Varese

Strolling among lakes, noble residences and spiritual sites

The province of Varese offers visitors a stunning array of artistic and natural beauties to explore — starting with its capital, a “garden city” set in a region rich in lakes set atop seven hills. You can visit the Palazzo Estense with its park, Villa Panza, Piazza del Podestà and the Basilica of San Vittore.

Near the city are the 18th-century Villa Della Porta Bozzolo, the Valganna caves and the Sacro Monte di Varese, with its frescoed chapels and panoramic views over the valley. Overlooking Lake Maggiore is the hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso. Or another way to admire the lake from above is to visit the Rocca di Angera castle, which houses the Museo della Bambola, or to take the cable car to the summit of Sasso Ferro from Laveno Mombello, a delightful lakeside village.

For an immersive experience in nature, you can take a dip in Lake Monate, cycle along the Comabbio lakeside path, or go trekking or mountain biking along the 150 km of trails in the Cinque Vette Park.
 Not far from Malpensa is Volandia, a museum dedicated to flight.