Spring in Varese

Varese: walks, picnics, secret beaches. In the spring, spend a day outdoors in the land of the lakes.

Art, nature, sport and so many outdoor activities: Spring in Varese offers all of this and more. Its breathtaking attractions and landscapes are perfect for visitors.

When we talk about Varese, we usually mean the city, but the countryside includes lakes like the Maggiore. Why not enjoying a picnic or ride a bike along the lake and get on the cable car to the Unesco Site of the Sacro Monte?

Let us give you a few suggestions...you can discover the rest and live spring in Varese to the fullest!

Plenty of culture and fresh air at the Villa Della Porta Bozzolo — The XVIIth century manor of Casalzuigno, managed by the FAI, is the ideal springtime destination to enjoy the season's scents and to get lost among its frescoed rooms. Do not miss the dancing hall, the dining room and its two kitchens. Although the Villa's park is its main attraction: a green expanse that awakens on spring, drawing inspiration to baroque landscaping. There are numerous events proposed by the FAI during the entirety of spring.
Read more >

Picnic with children at the Zanzi Park — Upon the shores of the Lake of Varese, the park is a little bit like Pinocchio's Pleasure Island: Carlo Collodi's character is really here, among the playgrounds, rides and lots of vegetation. About 60 thousand square meters of high, leafy trees that guarantee a fresh shade even during the sunniest afternoons, with plenty of tables and benches for enjoying a picnic. Sportive types can use the bike lane that goes through the park. It is possible to go around the lake on foot, bicycle, skates or scooter. The cycling circuit is connected to the Comabbio Lake and goes all the way to Lake Maggiore.

Along the Furnaces Trail — In order to stretch your legs after a long winter, we would recommend the brief pedestrian ringroad that untangles among the rocky trails of the Ispra promontory. It has medium-difficulty paths close to the water, allowing you to enjoy the wonderful landscape of Lake Maggiore and the view of a few decommissioned furnaces, authentic industrial architecture monuments. You can walk along this trail from either downtown Ispra or the lake front. It is suitable for trekking, but also for whoever wishes to engage in Nordic Walking. It is 5.3 kilometers long and can be completed in about 1 hour and 35 minutes.

Varese's Sacro Monte — It is possible to walk through the trail taht will take you to these chapels, or else climb the slope or ride a mountain bike in order to reach them. Cable car rides towards them are available during the weekend. Once at the top it is nice to lose yourselves among the boroughs streets, stairs, underpasses illuminated by lanterns, Liberty-style villas and balconies that bloom during spring. Besides a visit to the Sanctuary, the Museum House of Ludovico Pogliaghi opens its gates to the public with the arrival of spring. The house-workshop in which the eclectic artist withdrew into and worked for decades harbors a unique collection. There are numerous cultural initiatives as well, from book presentations to musical happy hours.
Read more >

Cycling by Lake Maggiore: from Angera to Laveno — If you love to travel on two wheels, spring is the best time to go out and enjoy the Varese's roads and itineraries. Let us recommend the lake front of Angera that goes towards Ranco along the shoreline of Lake Maggiore. Go uphill until Ispra by going by Quassa. You will traverse farmhouses and cultivated land from Ispra to Laveno, where you can stay by the shore or visit Villa Frua. Take the way back by going along the lake and traversing the banks of Cerro and Reno. You cannot miss stopping by Santa Caterina del Sasso. Afterwards go downhill to Angera.

Take me here: Spring in Varese

Castles Brescia

From Sirmione to Breno, from Desenzano to Padernello, a journey through the fortified manors to the discovery of local history

Art & Culture

Museums in Lombardy

Some suggestions on museums to visit in Milan and outside the Lombard capital

Art & Culture

Fossils Civic Museum

Art & Culture

Milan and Lake Como

Milan, city of a thousand histories. Plus, a trip to Lake Como

Art & Culture

More than just cows

Everything you need to know about the Baronchelli dairy farm. A trip to Lodi to discover what's behind the milk we drink

Art & Culture

Lorenzo Lotto Itinerary

In Bergamo on the trail of Lorenzo Lotto, one of the leading exponents of the Italian Renaissance

Art & Culture

Sondrio, the legend of Orlando

Castel Masegra is an imposing building which sits atop a 60m-tall rock, dominating the Sondrio skyline

Art & Culture

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

A visit to the Basilica of the XII Apostles

Tour di Lodi in bicicletta tra natura e cultura: la Basilica di San Bassiano

Art & Culture

Alessandro Manzoni Itinerary

Lombardy blends nature and culture in an itinerary that will take you to the locations of his famous novel The Betrothed

Art & Culture

Literary suggestions in Lombardy

Wandering around the region, among places, cities and events that have inspired great authors

Art & Culture

Bergamo in a weekend

A perfect square, the masterpieces of the Carrara Academy, the Venetian Walls Unesco World Heritage Site. Discover Bergamo!

Art & Culture

San Pietro a Gemonio

This church is one of the points that remain more etched in the memory of the travelers who travel the Varese-Laveno

Art & Culture

Mantua Culture Capital 2016

Mantua city of art, capital of culture

Art & Culture

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

Theaters Pavia

Opera, prose, dance and theatrical review .... the theater in Pavia and the province is staged

Art & Culture

Monuments Bergamo

Bergamo and its province offer monuments of rare beauty. Discover the main monuments to visit

Art & Culture

Varese UNESCO

4 siti UNESCO, indissolubilmente legati al paesaggio: Monte San Giorgio, Isolino Virginia, Monastero di Torba, Sacro Monte di Varese.

Art & Culture

Three Days in Milan: A Cultural Journey Through Time, Art, and Innovation

Plan the perfect 3-day trip to Milan with the YesMilano City Pass. Visit top attractions like the Duomo, Sforza Castle, and Leonardo da Vinci Museum. Skip lines and enjoy free audioguides!