At a few distance from Milan we can visit some important monuments belonging to the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Baroque Age. Very beautiful is the Certosa delle Grazie (Charterhouse of the Graces) that is located at 10 kms before Pavia: it was founded in 1396 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti and originally it was planned to be the mausoleum of Visconti family, but its construction went on in 15th and 16th centuries, extending the original project. The front is much elaborated, full of refined details, nevertheless it shows an overall image of elegance and sobriety, at demonstration of the coherent conception by which it was performed. The lower side of the facade was done in the last quarter of 15th century by the architect and sculptor Amedeo and by sculptors Mantegazza, while the upper side was completed around the half of 16th century. The interior of the charterhouse is of extraordinary beauty, mostly in gothic style but with insertions in Renaissance style in the transept and in the chorus. Behind are the two cloisters, as usual for Chartusian monasteries: the small cloister, between the church and the refectory with some perspective view over the dome, and the large cloister, with the monks apartments, very large and evocative.

The city of Pavia is rich of monuments from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It was the capital of the Lombard kingdom in the early Middle Ages, while during the age of Commons it was rival of Milan for the economic and political supremacy of the area. The Cathedral (Duomo) was built at the end of 15th century and it seems that in its construction took part both Bramante and Leonardo da Vinci; its dome is one of the largest in Italy. In front of the apse there is the palace of Broletto, seat of the Town Hall since 12th century. Moreover there is the Visconteo Castle, which nowadays hosts the civic Museums of Archaeology, Sculpture and the Painting Gallery, with works by Foppa, Bellini and Borgognone. But the most famous church in Pavia is San Michele (St.Michael), which shows a beautiful facade in Romanesque style with an harmonious sculpture decoration in stone, and an interior with a composite architecture, decorated with friezes, mouldings, capitals, mosaics and frescos. Finally there is the church of San Pietro in Ciel d'oro (St.Peter in golden sky) which contains the tomb of Saint Agostino.

At 21 kms from Milan there is the town of Monza, with its cathedral belonging to the 13th century with an elegant facade in two colors, where alternate white and green marbles, performed in the 14th century by Matteo from Campione, one of the most important exponents of the Maestri Campionesi (Campione's Masters) whose work was able to influence and characterize the whole Romanesque architecture and sculpture in Italy. Particularly rich is the Cathedral's treasure, with many jewels from Lombard age, among which stands out the renowned Iron Crown of Lombard Kings before and then Holy Roman Emperor as Kings of Italy. The crown was called in this way because inside it has an iron lamina coming from (they said) one of the nails by which Jesus Christ was crucified, received by emperor Constantine's mother, who placed it inside Constantine's headpiece, of which the crown was probably the seal.

At 50 kms from Milan then there is the town of Bergamo, an important industrial pole, which has kept untouched the aspect of its historic centre, thanks to the division between 'high town' upside hill and 'lower town' downside the plan. The main monument in town is the Cappella Colleoni at Piazza del Duomo (Colleoni's Chapel in Cathedral's Square), performed by the architect Amedeo, the same of Pavia Charterhouse. The elegant and precious facade is rich of sculptures and decorations, while the interior shows some beautiful low reliefs and frescos by Tiepolo, moreover the Colleoni's tomb by Amedeo himself, with an equestrian statue in wood.