Italy is a nation beloved by many for its layered history, artistic treasures, majestic landscapes, and renowned cuisine, all of which vary broadly from one region to the next. This variety is due in part to the fact that the Italian peninsula was once a mosaic of numerous smaller city-states, each of which added its own unique contributions to the cultural richness of the country, which is home to the highest concentration of UNESCO World Heritage Sites of any modern nation.
Art historian Sophia D’Addio of Columbia University, an expert in Italian Renaissance art and architecture, has traveled widely across the Italian peninsula over the past 20 years. In a series of illustrated talks, she explores a trio of distinctive regions of Italy, revealing their histories, mysteries, and pleasures.
Session Information
Lombardy’s capital of Milan is one of the most cosmopolitan of the Italian peninsula, and the region is an important center for business, industry, media, fashion, design, and agricultural production, rendering it Italy’s wealthiest. It was also an important cultural center during the Renaissance—exemplified by Leonardo da Vinci’s contributions. Lombardy is filled with numerous other città d’arte, or cities with a high concentration of significant works of art, including Bergamo, Cremona, and Mantua, as well as the charming towns on Lake Como and the western coast of Lake Garda.
Additional Italian Regions to Discover Programs
General Information
