VARESE

From the 18th century Palazzo Estense to the breathtaking panoramas of the Sacro Monte. To the silent ripples in the lake to the slopes of Campo dei Fiori. A garden city to be explored

POPULATION

80,694

DENSITY

1,471 inhabitants/sq. km

AREA

54.84 sq. km

ELEVATION

382 m a.s.l.

The parks surrounding the villas of Varese are the perfect welcome to what is commonly referred to as the garden city. Fresh blossoms create the green carpet leading to Palazzo Estense.

Tourism Varese. Giacomo Leopardi endearingly referred to it as the “Little Versailles” of Italy. A voyage through the splendor of the 1700’s, from the hill of Belvedere to the Italian gardens and their linear hedges. Villa Menafoglio Litta, managed by FAI, 'dimora di delizia' to the Marquis Menafoglio, tells about the passion for contemporary art of Count Giuseppe Panza di Biumo. Another artistic hub to be uncovered includes the Museum within the Masnago Castle, decorated with frescoes of scenes from the court.

Outside the city, there are plenty of opportunities to climb the surrounding steep slopes by bicycle. Start slow in Schiranna, and, in a more slow way, from the circumnavigation of Lake Varese. Here were found palafitte of primitive men, with the first remains found as far back as 1863. Some are in the museum of the Virginia Beetle, others are kept in the Civic Museum of the City of Varese, in Villa Mirabello.

By foot, just two kilometres from the Via Sacra, is the Sanctuary of the Sacro Monte, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that connects 14 chapels winding into the sky. Under the mountain, in Sant’Ambrogio, check out the magnificent Villa Toeplitz, a testament park-gardens of Varese

Boroughs Varese

Take time for a slow visit among the historic villages of Varese through alleys, painted facades, festivals: it will not be wasted!

Villages

The appetizers of the Lombardic tradition

We bring the traditional Lombardic gastronomic culture back to the table, starting with appetizers

Food & Wine

From Lake Ceresio to Lake Maggiore through Valcuvia

Parks

Museum Varese

Mummies, archaeological finds, design, ancient and contemporary art: museums to suit all tastes!

Art & Culture

Open sky museums Varese’s Painted Towns

Villages

From Lake Maggiore to Po River

Art Nouveau friezes, museum bread and cycleways along river banks

Cycle Tourism

Varese Local Products Guide

The typical products with which to prepare the dining table are varied and include all the dishes: from appetizers to desserts

Food & Wine

Cerro di Laveno Santa Caterina Arolo

Uno dei luoghi di fede più suggestivi della Lombardia, a raggiungere pedalando fra antichi borghi e splendide vedute della sponda occidentale del Lago Maggiore.