• Art & Culture

Contemporary Varese

Una guida alle architetture e nuovi spazi dedicati all'arte contemporanea: i percorsi del contemporaneo tra Varese, Laveno, Maccagno.

Varese place of the Contemporary?
More and more.

A city where you will find the Panza Villa and Collection on the upper Biumo hill, the new Morandini Foundation exhibition in the heart of the city, the contemporary sacred art collection of the Baroffio Museum at the Sacro Monte.
Outside the capital, the Maga Museum in Gallarate and the Parisi Valle Museum in Maccagno.

And also the new Guide to the city of Varese with the architecture of the early twentieth century and the Blue Houses of Laveno, an example of architecture and design with the symbolic color of the history of Laveno.


With the Guide to the City of Varese, the Order of Architects of Varese wants to contribute to the promotion of its territory in Italy and abroad by proposing new ways of perceiving places through cultural thematic itineraries.
A research work, with the identification of the most representative architectures, which was an opportunity to rediscover an architectural heritage spread throughout the area, and led to the creation of a video of the architecture between the two wars and the publication of a guide to the city of Varese with the architectural itineraries of the early twentieth century.

The Blue Houses of Laveno are a residential complex built on the site of the former factory in Lago delle Ceramiche di Laveno, created by the Archeo studio.
A color that represents a locality becomes one of its symbols and recalls its artistic artifacts: ceramics.
By inserting itself in the tradition triggered in Italy from the 1920s with Gio Ponti where ceramics and design represented a symbiosis of art and industry, able to express the wisdom of Italian craftsmanship, thus the idea of ​​the new residential complex on the shores of Lake Maggiore was born .

The great ceramic industry of Laveno - which reached high levels of quality not only for the intrinsic characteristics of the materials and for the workmanship but also thanks to the artistic cut of the production that is always avant-garde - has become the inspiring motif of the project which uses blue ceramic as cladding material: expressly designed irregular pentagonal tiles, glazed with an ad hoc studied nuance, positioned not only on the facades but also on the pitches of the roofs, so as to create a total material effect and give the idea of ​​the 4 buildings as 4 blue stones resting on the ground, 4 carved stones whose openings functionally become loggias overlooking the surrounding landscape.

All immersed in a completely pedestrian context, visible from the lake promenade that characterizes the town of Laveno.

Picture @Michele Sereni su concessione di Fondazione Morandini

On the same topic

Not to be missed: Top 12 tourist attractions in Milan

  • Art & Culture
Not to be missed: Top 12 tourist attractions in Milan

Theaters Milan

The Scala, the Piccolo, the Nazionale, the Arcimboldi.. Milan on stage.
  • Art & Culture
Theaters Milan, visitors guide

Museums Mantua

Indelible traces of a past full of history and emblematic characters. Museums tell us about the rich biography of the territory
  • Art & Culture
Museums Mantua, cultural hubs in Lombardy

FAI Landmarks in the Province of Varese

Cultural Treasures in a Stunning Natural Setting
  • Art & Culture
Aerial photograph of Villa Panza in Varese, showcasing the main building with its elegant neoclassical architecture and well-maintained geometric garden. The image features hedges, symmetrical flowerbeds, fountains, and a large park with lush trees, surrounded by historic buildings and the urban landscape in the background.

Theaters Cremona

Cremona stands out not only for its monumental beauties, but also for its lively cultural activity in its theaters
  • Art & Culture
Theaters Cremona, culture in Lombardy

Lomello and its Christian buildings

Village of strategical importance since ancient times, here you can discover the great Romanesque Lombard architecture
  • Art & Culture
Lomello and its Christian buildings

House Museums of Lombardy: step inside the homes of renowned historical figures

Discover the history and culture of the Region of Lombardy through its historic house museums, from the homes of famous people and art collectors to artists' studios.
  • Art & Culture
Case Museo in Lombardia - Villa Manzoni, Lecco

A day in the life of Leonardo

Art and more: discover a world of intrigue and passions
  • Art & Culture
Castello Sforzesco

Castles Brescia

From Sirmione to Breno, from Desenzano to Padernello, a journey through the fortified manors to the discovery of local history
  • Art & Culture
Castles Brescia, discovering Lombardy

Theaters Bergamo

The theatrical season of Bergamo accompanies us with a flourishing billboard of shows not to be missed
  • Art & Culture
Theaters Bergamo, hints on visiting

Tempio dell’Incoronata

A visit to the Tempio dell’Incoronata and the Museo del Tesoro
  • Art & Culture
Tempio dell’Incoronata

Milan, a novel city

Discovering the writers of the past, between the places and the atmospheres of Milan that have inspired great masterpieces of literature
  • Art & Culture
Milan, a novel city

16th Olympic Games of Violin-making

4 settembre - 10 ottobre 2021
  • Art & Culture
16th Olympic Games of Violin-making

The festival of Saint Bassianus in Lodi

Head to the centre of Lodi to celebrate the city's patron saint and discover a variety of traditions and handicrafts
  • Art & Culture
Fiera di San Bassiano_Lodi

Museums Brescia

Brescia: the ideal destination for those who love art. Countless opportunities to visit exhibitions and to attend cultural events
  • Art & Culture
Museums Brescia, hints on visiting

A day at the National Museum Leonardo da Vinci

One of the largest science and technology museums in Europe
  • Art & Culture
Museo della Scienza

Bergamo Upper City

Medieval atmosphere on the top of a hill
  • Art & Culture
Bergamo Upper Town

Museums Como

Great museum offer in Como. From the first communities on the territory to the thematic museums
  • Art & Culture
Museums Como, ideas for visiting

What to see in North Milan

The North Milan Area, between North Park and some must-see gems
  • Art & Culture
North Milan Area

The Lombard seigniories: key figures, history and places

Gonzaga, Visconti, Sforza: a journey through cities steeped in history and culture
  • Art & Culture
Gonzaga - Palazzo Ducale Mantova - ph: analisidellopera.it