Lodi between Church Art and River Landscapes

Lodi offers you a varied gateway to the Lodigiano area: in the city, medieval churches, sacred art and museums take center stage, while rivers, parks and signposted cycling routes provide the scenic setting. The Lodigiano lies between the Adda, Lambro and Po rivers and is bordered to the north by the Muzza-Addetta Canal. As a result, urban culture and excursions through the predominantly rural landscape come together when planning a trip.

Churches, Art and Museums in Lodi

Lodi Cathedral Basilica is one of the city’s defining historic buildings. Construction began in autumn 1158 or spring 1159. At the entrance to the crypt is a Romanesque relief of the Last Supper dating from the 12th century. The three-aisled interior is structured by round arches. In the Church of San Francesco, whose origins date back to 1252, you can see one of Lodi’s important medieval buildings. The church also preserves a particularly comprehensive overview of Lodigian painting since the 14th century. In the third chapel of the right aisle are 22 panels painted by Gian Giacomo da Lodi, depicting scenes from the life of Saint Bernardino of Siena and dating from 1477.

The other churches also focus on different themes. The Church of San Lorenzo is Lodi’s oldest church after the cathedral and has an apse fresco by Callisto Piazza depicting the Resurrection. The Church of Sant’Agnese dates from the 14th century and passed to the Order of the Augustinian Conventuals in 1351; it contains Alberto Piazza’s large Galliani Polyptych. The Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art displays the rediscovered, reconstructed and restored polyptych “L’Assunzione” by Alberto Piazza in its permanent exhibition. The second location is in the renovated 16th-century Church of San Cristoforo on Via Fanfulla. The Museo del Tesoro dell’Incoronata is housed beneath the Tempio dell’Incoronata and contains sacred furnishings, two illuminated codices and worked copper vessels.

Several specialized collections provide a broader cultural perspective. The Ettore Archinti Museum displays the original tools Archinti used to create his works, as well as bronzes and plaster casts such as “Forse è meglio che tu non veda”. The digitized collection of the newspaper Avanti! can be viewed there by computer. The Andrea Schiavi Museum of Printing and Art Printing preserves and conveys the roots, traditions and techniques of the graphic arts, as well as paper production and art printing. The Museum of Musical Instruments and Music presents a carefully curated exhibition of antique, contemporary and ethnic musical instruments.

Other themes range from science to urban history: the Paolo Gorini Anatomical Collection comprises anatomical specimens that Paolo Gorini assembled into an extensive collection in the 19th century. The Natural Science Museum of Collegio San Francesco contains more than 6,000 exhibits. The Civic Museum preserves archaeological finds from Lodi Vecchio and part of the artistic heritage of the city of Lodi. Lodi also has an interactive map featuring more than 30 sculptures, monuments and memorial statues. A sculpture and monument trail of approximately 5 km can be completed in person or as a virtually and interactively guided tour.

One restriction concerns the Piccolo Museo dei Popoli: it is temporarily inaccessible, and no date has been set for its reopening. Since its foundation in 1996, the museum has preserved objects from Togo and Israel donated by Padre Innocente Mariconti.

Rivers, Parks and Cycling Routes

The landscapes of the Lodigiano area can be explored through several protected areas and river environments. Parco Ittico Paradiso is a protected area where plants and animals coexist in an interconnected environment. The wooded river area covers 130,000 square meters. Parco Adda Sud is a regional river and agricultural park extending along the lower course of the Adda through areas of the Lodigiano and Cremonese regions. It can be explored via several signposted cycling routes on paved and unpaved roads as well as existing path sections. The Monticchie Nature Reserve lies on an old bend of the Po.

A cycling route from Lodi to Zelo Buon Persico passes through old farmsteads and picturesque villages. Along the Adda River, the same route offers attractive views and passes old mills. The Anello Periurbano di Lodi is a well-equipped and signposted route through the agricultural surroundings of Lodi, with several rest areas. As a stopover, the circular route recommends the wooded area of Area Naturale del Belgiardino. If you prefer culture and urban history when choosing your hotel, Lodi’s churches and museums are the obvious focus; for cycling and nature days, the routes and river landscapes described in the Lodigiano area take center stage.

Festivals, Markets and Music

The Feast of Saint Bassianus takes place in Lodi on January 19. During the feast, elaborately decorated votive candles are presented to the bishop in the cathedral crypt; there are also craft stalls, particularly on Piazza della Vittoria. The Mercatino dell’Antiquariato brings the streets of the historic old town to life with stalls, collectibles and objects from bygone times and is considered one of the traditions especially valued by the people of Lodi. The Rassegna Gastronomica del Lodigiano is considered the Lodigiano area’s most important gastronomic and wine-related event and honors the authenticity and quality of local products. In summer, Vien Musica dal Chiostro adds live concerts in one of Lodi’s historic cloisters to the cultural program.

Getting There and Other Places

Via the Autostrada del Sole, the distance from Lodi is 30 km to Milan, 172 km to Bologna and 27 km to Piacenza. When planning your trip, you can combine these urban destinations, cycling paths and natural areas according to your preferred pace. Other places in the immediate surroundings include Montanaso Lombardo, Cornegliano Laudense, Borghetto Lodigiano, Camairago, Sant'angelo Lodigiano, Ospedaletto Lodigiano, Lodi, Guardamiglio, Casalpusterlengo, Muzza Sant'angelo, Codogno, Corno Giovine, Caviaga, San Martino In Strada, Mignete, Boffalora D'adda, Tavazzano con Villavesco, Zelo Buon Persico, Bertonico, Maleo, Chiavicone and Lodi Vecchio.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lombardy.