Varese – Luvinate – Barasso – Gavirate – Orino – Castello Cabiaglio – Brinzio – Varese

Moderately difficult, this classic loop starts near the stadium in the Masnago area of Varese and circles one of Varese’s best known mountains. After a quick visit to the Tower of Velate, head towards Luvinate, home of the famous Varese Golf Club. The road gently descends down into Gavirate, with unbroken views over Lake Varese on the left. Once in Gavirate you can either turnoff and go to the lido and the lakefront, or stay in the right-hand lane at the traffic light in Gavirate and keep going on Via Verbano. Turn right onto Via Marconi after about 1200 meters (¾ mile) and follow the directions for Caldana and Orino. The next part of the ride is fantastic as the road takes you through shady woodland in the Campo dei Fiori Regional Park, on to the beautiful village of Castello Cabiaglio and then to Brinzio, which has a park and an ethnographic museum. Head towards Varese as you leave Brinzio with Lake Brinzio on your right and ride up to Mottarossa on a climb frequently used by pro riders (it also featured in the time trial when Varese hosted the 2008 Road Cycling World Championships). The descent back down the other side takes you to a residential area called Rasa and then to the Sant’Ambrogio area of Varese on the slopes of Sacro Monte and past the park at Villa Toeplitz. Turn right at the first roundabout, riding downhill past PalaWhirlpool and the stadium and back to your starting point.

MUST SEE:

• The Tower of Velate
• Varese Golf Club
• The lakefront at Gavirate
• The woodlands in Campo dei Fiori Regional Park
• Castello Cabiaglio
• Brinzio, Lake Brinzio and the ethnographic museum
• The park at Villa Toeplitz in Varese

DETAILS:

• Duration: 2.5 hours
• Distance: 31 km
• Difficulty: medium
• Starting and arrival point: Masnago (Varese)