• Art & Culture

Collegiata Museum

On the highest hill, the church and the baptistery dating back to the fifteenth century dominate the ancient village of Castiglione Olona

Where
Via Cardinal Branda, 1, 21043 Castiglione Olona, Varese
Contacts
+39 0331 858903
Official site

The Tuscan island in Lombardy: this is the famous definition given by the XIX century writer Gabriele d'Annunzio to Castiglione Olona, town that still preserves the character of a Renaissance jewel.

Its origin dates back to the late Roman empire, but the village was reshaped between 1421 and 1441, following the model of the Renaissance "ideal town".

That was made possible by a powerful patron, cardinal Branda Castiglioni, who ranks among the most important personalities of his time: he was a humanist, an art lover, a skilled diplomat and a trusted advisor both to several Popes and to the Emperor Sigismund of Hungary.

The most important monument founded by Branda is the Collegiate church, built on the top of the upper hill of the village, on the site of the ancient castle, which remains of the entrance portal are still visible.

The church, together with the Baptistery, is part of the Collegiate Museum. Both have been decorated by Masolino da Panicale, one of the most important painters in Florence at the time of the transition from International Gothic to Renaissance.

Together with the Sienese Lorenzo di Pietro called "il Vecchietta" and with another Florentine, Paolo Schiavo, who worked with him in the Collegiate apse, Masolino left in Castiglione his masterpiece: the frescoes of the Baptistery, with their fascinating fusion of landscapes and architectures, religious history and Renaissance setting, make the chapel, painted in every centimetre, one of the best achievements of the early Italian Renaissance.

Take me here: Collegiata Museum

Places

Castiglione Olona A Piece of Tuscany in Lombardy

  • Villages
Tour to Castiglione Olona
465 mt

Monastero di torba

The splendid religious architecture stands on the slopes of the hill where the Archaeological Park of Castelseprio is located
  • Religious Tourism
Monastero di Torba
2.89 km

Castelseprio Archaeological Park - Church of Santa Maria Foris Portas - Santa Maria Assunta

  • Unesco Sites
Castelseprio Archaeological Park - Church of Santa Maria Foris Portas - Santa Maria Assunta
3.02 km

Frera Motorcycle Museum

  • Cycle Tourism
Frera Motorcycle Museum
5.96 km

The Cedar of Villa Mirabello

The majestic tree dominates the historic centre of Varese and leaves anyone standing under its imposing foliage speechless.
  • Art & Culture
The Cedar of Villa Mirabello
7.48 km

Estense Gardens, Villa Mirabello and Civic Archaeological Museum

  • Ville e giardini
Estense Gardens, Villa Mirabello and Civic Archaeological Museum
7.49 km

Basilica di San Vittore

Entering the historical core, walking through the streets of the center you'll be enchanted by the vision of the Basilica
  • Religious Tourism
Basilica di San Vittore, Churches of Varese
7.62 km

Varese: the old town

  • Lifestyle
Varese: the old town
7.7 km

Palazzo Estense

  • Art & Culture
Palazzo Estense
7.73 km

The Gardens of Palazzo Estense

  • Active & Green
The Gardens of Palazzo Estense
7.76 km

Waterfalls | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau

  • Active & Green
Cascate Varese
7.89 km

Ville Ponti

An ancient residential complex owned by a Ponti’s family and now an efficient Congress Centre, property of Varese Chamber of Commerce.
  • Ville e giardini
Ville Ponti
8.29 km

Panza Art Collection

  • Art & Culture
Panza Art Collection
8.29 km

Lake Varese: the cycling route and footpath

  • Rivers
Lake Varese: the cycling route and footpath
8.38 km

Villa Torelli Mylius

  • Ville e giardini
Villa Torelli Mylius
8.45 km

Masnago Castle and Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau

  • Art & Culture
Masnago Castle and Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau
9.54 km

Birrificio Angelo Poretti

  • Lifestyle
Birrificio Angelo Poretti
10.49 km

Castiglioni Museum

Un affascinante viaggio tra archeologia e etnologia, tra deserto e savana, tra mito e realtà
  • Art & Culture
Castiglioni Museum
10.53 km

Villa e Parco Toeplitz

  • Art & Culture
Villa e Parco Toeplitz
10.8 km

Lago di Varese

Liberty villas, gardens on the lake, itineraries in the woods. And an islet with stilts from the Neolithic. Discover the Lake of Varese
  • Rivers
Lago di Varese
11.42 km

Activities

English Style Riding Weekend

  • Active & Green
English Style Riding Weekend
13.35 km

Where to sleep

B&B LA CORTE DELLE STALLE

Castiglione Olona
B&B LA CORTE DELLE STALLE
39 mt

B&B SAN NICOLA

Castiglione Olona
B&B SAN NICOLA
618 mt

B&B STELLA DEL BORGO

Castiglione Olona
B&B STELLA DEL BORGO
1.16 km

RISTORANTE MARONE CON CAMERE

Vedano Olona
RISTORANTE MARONE CON CAMERE
1.58 km

CASCINA MARTINA

Gornate Olona
CASCINA MARTINA
1.62 km

VILLA ALBA TOSCANA

Gornate Olona
VILLA ALBA TOSCANA
1.68 km

SOL&VERDE

Gornate Olona
SOL&VERDE
2.14 km

AL PESCHERECCIO

Vedano Olona
AL PESCHERECCIO
2.43 km

B&B CA' BIANCA

Venegono Superiore
B&B CA' BIANCA
2.83 km

B&B VICOLO FABBRI

Morazzone
B&B VICOLO FABBRI
2.89 km

B&B AIR GREEN47

Venegono Inferiore
B&B AIR GREEN47
3.14 km

LOCANDA DA SERAFINO

Gazzada Schianno
LOCANDA DA SERAFINO
3.26 km

B&B VILLA MONTEROSA

Castronno
B&B VILLA MONTEROSA
3.53 km

AL SALTO DEL GATTO

Gazzada Schianno
AL SALTO DEL GATTO
3.54 km

B&B DEL VILLAGGIO

Malnate
B&B DEL VILLAGGIO
3.73 km

A CASA DI ALICE

Gazzada Schianno
A CASA DI ALICE
3.82 km

A CASA DI ALICE

Gazzada Schianno
A CASA DI ALICE
3.82 km

AL VECCHIO CONVENTO

Varese
AL VECCHIO CONVENTO
3.98 km

CASA PER VACANZE CASTRONNO

Castronno
CASA PER VACANZE CASTRONNO
4.06 km

B&B VILLA IDA

Carnago
B&B VILLA IDA
4.13 km