Visiting Varese

Hi!

How are you?

A couple of days ago, we took a little trip to Varese which is a city in northern Italy known for its art-nouveau villas and parks. It’s about an hour from Milan by train if you’re travelling from Milano Centrale station.

In Varese, we visited the beautiful baroque Estense Palace gardens which used to be the summer residence of Francesco III d’Este, Duke of Modena e Governor of Lombardia. The Duke was so enchanted with Varese that he begged the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria to entrust it to his rule. His request was granted. The gardens behind the villa were inspired by the grounds of the royal residence of Schönbrunn (a must-see if you visit Vienna).

OPENING HOURS

Open: all year
Opening times: variable
Admission: free

After visiting the gardens, we headed to Monte Sacro; a UNESCO world heritage site.

Campo dei Fiori Regional Park – Sacro Monte

Campo dei Fiori Regional Park is home to the 17th-century Sacro Monte di Varese complex. It includes the Via Sacra, a 2km uphill path that passes 14 frescoed chapels on the way to a sanctuary.

At the very top, there’s the small village of Sacro Monte with stunning views over the lake and mountains.

One of my favourite things in the village was the Casa Museo Ludovico Pogliaghi. Pogliaghi was a painter, sculptor, architect and set designer. His most famous piece is the central door of the Duomo di Milano, an incredible work of art not to be missed. You can see the original piece in plaster inside the museum.

OPENING HOURS: From mid-March to mid-November: Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 10 am – 6 pm  //  From June to August: Friday night opening: 6.30 pm – 10.30 pm  // The museum opens during the week for groups and guided tours, reservation needed.

TICKETS: Full price ticket for the museum € 5 // Combined ticket (you can visit the three main museums in Sacro Monte di Varese and it lasts 6 months) € 12 // Reduced ticket (kids 4-12 years and groups): € 3

Lunch at Hotel Colonne

For lunch, we found a lovely restaurant with stunning views, where we had a six-course tasting menu by Michelin-starred Silvio Battistoni (Executive Chef). The food was excellent and the service was impeccable.

Each dish is a reflection of Chef Battistoni’s creativity, guided by his passion and sensations. Sommelier Nicole Cavalieri works closely with him to choose the accompanying wines. With each course, Chef Battistoni and Sommelier Cavalieri’s creations provide guests with an evening of truly edible delight at Colonne Hotel Restaurant.

— Albergo Colonne

After an amazing lunch, we rolled out of the restaurant and did a little more exploring before heading home as it was still raining.

Here are a few more photos from Sacro Monte.

Hope you enjoyed this post and found it helpful.

Until next time!