• Religious Tourism
    • Art & Culture

The Abbey of San Donato

In Sesto Calende the beautiful and ancient Romanesque church is worth a visit

Where
Via Abbazia 6, Sesto Calende (VA)

This is the finest monument of Sesto Calende. Today, the only remnant of the ancient abbey is the Church of San Donato, built between the 9th and 10th century, which is located near a nucleus of restored farmsteads and old homes.

Cyclists will have no trouble reaching it from the riverside road, if they follow directions for Lentate and Taino. Travellers coming from Angera can reach San Donato by leaving the provincial road SP69, toward the left, just after the village of Lisanza.

This locality, now simply called Abbazia or Badia, is remembered in documents from the 9th to 13th centuries as "Scozola". According to a very convincing reconstruction, this place was once the site of a cove - now filled in - which was the harbour of Sesto where the boats paid navigation duties.

In the vicinity, secondary roads and trails branch off and connect Sesto Calende to nearby Lake Comabbio (in the direction of Oneda): in the woods to the north, particularly in the vicinity of the small church of San Vincenzo, there are partially marked mountain bikes paths that allow travellers to have fun cycling towards Taino or Lentate.

The church of San Donato preserves valuable Romanesque art and, on the inside, precious frescoes dating back to various eras, from the 15th to the 19th century. There are also an ancient wooden crucifix and a crypt that preserves bas-reliefs.

Take me here: The Abbey of San Donato

Places

Sass da Preja Buia

The erratic boulder at Sesto Calende
  • Art & Culture
Sass da Preja Buia
1.37 km

Lake Comabbio

Discover the Hidden Gem of Varese
  • Lakes
Passerella in legno sul lago di Comabbio, con alberi sullo sfondo in una giornata di sole.
5.79 km

Angera

  • Art & Culture
Angera
6.27 km

Borromean Fortress of Angera

Explore the enchanting Museum of Dolls and Toys and serene Medieval Gardens at the Angera Fortress, also known as Rocca of Angera
  • Art & Culture
Vista della Rocca di Angera posta sulla sommità di uno sperone di roccia. Il tramonto colora le nuvole di arancione in un cielo azzurro. La Rocca è circondata da piante verdi.
6.27 km

Angera

An ancient town in the province of Varese on the Lombard shore of Lake Maggiore.
  • Villages
Lakeside promenade of Angera, with a small beach. By the lake, there is an empty sun lounger, and you can see the Rocca in the distance.
6.44 km

Angera municipial archaeological museum

  • Art & Culture
Civico Museo Archeologico di Angera
6.48 km

Rocca Borromeo

What strike visitors of Rocca Borromeo, located on the southern shore of Lake Maggiore,is the architectural harmony of its five buildings
  • Art & Culture
Rocca Borromeo
6.83 km

Rocca di Angera

  • Art & Culture
Rocca di Angera
6.83 km

Relive your childhood at the Toys Museum

  • Art & Culture
Toys Museum, Museums Varese
6.83 km

Big Bench #333

  • Active & Green
Ph: Prolco Varano Borghi
7.53 km

The Horse Chestnut of the Visconti Castle

  • Art & Culture
The Horse Chestnut of the Visconti Castle
7.62 km

Castello Visconti di San Vito

  • Art & Culture
Castello Visconti di San Vito
7.62 km

Visconti di San Vito Castle

Castle and museum in Somma Lombardo.
  • Art & Culture
Visconti di San Vito Castle
7.62 km

Visconti di San Vito Castle (Somma Lombardo) | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau

  • Art & Culture
Visconti di San Vito Castle (Somma Lombardo) | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau
7.62 km

Panperduto | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau

  • Villages
Panperduto | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau
7.69 km

Lake Monate

  • Lakes
Lake Monate
7.79 km

Ispra

  • Lakes
Ispra
9.46 km

Golf dei Laghi

The undulating of the Golf dei Laghi, hilly course offers breathtaking views of Monte Rosa and Lake Maggiore, making the game enjoyable.
  • Golf
Golf dei Laghi, Travedona Monate (VA)
9.51 km

Prehistoric Alpine Stilt Houses

  • Unesco Sites
Siti palafitticoli preistorici dell'arco Alpino
11.08 km

Prehistoric Alpine Stilt Houses

  • Unesco Sites
Palafitte Arco Alpino
11.28 km

Activities

Italian cooking class

  • Food & Wine
Italian cooking class
1.13 km

Bike Tour around the Lakes of Comabbio and Varese

  • Cycle Tourism
Bike Tour around the Lakes of Comabbio and Varese
3.72 km

English Style Riding Weekend

  • Active & Green
English Style Riding Weekend
10.82 km

Where to sleep

APPARTAMENTO DELLE ROSE

Sesto Calende
APPARTAMENTO DELLE ROSE
233 mt

Ortensia

SESTO CALENDE
Ortensia
320 mt

Azalea

SESTO CALENDE
Azalea
320 mt

Dalia

SESTO CALENDE
Dalia
320 mt

Camelia

SESTO CALENDE
Camelia
344 mt

Via Gramsci Casa Vacanze

SESTO CALENDE
Via Gramsci Casa Vacanze
445 mt

B&B Liberty

Sesto Calende
B&B Liberty
596 mt

NICOLAUS APARTMENTS 1

Sesto Calende
NICOLAUS APARTMENTS 1
596 mt

Casa Vacanza via Adua

SESTO CALENDE
Casa Vacanza via Adua
612 mt

Nicolaus Apartments 4

Sesto Calende
Nicolaus Apartments 4
613 mt

NICOLAUS APARTMENTS 3

Sesto Calende
NICOLAUS APARTMENTS 3
613 mt

CAV Sciarini Sesto C.

SESTO CALENDE
CAV Sciarini Sesto C.
614 mt

Via dell'Olmo Casa Vacanze

SESTO CALENDE
Via dell'Olmo Casa Vacanze
618 mt

FERRARIN APARTMENT

Sesto Calende
FERRARIN APARTMENT
629 mt

APPARTAMENTO VICTORIA

Sesto Calende
APPARTAMENTO VICTORIA
631 mt

CAV Vella Sesto C.

SESTO CALENDE
CAV Vella Sesto C.
662 mt

GARDEN VIEW VILLA

Sesto Calende
GARDEN VIEW VILLA
688 mt

CAV Turano

SESTO CALENDE
CAV Turano
690 mt

Hotel Ristorante 3 Re

Sesto Calende
Hotel Ristorante 3 Re
691 mt

B&B ON THE RIVER

Sesto Calende
B&B ON THE RIVER
691 mt