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
DENSITY
AREA
ELEVATION
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
- Discover Lombardy
- VARESE
Experiences
The appetizers of the Lombardic tradition
- Food & Wine
From Lake Ceresio to Lake Maggiore through Valcuvia
- Parks
Museum Varese
- Art & Culture
Open sky museums Varese’s Painted Towns
- Villages
Varese Local Products Guide
- Food & Wine
Cerro di Laveno Santa Caterina Arolo
- Cycle Tourism
Places
Visconteo Castle
- Art & Culture
Church of Santa Maria foris portas
- Unesco Sites
Casa Museo Lodovico Pogliaghi | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Art & Culture
Palazzo Estense
- Art & Culture
Masnago Castle and Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Art & Culture
Basilica di San Vittore
- Religious Tourism
The hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso
- Religious Tourism
The Abbey of San Donato
- Religious Tourism
Badia di Ganna
- Religious Tourism
Where to sleep
HOTEL FIRENZE
Saronno
HOTEL TORRE IMPERIALE
Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca
Hotel Ristorante Vecchia Riva
Varese
ALBERGO SANT'ANNA
Solbiate Olona
HOTEL PINETA
Busto Arsizio
GREEN MOTEL SRL
Vergiate
MOTEL PERALBA
Saronno
HOTEL DI VARESE
Varese
HOTEL MONTECARLO
Castellanza
DOUBLE TREE by HILTON MILAN MALPENSA
Solbiate Olona
HOTEL MONTELAGO
Ternate
HOTEL IL CANNETO
Porto Ceresio
Hotel Grotto Bagat
Lavena Ponte Tresa
HOTEL TRE LEONI
Somma Lombardo
DOLCE HOTELS AND RESORTS BY WYNDHAM MILAN MALPENSA
Somma Lombardo
HOTEL AL BORDUCAN
Varese
HOTEL VILLA MALPENSA
Vizzola Ticino
HOTEL RISTORANTE STAMPA 1968
Cadegliano-Viconago
Hotel DEL CONTE
Laveno-Mombello
FIRST HOTEL MALPENSA
Somma Lombardo
IL TUO VIAGGIO inLOMBARDIA. PRENOTA QUI
How to arrive
BY PLANE
Milano Malpensa 35 km, Linate 70 km, Orio al Serio 110 km
BY TRAIN
trenord.it
tilo.ch
BY CAR
Autostrada A8
How to move
BY BUS
ctpi.it
BIKE SHARING
bicincitta.tobike.it
Information
INFOPOINT VARESE
Piazza Monte Grappa, 5
T. +39 0332 281913
WIFI
Varese Wifi
FIND OUT MORE
comune.varese.it
Useful numbers
EMERGENCY
112
HOSPITALS
Ospedale Filippo del Ponte
Via Filippo Del Ponte, 19
T. +39 0332 299111
Ospedale Macchi–Va
Viale Luigi Borri, 57
T. +39 0332 278111
POLICE
Comando Provinciale Carabinieri Varese
Via Aurelio Saffi, 55
T. +39 0332 4501