi brothers were called to fresco the rooms. One of the characteristics of the villa is the perfectly preserved Italian garden. The visit continues with Villa Della Porta Bozzolo in Casalzuigno, owned by F.A.I. It was built in the sixteenth century as a country residence, then it became a luxury residence and was enriched with Rococo-style frescoes. The Italian garden alternates several terraces with the splendid staircase and the large green spaces.
Villa Cicogna Mozzoni www.villacicognamozzoni.it
Villa Della Porta Bozzolo www.fondoambiente.it
Pavia and the Certosa
The first stone of the Certosa di Pavia was laid on August 27, 1396. It was built by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan to fulfill the vow of his wife Caterina and as a mausoleum for the Viscontis. The monumental complex includes a Cistercian monastery and a sanctuary. The works lasted 50 years and the Certosa was completed only at the end of the fifteenth century. It was originally inhabited by a Carthusian community from which it took its name.
Certosa di Pavia www.certosadipavia.gov.it
