• Active & Green
    • Art & Culture

Discover the province of Varese

5 must-see places to visit in Varese

from Redazione Varese
where
Where
Varese
PH. @zanve82

The province of Varese is a gem in northern Italy, rich in history, culture, and natural beauty.

If you're looking for ideas for a weekend getaway or a day trip, here you'll find five places to visit that will make you fall in love with this fascinating area.

1. SACRO MONTE OF VARESE

The Sacro Monte of Varese is one of the most captivating pilgrimage sites in Lombardy, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located at about 880 meters above sea level, it is part of a complex of Sacred Mountains built between the 16th and 17th centuries in northern Italy, designed as devotional paths. The Sacro Monte of Varese consists of a series of fourteen chapels that stretch along a two-kilometer route, depicting the Mysteries of the Rosary with statues and frescoes of great artistic value. At the end of the path, you reach the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Monte, a place of prayer and contemplation immersed in nature, offering a spectacular view of the plains below and Lake Varese. This place unites faith, art, and landscape in a harmony that attracts pilgrims and visitors from all over the world.

2. CASTIGLIONE OLONA

Another place of great interest is Castiglione Olona, an enchanting medieval village known for its artistic heritage. Here, you can visit the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta, which houses splendid frescoes by the famous artist Paolo Schiavo, and the Baptistery, decorated with painting cycles that depict the life of St. John the Baptist. Castiglione Olona is a picturesque medieval village in the province of Varese, renowned for its extraordinary artistic and cultural heritage. The town owes much of its fame to Cardinal Branda Castiglioni, who, in the 15th century, transformed it into a center of Renaissance patronage, inviting artists like Masolino da Panicale to work here. As you stroll through the village's cobbled streets, you'll discover charming corners and picturesque views, making Castiglione Olona an excellent stop for history and culture lovers. The narrow paved streets, historic buildings, and the Olona River flowing through the village give Castiglione a unique charm, earning it the title of "a Tuscan island in Lombardy" by art historian Giovanni Testori.

3. MUSEUM OF ART IN GALLARATE

The MAGA, Museum of Art in Gallarate, is one of Lombardy's main cultural institutions dedicated to contemporary art. Founded in 1966 as the Civic Gallery of Modern Art of Gallarate, it has expanded its collections and activities over time, becoming an important center for the promotion and study of modern and contemporary Italian art. It houses a vast permanent collection of over 5,000 works, ranging from painting to sculpture to experimental visual arts. The museum also organizes temporary exhibitions, cultural events, educational workshops, and artist talks, positioning itself as a reference point for art and creativity on both a local and national level.

4. SANTA CATERINA DEL SASSO

Santa Caterina del Sasso is a striking hermitage located on the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore, in the province of Varese, Lombardy. Perched on a cliff overlooking the lake, the monastic complex offers breathtaking panoramic views and a profound atmosphere of spirituality. Founded in the 13th century by the merchant Alberto Besozzi, who survived a shipwreck and decided to retire to this place to live in penance, the hermitage consists of a convent, a church, and a chapel. Its frescoed walls and terraces suspended over the lake make Santa Caterina del Sasso a pilgrimage destination and a site of great tourist interest for those seeking silence and contemplation amidst nature.

5. VILLA DELLA PORTA BOZZOLO

We conclude our tour at Villa Della Porta Bozzolo, a splendid historic villa located in Casalzuigno, not far from Varese. This villa, owned by the FAI (Italian Environmental Fund), is a magnificent example of 18th-century architecture, surrounded by a park rich in gardens and fountains. Inside, you can admire period furnishings and discover the history of the family who lived there. The gardens offer a charming atmosphere, perfect for a romantic walk.

Staircase leading to the bell tower of Sacro Monte di Varese, with blue sky and surrounding greenery.
Bell tower of a church in the village of Castiglione Olona, surrounded by trees and old buildings.
Modern facade of the MAGA in Gallarate, with a circular square in the foreground and a clear sky in the background.
Stone structures built into the rock form a passage with arches. The path is bordered by a low wall and overlooks Lake Maggiore.
A country residence in the 16th century, a lavish summer estate in the 18th century, telling the story of a wealthy Lombard family, with rococo-style frescoed halls and a scenic, monumental Italian garden.

On the same topic

Show all

Between lake and mountains the 10 most beautiful trees in the Province of Como

From the neoclassical villas to the wildest forests, the landscapes of the Lake Como region and the trees they contain enchant with their variety.
  • Active & Green

Markets in bloom, in May in Lombardy

A guide to the most beautiful and interesting events with flowers and plants in Lombardy, including markets, exhibitions, workshops, courses and competitions.
Mercati in fiore, a maggio in Lombardia - franciacortainfiore.it
  • Active & Green

Ice skating in Lombardy

Here's where you can twirl amusement and some fall.
Ice Skating
  • Active & Green

Up and down on a funicular: the panorama seen from the sky

Lombardy funiculars: the most romantic means of transport man has created
Up and down on a funicular: the panorama seen from the sky
  • Active & Green

The High Route of Valmalenco – 2nd stage

Rif Bosio (2086 m) - A Mastabbia (2077 m) - A Giumellino (1756 m) - Laghetti Sassersa (2369 m) - Passo Ventina (2675 m) Alpe Ventina (1960 m)
Laghi Sassersa
  • Active & Green

Bruschera Oasis

On the shore of Lake Maggiore, it is a small paradise, a place of passage and nesting of various species of birds.
Visit the Bruschera Oasis and the cane thickets on Lake Maggiore
  • Active & Green

Le bine

You want to see the Lataste frog, one of the rarest amphibians in Europe, then come to the Le Bine nature reserve.
Le Bine
  • Active & Green

The Salt Route

From Varzi to the sea
  • Active & Green

Noci park

The Parco delle Noci, located in Melegnano, is one of the first Urban Oasis built in Italy.
Noci Park
  • Active & Green

Motorcycle touring in Lombardy

Motorcycle routes, getting to know Lombardy with the thrill of two wheels
Motorcycle touring in Lombardy
  • Active & Green

Running in Parco di Monza

Running is good for your health. Running in the middle of nature? Even better! We look forward to seeing you at Monza Park.
Running al Parco di Monza
  • Active & Green

Artist’s giant benches

The hunt is on. Discover six of the brightly coloured, supersized Big Benches by Chris Bangle that are adding to the scenery in Lombardy.
Ph: I Mille
  • Active & Green

Resegone and Piani d’Erna

A real mountain holiday. Chilling and fun for the whole family. Piani d'Erna and the most extreme climbs on the vertical rock walls of Manzoni's mountain
Il Resegone e i Piani d’Erna
  • Active & Green

Varese Motorland

A land to explore on 2 wheels...
  • Active & Green

Discovering the Big Benches in the province of Pavia

How to reconnect with childhood by rediscovering the landscape with the Big Benches!
Big Bench in provincia di Pavia
  • Active & Green

Valsassina and the Grigne

From one-day trips that anyone can enjoy, to climbing on the vertical walls of the Grigne, through to splendid hikes leading up to the mountain refuges
Valsassina and the Grigne
  • Active & Green

Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

An event that looks to the future, sustainability and inclusion, immersed in the charm of the Lombard landscape and tradition.
  • Active & Green

Kitesurf in Lombardy

Where to do kitesurfing in Lombardy
Windsurf, Como lake
  • Active & Green

Levadina

Walking in the Levadina Oasis of San Donato Milanese, an opportunity to spend an afternoon immersed in nature.
Levadina
  • Active & Green

Mountain flowers in May

Six itineraries to discover this month's flowers in the mountains of Lombardy
Fiori di maggio ad alta quota - in Lombardia
  • Active & Green