What to do in Varese for a weekend to remember

Some have called it the "little Versailles of Milan" and others the "garden city of Italy". What is certain is that Varese is a city waiting to be discovered, as well as a perfect destination to spend an unforgettable weekend, halfway between the Alps and the lakes.

The proposals range from art to nature, from entertainment to food and wine, for tourism that is always aimed at enhancing the environmental and cultural heritage of the area. It is no coincidence that it was a well-known holiday resort for the Lombard aristocracy as early as the 1700s.

Let yourself be enchanted by the beauty of this unique city and take note of the advice of the experts Engel & Völkers on what to do in Varese for a holiday to remember.

WHAT TO DO IN VARESE AND ITS SURROUNDINGS

Together with Milan and Como, Varese contains a series of priceless treasures, the full expression of our local Liberty. In conjunction with the growing industrial development of the early 1900s and with the rise of a new rich middle class, the Varese area saw the rise of beautiful Art Nouveau villas, almost always surrounded by parks or private gardens.

Contributing to the spread of Art Nouveau in the city was the well-known architect Giuseppe Sommaruga, who designed the projects for several buildings of great historical and artistic value, such as the Campo dei Fiori hotel complex, the Palace Grand Hotel on Colle Campigli or the theatre.

Among the things to do in Varese and its surroundings, even on the occasion of a trip out of town, do not miss a tour to discover the Liberty of the city walking through the streets of the centre. One of the most beautiful and interesting buildings to visit? The headquarters of the Poretti Beer Factory and the adjacent manor house in Induno Olona, ​​just outside the municipality of Varese, built in 1903 and also an invaluable testimony of the style of the time.

WHAT TO DO IN VARESE IN ONE DAY

Perhaps not everyone knows that the City of Varese is home to some interesting UNESCO heritage sites. In addition to an excursion to the top of the most famous Sacro Monte, known for the path of the 14 chapels dedicated to the mysteries of the Rosary, or to the archaeological park of Castelseprio - Torba, if you are looking for ideas on what to see in Varese, we recommend a stop at Isolino Virginia.

The islet in question rises on the waters of Lake Varese and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011, counted among the most important sites of European prehistory. The island itself is in fact an archaeological area and hosts a Prehistoric Museum of great international importance. In addition to its historical interest, the Isolino attracts many visitors every year for the beauty of the landscape and the splendid flora that populate it: do not miss the expanse of lotus flowers that dot the lake's waters.

If, on the contrary, you had in mind a quiet walk in the city centre, in 24 hours you could treat yourself to a visit to the current seat of the municipality, Palazzo Estense, one of the most representative and well-known buildings, loved for its enchanting gardens created with clear inspirations to the French style of the '700.

It was, in fact, this building with its garden that suggested the name of "Little Versailles" to Leopardi. For art lovers, the visit could continue to Villa Litta-Panza, an eighteenth-century mansion surrounded by an Italian garden that now houses a collection of American contemporary art and temporary exhibitions of international scope. While walking through the streets of the centre, do not forget to take a trip to the Palazzo Pretorio, the Basilica of San Vittore or the high Bell Tower, breathing in the quiet and tranquillity of this truly suggestive destination.

WHAT TO EAT IN VARESE

Walking with the nose upwards to admire the local beauties or looking at the shop windows of Corso Matteotti, one of the main shopping streets, could give you a certain appetite. The solution is to take a refreshing break to savour some of the local specialties.

So, what to eat in Varese and what are the specialties not to be missed? The cuisine of Varese is certainly one of the oldest and richest in traditions in the region, strongly linked to the raw materials of the territory from the lake and the mountains. For this reason, many of the most typical preparations involve the use of ingredients such as lake fish, mushrooms, chestnuts and cheeses.

Among the most famous, risotto with perch fillet and sage, chestnut stew, polenta flavoured with cheeses or meats, to be accompanied with a glass of excellent local red wine or a glass of Apollo 11, a typical cocktail with a characteristic pink colour, born in the Cafe Pirola in Varese in 1969 during the live landing on the moon.

WHAT TO DO IN VARESE WHEN IT RAINS

Especially in the summer or when the climatic conditions allow it, the city of Varese offers many opportunities to its visitors: from excursions to the lake to mountain routes, without forgetting the cycling routes and the many city attractions.

But what to do in Varese when it rains, especially if you are with children? Alongside the more well-known and already mentioned museum itineraries, among the things to do near Varese we propose a visit to the Maga, the Gallarate Art Museum, formerly known as the Civic Gallery of Modern Art of Gallarate. Within a complex of over 5,000 square meters, the museum houses a collection of 5,500 works of art by the likes of Carrà, Guttuso, Fontana and Munari.

In addition to the permanent and temporary exhibitions, the Maga offers educational courses for children focused on shapes and colours and designed to stimulate the creativity and expressive abilities of the little ones.