Special picnics in monumental gardens and historic parks accompanied by baskets of local spring products, country games and "egg hunts", visits, walks and guided excursions: these are the activities proposed at various FAI sites in Varese and the province to celebrate Easter Monday together.

Discover the FAI sites involved and their rich programme!

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TORBA  ABBEY (GORNATE OLONA)

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., you can spend the day relaxing and enjoying yourself. The large meadow in the shadow of the imposing tower of the Torba monumental complex is the ideal place for a picnic without lighting fires, enjoying a packed lunch brought from home or delicious take-away baskets prepared by the Antica Torre restaurant, inside the Bene (reservations required: anticatorre.torba@gmail.com; 348 8687196).

A number of stations will be set up for children to play outdoors on their own. 

At 10.30 a.m., 12 noon, 2 p.m., 3.30 p.m. and 5 p.m. it will be possible to take part in interesting guided tours of the Monastery, while at 2.30 p.m. the appointment will be for a guided walk from the Monastery of Torba to Castiglione Olona with a return to Torba on one's own, a route of around 3 km on a cycle-pedestrian path, suitable for everyone.

Timetables:

From 10.00 to 6.00 p.m..

Tickets:

Full price €14; FAI members and residents of the municipalities of Gornate Olona and Castelseprio €6; Reduced price 0-5 years free; Family (2 adults and children 6-18 years) €36.

Take-away picnic baskets (reservation required: anticatorre.torba@gmail.com; 348 8687196):

• Picnic lunchbox consisting of sandwiches with cooked ham, mayonnaise salad or with grilled courgettes and soft cow's cheese; homemade bread various flavours of our own production; house dessert; water €12
• Warm fregola with fresh sautéed vegetables, basil and feta cheese; homemade bread various flavours; house dessert; water €17

For more information: faitorba@fondoambiente.it.

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VILLA DELLA PORTA BOZZOLO (CASALZUIGNO)

The splendid monumental garden of Villa Della Porta Bozzolo in Casalzuigno, a "villa of delights" just a stone's throw from Lake Maggiore, is a perfect place to enjoy a carefree picnic in the open air on the occasion of Easter Monday, with lots of engaging activities for the whole family, offered from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You will be able to bring your own packed lunch from home to enjoy on the lawn; alternatively, the I Rustici restaurant, inside the FAI property, will provide take-away picnic baskets (booking required: 334 8916214; daniela@schiaffi.it) and offer a spring menu.

Younger children will also be able to take part in an exciting Botanical Treasure Hunt in collaboration with Grandi Giardini Italiani, an opportunity to learn about the beauty of the park, the colours and scents of its roses, as well as the history of the Della Porta family and the love that led them to redesign the layout of the Villa's gardens.

The treasure hunt is by reservation only.

Guided tours of the Villa will also be organised throughout the day (reservation required).

 

Timetables:

Entrance Villa + park + guided tour: 10.30 a.m. , 11.30 a.m., 12.30 p.m., 2.30 p.m., 3.30 p.m. and 4.30p.m.;

Entrance Villa + park: 11 a.m., 12 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m;

Entrance only park: 10.15 am, 11.00 a.m., 12.00 p.m., 1.00 p.m., 2.00 p.m., 3.00 p.m., 4.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m.;

Entrance + workshop with treasure hunt: 10.30 a.m., 11.30 a.m., 2.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m..

Tickets:

Villa + park + guided tour: Full price €18; Students 19-25 years old €11; Reduced 6-18 years old €11; FAI members, residents of Casalzuigno, the disabled, Abbonamento Musei Torino VDA, Trentino Card, Musei Lombardia and other Conventions €6; Reduced 0-5 years old free; Family (2 adults and children 6-18 years old) €47;

Villa + park: Full price €12; Students 19-25 years old €5; Reduced 6-18 years old €5; FAI members, residents of Casalzuigno Municipality, Reduced 0-5 years old, disabled people, Abbonamento Musei Torino VDA, Trentino Card, Musei Lombardia and other Conventions free; Family (2 adults and children 6-18 years old) €30;

Park only: Full price €5; Students 19-25 years old €3; Reduced 6-18 years old €3; FAI members, residents of the Municipality of Casalzuigno, Reduced 0-5 years old, disabled visitors, Abbonamento Musei Torino VDA, Trentino Card, Musei Lombardia and other Conventions free of charge; Family (2 adults and children 6-18 years old) €13.

Treasure Hunt workshop: Child not registered with FAI €8; Child registered with FAI €5.

Take-away picnic baskets (booking required: 334 8916214; daniela@schiaffi.it). The picnic basket includes: Parma ham with focaccia made with sourdough and artichoke cream, crespellina with fresh Cantello asparagus, Piedmontese-style veal in tuna sauce with side dish, handmade colomba by Pasticceria Scarpato, 2 bottles of water, napkins, porcelain plates and cutlery at a cost of €50 per couple, by reservation only.

For more information: faibozzolo@fondoambiente.it.

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VILLA PANZA (VARESE)

On Monday 10^th April, on the occasion of Easter Monday, Villa Panza in Varese will be hosting a fun botanic treasure hunt in cooperation with Grandi Giardini Italiani, an event dedicated to children aged 5 years and upwards, to bring them closer in a playful and joyful way to the immense botanical, artistic and cultural heritage preserved in the magnificent Italian garden of the 18th-century FAI-owned mansion on Colle di Biumo and to ignite their interest in the environment.

A treasure map will guide the young visitors and their families to discover the secrets of the park and the Villa, a fantastic adventure amidst enigmas and riddles ranging from botanical and artistic curiosities to the coveted treasure.

The initiative will take place at two times of the day, at 11.00 am and 3.00 pm.

Also in the park of the Villa, adults will be able to walk and discover the installation Twelve Part Vertical Pipe Piece by Jene Highstein (1942-2013) inaugurated on the occasion of the centenary of the birth of Giuseppe Panza di Biumo on 23 March 2023.

 

Timetables:

At 11.00 a.m. and  3.00 p.m.

Tickets:

Child (5 to 10 years old) non FAI member €13; Parent non FAI member €8; Child (5 to 10 years old) FAI member €8; Parent FAI member €5; Disabled and Abbonamento Musei Torino VDA, Trentino Card, Musei Lombardia €5.

For more information: faibiumo@fondoambiente.it.