• Lifestyle

Varese in a weekend

From the gardens of Palazzo Estense to the infinite vistas of the Sacro Monte. 48 hours to discover a city on a human scale

A Ducal Palace, the Belvedere hill, the geometries of an Italian garden that fills and designs the space.

The Palazzo Estense park (1771) is the icon of the Garden City, which Giacomo Leopardi called Little Versailles. Along the boulevards around the fountain, between the hedges, a reassuring symmetry dominates the scene. 14 acres of centuries-old greenery, taken care of down to the smallest detail.

America in Villa Panza. After a trip to New York and Los Angeles in 1954, Giuseppe Panza di Biumo began collecting the art of young American artists. He bet on names that were all but unknown and are now celebrated, like Dan Flavin, James Turrell or Mark Rothko. In Villa Menafoglio Litta Panza, their works reinterpret the spaces of the neoclassical house, creating strong contrasts that breaks the mental patterns of us viewers. Entrusted to the Italian Fund for the Environment (FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano), the villa also houses international art exhibitions.

The ascent of wonders. A walk, a journey of faith, a Baroque museum under the open sky: it is the Via Sacra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fourteen 17th-century chapels connect the city to the Santuario. The Casa Museo Pogliaghi deserves a stop. In this jumbled antiquarium, classical busts, Egyptian sarcophagi and sketches by Gianlorenzo Bernini are mixed up with the works of the home owner. In July, enjoy the event called “Tra Sacro e Sacro Monte” on the Terrazza del Mosè and experience the summer pleasure of the theatre outside the theatre.

Invitations to court. Late gothic frescoes that look like manga. On the walls of the hall of leisure of the 15th-century Castello di Masnago, you can admire scenes of court life,  when lords of the castle spent their time playing musical instruments or falconry hunting. The 17thcentury building abandons all pretense to have defensive purposes and exhibits its all-out nature of country residence. Five minutes from the city centre, among the leisure and amusements of 600 years ago.

On the islet of pile dwellings, i.e. the Isolino Virginia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that can be reached in twenty minutes by boat from Biandronno. It is the oldest of the 111 pile dwelling villages in the Alps: it was inhabited from as far back as 5200 BC un til the bronze age. Today, it is also a natural oasis where you can spot mallards, coots and grebes. And lose yourself in the lake’s horizon.

Take me here: Varese in a weekend

On the same topic

10 good reasons to visit Bergamo

Piazza Vecchia, the most beautiful square. The lakes and the mountains. Discover 10 good reasons to visit Bergamo
  • Lifestyle
10 good reasons to visit Bergamo

Zona tortona

The "Cinderella" of the city, turned from industrial area into queen of art, fashion, design and nightlife
  • Lifestyle
Zona Tortona

Valentine's Day: a date with love in Lombardy

Destinations, events, and original ideas to celebrate the day of lovers in Lombardy
  • Lifestyle
Valentine's Day: a date with love in Lombardy - valmalencoskiresort.com

Pedü

Hand made by the women in Lanzada, Pedü were by far the most common footwear in Valmalenco until the 1950s.
  • Lifestyle
pedu Valmalenco (Foto dal sito http://www.alpinpedu.it/)

Mantua and Cremona

Two towns, two UNESCO heritage sites. Tips for a weekend between Mantua and Cremona
  • Lifestyle
Scorcio Mantova

10 Good reasons to visit Varese

  • Lifestyle
10 Good reasons to visit Varese

Street art brings a splash of colour to Lombardy

Discovering the most beautiful urban art in the cities of Lombardy
  • Lifestyle
La Street Art colora la Lombardia

Travelling on historic trains

Vintage trains offer unprecedented views of Lombardy's landscapes, for a priceless experience that combines history and beauty.
  • Lifestyle
In viaggio sui treni storici

Lake Garda and Brescia itinerary

Three days to make you fall in love with Brescia and its beautiful lakeside locations
  • Lifestyle
3 days in Lake Garda and Brescia

Travelling with books

Projects for bookworms
  • Lifestyle
Viaggiare con i libri

Lodi in a weekend

Sky, nature and relaxation. The touch of Renzo Piano and many little art treasures. Discover Lodi and its surroundings in 48 hours
  • Lifestyle
Lodi in a weekend

Discovering the most beautiful arcades and galleries in Lombardy

A virtual tour of the towns and cities of the Lombardy region, among nineteenth-century urban arcades, elegant arches from Renaissance palaces, and medieval galleries transformed into open-air markets.
  • Lifestyle
Discovering the most beautiful arcades and galleries in Lombardy

Lombardy, Action!

Lombardy’s breathtaking scenery has served as the backdrop for many international and independent films. Action!
  • Lifestyle
Villa del Balbianello on Lake Como

VIP Tour at Monza ENI Circuit

Experience all the thrills of the Monza Circuit with a super-exclusive visit..
  • Lifestyle
Tour Vip Autodromo di Monza

inLombardia 杂志

  • Lifestyle
inLombardia 杂志

10 places to instagram in Lombardy

Lombardy has so many locations with perfect scenarios to immortalise and share on Instagram. How many do you know?
  • Lifestyle
10 places to instagram in Lombardy

Paolo sarpi a little bit of china in milan

Oriental atmospheres, Asian deliciousness in this suggestive corner of China in Milan
  • Lifestyle
Paolo Sarpi: a little bit of China in Milan

Pavia in a weekend

On the trail of the Longobardi or among the cloisters of the University, without forgetting flavors and traditions
  • Lifestyle
Pavia in a weekend

Summertime in Pavia

A boat trip along the river Ticino, a walk in the shade of the city oases and parks
  • Lifestyle
Trip to the Pietra Corva Botanic Garden

Brescia and Lake Iseo itinerary

Nicknamed the "Lioness of Italy", it displays great tourist qualities thanks to its rich artistic and environmental heritage
  • Lifestyle
2 days in Brescia and Lake Iseo