The province of Varese is characterized by charming places, some not very well known, to admire wonderful views of the Varese landscape. Below are ten of the most beautiful villages in the province of Varese recommended for an out-of-town excursion between history and slow tourist activities.
A route of fourteen chapels will take you to the wonderful village of Santa Maria del Monte, at the top of Sacro Monte. A UNESCO site since 2003, it is characterized by a collection of Art Nouveau houses and villas built around the Sanctuary, which includes the fifteenth chapel, and by various narrow streets. The village is also home of the Baroffio Museum, the Pogliaghi House Museum and the Monastery of the Romite Ambrosiane. Don't miss the breathtaking view of Lake Varese and the Varesotto area, which can also be admired from the rooms of Hotel Colonne, an ideal place for a couple's stay at Sacro Monte. To spend a magical evening, we recommend Hotel Al Borducan, always ready to offer you a unique romantic experience.
Among the oldest villages in the province is the one of Gavirate, located along the shores of Lake Varese, which once bore its name. The village, in fact, is distinguished by its beautiful lakefront and characteristic 17th-18th century historic center. The municipal area includes several ancient wash houses, which can also be visited through a dedicated tour.
Among the historic buildings we recommend the Voltorre Cloister and Villa De Ambrosis. Finally, it is worth stopping to the famous Gavirate Pipe Museum, the first to have been built in Italy and to have acquired, over the years, a special relevance all over the world.
One of the painted villages in the Varesotto region. It is characterized by its wonderful frescoes, created around the 1950s by national and international artists and which now adorn the facades of the village's houses.
In fact, the village is known as "The Painters' Village." The initiative was part of a project aimed at contrasting the abandonment of mountain territories, and over the years Arcumeggia has become one of the prominent tourist spots in the Varesotto area.
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The peculiarity of this village crossed by the Olona River is the color of the red brick houses, reminiscent of the typical Tuscan Renaissance style that led Gabriele D'Annunzio to rename it "a Tuscan island in Lombardy."
Among the various architectural works is the Collegiate Church Compound, composed by the church and baptistery, inside which are several frescoes by the famous 15th-century painter Masolino da Panicale. One cannot leave the village without visiting the renowned MAP (Museum of Plastic Art), dedicated to plastic materials. Castiglione Olona is also famous for its Palio dei Castelli celebrations, an event held every year in July, and for the Fiera del Cardinale, hosted by the town every first Sunday of the month.
The village is home to the Torba Abbey, a Longobard monumental complex and FAI property, recognized as a UNESCO site since 2011. The Monastery is one of the stops on the Via Francisca del Lucomagno and it is a place of peculiar historical and religious significance.
The two main centers of this village are Ghirla and Ganna, which stand respectively on the shores of Lake Ghirla and Lake Ganna, both part of the seven-lake group for which the province of Varese is famous throughout Italy. In addition to these two natural oases, the Valganna area also includes the Chapel and Abbey of San Gemolo, a place rich in history. The cloister also houses the Abbey Museum, which features material bearing witness to the prehistory and history of the area. Numerous trails for hiking lovers branch off from this village, including this dedicated itinerary.
This place is a hamlet of Lonate Pozzolo and is particularly beloved for its spectacular viewpoint of the Ticino valley, from which, on clear days, it is possible to glimpse the silhouette of Monviso. In addition to being a village of extraordinary beauty, Tornavento is characterized by its compelling past, which saw it play a leading role in a famous battle between the French and the Spanish that took place during the Thirty Years' War and is still remembered today by the re-enactment of the Knights of the Blue River.
An ancient rural village, overlooking Lake Varese and located in the heart of the Lombard Pre-Alps, where you can immerse yourself in vast meadows, forests and orchards. The village of Mustonate is characterized by a distinctive tourist hospitality and boasts an extensive production of local products.
Among the various experiences, it is possible to engage in various outdoor activities or to make a tasty stop at the Tana D'Orso Restaurant.
The mountain village of Monteviasco is the ideal destination for a mountain getaway away from everyone, an isolated place reachable only by mule tracks on foot. Its historic center has preserved its old charm, with typical stone houses equipped with wooden balconies and beola roofs. Not far from the village you can go to discover Piero's Mills, ancient mills dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries and nestled in the silence of the Veddasca Valley, at the foot of Mount Lema, in the plain carved by the Giona River.
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Another place far from everyday life is the small village of Vararo, which has only 40 inhabitants and is surrounded by nature among green mountains, forests, and glimpses of Lake Maggiore and Monte Rosa. A touch of color is provided by the rose garden, which with the arrival of spring fills up with roses of all kinds. The village is also famous for its local products.
For fans of mountain walks, several trails and paths depart from this hamlet that also lead to the Cuvignone Pass and to the Pizzoni di Laveno. The hamlet can also be reached via this dedicated route.
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Where to stay: find all the accommodation in the province
What to do: explore the thing to do in the province
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