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

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10 Good reasons to visit Varese

Lifestyle

Church Varese

From the Sacro Monte of Varese to the hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso, a spiritual path made of artistic and landscape beauties

Religious Tourism

Eating in Varese

Peasant roots in traditional taverns

Food & Wine

Open sky museums Varese’s Painted Towns

Villages

Flavors on the lakes: Como and Varese

Lakes and mountains. Tasty dishes, heritage of rural culture

Food & Wine

Museum Varese

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

Art & Culture

Casa Museo Lodovico Pogliaghi | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau

Art & Culture

Basilica di San Vittore

Entering the historical core, walking through the streets of the center you'll be enchanted by the vision of the Basilica

Religious Tourism

Palazzo Estense

Art & Culture

The hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso

Religious Tourism

Masnago Castle and Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau

Art & Culture

HOTEL D120

Olgiate Olona

HOTEL DI VARESE

Varese

YACHTING RESIDENCE

LAVENA PONTE TRESA

ALBERGO RISTORANTE SCHIRANNA "MARIUCCIA"

Varese

SHG VILLA PORRO PIRELLI

Induno Olona

HOTEL FIRENZE

Saronno

HOTEL CAMPO DEI FIORI

Fagnano Olona

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