Lake Varese

Open-air itineraries between forests and mountains

A 28km-long cycle path surrounds the lake, around a green and blue colored landscape: it is possible to admire the Massif of Campo dei Fiori, the Alps and, if the day is clear, the peaks of Monte Rosa.

Il Campo dei Fiori The Regional Park of Campo dei Fiori, rich in flora and fauna varieties, features various paths, among which the Giubileo, the Via Verde and the itinerary of Sacro Monte. Who wishes to visit churches and palaces, will find Liberty-style villas, Badia di Ganna and Rocca di Orino.In the Surroundings In the surroundings it is possible to visit Villa Toeplitz with its characteristic parks and water games. Palazzo Estense hosts a marvelous parterre scattered with flowerbeds and a fountain in the middle of the park. In the back, the Belvedere hill from which to enjoy a stunning view.

Isolino Virginia Few kilometers away from the Western shore of Lake Varese, the Isolino Virginia still preserves one of the most important Neolithic pile-dwelling sites, whose findings are gathered today in the civic Pre-historic Museum, reachable by boat from Biandronno. It is possible to follow a didactic itinerary showing the life of the Neolithic populations dwelling on lake.

The Portico Few hundred meters from Gavirate, in the hamlet of Voltorre, the Cloister of the Church S. Michele represents an example of Lombard Romanic architecture recalling Classic Greek, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and Byzantine styles. The story of the Cloister is shown in a permanent exposition, beside the exhibitions of a Modern Art Museum here hosted.

Five reasons to…

1. Palude Brabbia, Inarzo. Foothill plane peat bog of post-glacial origins.

2. Tower of Velate. For locals, it has a high symbolic value.

3. Villa Panza. Masterpieces of the American Avant-garde, period furniture and African and Pre-Columbian artworks, all in a Palace dating back to the Eighteenth century and immersed in a splendid park.

4. Canoeing and sailflying.

5. Pipe factory, Gavirate. Briar, cherry wood, olive, wild olive, juniper, oak, apple, boxwood, mulberry, rose wood, lemon, orange, cypress, ebony, rosewood: these are the woods from which the over thirty thousand pipes on display are manufactured.