Varenna on Lake, Italy © Epic Vision

Duomo di Milano © Viacheslav Lopatin

Valtellina, Italy © AerialVision_it

Sforza fortress in Soncino, Italy © Emm.Bal

Cultural tours in Lombardy

Lombardy’s capital, Milan, is one of the great metropolises of Europe, but the rewards of the region extend far beyond it. Nestled in between beautiful countryside, ther region offers an abundance of little-visited historic towns, buildings and works of art. Despite their remarkable heritage, Brescia and Bergamo remain largely off the beaten track, overlooked by most visitors to the region. Cremona, the birthplace of the violin and the city of Stradivari, lends Lombardy a musical distinction matched by few places in Europe.

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Our Lombardy expert speakers

Spotlight on Lombardy

Bergamo

As the westernmost outpost of the Venetian empire, the ramparts around the Upper Town of Bergamo are immensely impressive. This is among the most attractive of old city centres in Italy, including the architectural complex of the Piazza del Duomo.

Visited on: 'Gastronomic Lombardy'

Duomo di Milano

Visit the spectacular marble Gothic cathedral and the surrounding area, site of the headquarters of the rival powers of municipality, bishop, duke and commune.

Visited on: 'Milan & Medieval Lombardy'

Cremona

Cremona is home to one of Italy's finest squares, composed of the cathedral, Italy’s tallest medieval campanile, baptistery and Gothic civic buildings. Birthplace of Monteverdi and Stradivarius, no city can suprasss Cremona for its traditions of bowed string, dating to the early 16th century.

Visited on: 'Early Music in Northern Italy'

Cities of Lombardy

Martin Randall Travel – Lombardy

Why travel with us?

Leading expertise

Since 1988 we have been the most influential organisation in the field of cultural travel. Our expert speakers are a key ingredient in our tours. Academics, curators and researchers, they are selected not only for their knowledge but also for their ability to communicate clearly and engagingly to a lay audience.

Privileged access

Special arrangements are a feature of our tours – for admission to places not generally open to travellers, for access outside public hours, for private concerts and extraordinary events. In innumerable ways, we lift our clients’ experience far above standards which are regarded as normal for tourists.

Small groups

Most of our tours run with between 10 and 24 participants. Our travellers are self-selected by common interests and an endorsement of our ethos, and you are highly likely to find yourself among link-minded companions.

Value for money

The price includes nearly everything, not only the major ingredients such as hotel, the costs of the lecturer and manager but also tips and drinks with meals. You can secure your booking today with a 15% deposit. We provide full financial protection for our package holidays.

Reviews

Wonderful

A wonderful trip with a fabulous lecturer, John Burt, and a kind, attentive tour manager, Marion. The music was divine, and the other guests made for truly delightful company.

Mrs Phipps

15/06/2026

Tuscany and Umbria

The week long walking tour to Tuscany and Umbria was excellent with the perfect balance between up to five mile walks, Italian scenery, culture, food and wine.

NGH

04/06/2026

I have enjoyed 7 tours with MRT

I have enjoyed seven tours with Martin Randall Travel. They have all been excellent, meticulously planned and organised to the last detail, and enable...

Mary

29/05/2026

The gold standard for cultural tours

MRT is the gold standard for cultural tours. The inclusion of an expert lecturer automatically filters a group of like-minded albeit eclectic folk; it...

Emma

19/05/2026

The expert lecturer adds huge value

This was my fifth Martin Randall Travel trip. They have all been good. The key difference with these tours is the fact that there is an expert lecture...

Janet

USA

18/04/26

You really get looked after

You really get looked after on a MRT tour. Everything is arranged to make the holiday so enjoyable: transport, entry to museums all sorted without fus...

Diana

27/04/2026

One of the very best for cultural and history tours

One of the very best for cultural and history tours. I have traveled multiple times with Martin Randall and am consistently extremely impressed by the...

Eileen

USA

10/02/2026

Egypt for those wanting to know more

I recently was one of 22 people joining Martin Randall for its inaugural trip to Egypt. The lecturer, a UK-based educator and specialist in Near Easte...

TravelerNOW

USA

16/01/2026

Uniformly excellent tours and adventures

Martin Randall is a top level, and top quality operator. They do what they promise, and usually much more. I travel alone, and I note how open, well b...

Nostromo

13/11/25

Holidays - always with that special something

Martin Randall Travel (MRT) are the best because they provide their customers with carefully designed and tested itineraries. These often feature spec...

Roger

13/11/2025

A cruise down the Rhine with classical music concerts every night

Martin Randall leaves nothing to chance - everything is planned and of the highest quality, but there is always room for a little individuality as well.

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13/11/2025

Everything we expected and more

The annual calendar of tours offers a huge range. In any year it is difficult to decide where - there is so much on offer. We wish we had more ti me t...

Peter

13/11/25

Entertaining and Educational

All the staff from Martin Randall are knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. There are few problems but, should they occur, they handle them well. I feel they offer good value for money.

17/11/25

An Italian art lover's dream

Martin Randall Travel is a thoroughly professional cultural tour operator: all arrangements are impeccably organised, tours are well researched, lectu...

16/11/25

Cotswold Choral Festival

As always, Martin Randall had created a perfectly designed itinerary and executed it in an extremely well organised manner, despite it being a very complex event.

Rosalind

14/11/25

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Cultural tours in Lombardy

Browse our Lombardy tours

Piero della Francesca - A pilgrimage from Umbria to Milan

Caravaggio - The master of painting in Milan, Rome and Naples

Early Music in Northern Italy - Museums and private collections, with recitals

Milan & Medieval Lombardy - The Visconti & Sforza dynasties from the Romanesque to the Renaissance

Gastronomic Lombardy - Food from the mountains, lakes and the plains of the Po