Best Drives from Lodi, Italy

Lodi is a city in the northern Italian region of Lombardy. It was founded initially as a Celtic village, and was in close enough proximity that many Gauls were allowed Roman citizenship, prior to the northern conquests. It was an important location for  Roman transports at the time, and is today a beautifully preserved medieval village.

At the town’s center is Victory Square, which is the heart of the city and a fantastic starting point for your wanderings and has become popular as an “off the beaten path” point to start Italian getaways.

The city’s architecture in the surrounding squares and arcades has stayed largely the same for centuries, and Lodi’s largest building is Lodi Cathedral, built in the 12th Century, though renovated through the ages. You’ll observe pastel colored, medieval houses, lovely gardens, and a multitude of churches and monuments scattered throughout the town.

Lodi is also in great proximity to a lot of other attractions in Italy, all within easy driving distance of the city. You can arrange an affordable car rental from Lodi right here to start your adventure in Northern Italy.

Milan

Milan has trouble shaking its workaholic reputation for its tourist ventures, but the city is ripe with a long-standing cultural history that is fascinating to see.

It is the financial center of Italy, but it was also the location where St. Augustine was baptized (where the current day Piazza del Duomo sits). Michelangelo, da Vinci, Verdi, and Giorgio Armani all lived and worked in the city as well.

The Piazza del Duomo is the heart of the city, and from there you’ll find no shortage of sights and things to do or see, like The Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente. It is referred to be the locals as “Il Duomo” and is a beautiful Gothic church, and one of the most impressive in the world.

Brescia

Brescia is another Celtic turned Roman town, much like Lodi, and it boasts a similarly incredible selection of historical sites, like its castle, which predates the Romans. The Roman ruins of the Tempi Capitolino, the remains of the old Roman forum, are great to see and offer translated placards on site.

Brescia is on the banks of Lake Garda, the longest lake in Italy, and offers a beautiful panorama of nature to the city’s history.

Bergamo

What was once the seat of the Lombard Duches in the Middle Ages, Bergamo is a bustling transport hub and a haven of architectural wonders. The city is split in two into Upper and Lower halves by the Venetian walls, which give it a unique feeling just by way of its oddity.

Start your wanderings at the Piazza Vecchia and move your way out, seeing more and more as you go. The city has no shortage of wonderful things to see.

Pavia

Pavia is most well-known for its beautifully preserved Renaissance architecture, most notable in the Charterhouse of Pavia, on the outskirts of the town. The city has its own rich artistic heritage, not to mention its own regional dishes that are absolutely delicious, like Risotto alla Certosina or Peverada.

Pavia is a great walking city because of the wide breadth of its architectural delights. Wander, explore, and discover why, in Medieval times, the city earned the nickname “City of a Hundred Towers.” You’ll  find the answer pretty quickly once you see the looming Church of Santa Maria di Betlem, the Church of San Michele, or the Pavia Cathedral.