• 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

Lake Comabbio | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau

  • Lakes
Lake Comabbio | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau
5.79 km

Angera

  • Art & Culture
Angera
6.27 km

Borromeo Castle, the Museum of Children’s Clothing and the Doll and Toy Museum

  • Art & Culture
Borromeo Castle, the Museum of Children’s Clothing and the Doll and Toy Museum
6.27 km

Angera

A splendid lakeside walk and picturesque charm in the province of Varese
  • Villages
Angera
6.44 km

Civico Museo Archeologico in Angera

  • Art & Culture
Civico Museo Archeologico in 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

Castello Visconti di San Vito

  • Art & Culture
Castello Visconti di San Vito
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
Palafitte Arco Alpino
11.28 km

Castello di Monteruzzo

  • Art & Culture
Castello di Monteruzzo
11.54 km

Volandia Park and the Aviation Museum (Somma Lombardo)

  • Lifestyle
Volandia Park and the Aviation Museum (Somma Lombardo)
12.4 km

Lago di Varese

Liberty villas, gardens on the lake, itineraries in the woods. And an islet with stilts from the Neolithic. Discover the Lake of Varese
  • Lakes
Lago di Varese
12.42 km

Lake Varese: the cycling route and footpath

  • Lakes
Lake Varese: the cycling route and footpath
14.18 km

Museo Gallaratese per gli Studi Patri

  • Art & Culture
Museo Gallaratese per gli Studi Patri
14.47 km

Events

7^ Gran Fondo Tre Valli Varesine

Varese
30/09/2023 - 01/10/2023
  • Sport
7^ Gran Fondo Tre Valli Varesine
10.76 km

Tre Valli Varesine

Varese
03/10/2023
  • Sport
Tre Valli Varesine
10.76 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

CAV Radice Sesto C. sub. 504

SESTO CALENDE
CAV Radice Sesto C. sub. 504
320 mt

CAV Radice Sesto C. sub. 511

SESTO CALENDE
CAV Radice Sesto C. sub. 511
320 mt

CAV Radice Sesto C. sub. 510

SESTO CALENDE
CAV  Radice Sesto C. sub. 510
320 mt

CAV Radice Sesto C. sub. 509

SESTO CALENDE
CAV Radice Sesto C. sub. 509
344 mt

Via Gramsci Casa Vacanze

SESTO CALENDE
Via Gramsci Casa Vacanze
445 mt

SESTO CALENDE TRAIN STATION

Sesto Calende
SESTO CALENDE TRAIN STATION
588 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 2

Sesto Calende
NICOLAUS APARTMENTS 2
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