Piccolo Mondo Antico | Lovely Italian Traditional B&B in Northern Lombardy.

Piccolo Mondo Antico is a small but very lovely Italian  B&B situated in Northern Lombardy, concretely in the municipality Castellanza very close to the city of Legnano famous for its Medieval Palio and located in the Valle Olona, a hilly Valley located in the province of Varese  ending at the door of that one of Milan in proximity of Busto Arsizio, another important centre which was not long time ago one of the most important bases of the Italian textile industry and relevant cross road of a notable commerce and financial business.


The tradition of the B&B in the Italian peninsula in has had in the last decade a strong impact generating large flows in terms of incoming tourist traffic with national but also with foreign tourists coming from different countries especially from  Germany,France,Holland Canada, U.S.A, but recently also from South America especially from Brazil and Mexico as in the case of this structure.

That kind of travellers landing in Italy to discover the beauties of the country are often seeking for something special in terms of accommodations linked to a genuine and traditional local charm ,history and a relaxing location in a peaceful environment not far from the most important attractions they planned to visit.

 That kind of establishments reached a very good success, the demand strongly increased from Tuscany to Apulia,from Lombardy to Veneto,from Lazio to 
Umbria, all them have created a network which in the last decade captured the interest and attention of many people who once spent a stay in those structures appreciated and appreciate the quality of some services as homemade food in the breakfast, structures not too big and in many cases also good fares or special prices related to promotions spending determined overnights. 


Generally  all them are small accommodations some also pretty charming located in picturesque and peaceful environments housing a few rooms with common spaces as a garden, courtyard and the most essential services.  Some are also houses boasting a very interesting historic past located in a privileged position and easy to reach generally, some are outside from the busy big city centres and very suitable for a dynamic tourism for who is looking for the planning of a tailor made tour with established special itineraries visiting various sites,towns and different areas.



 Piccolo Mondo Antico is an old Lombard house remodelled and adapted as accommodation, tastefully decorated and with typical Italian details in the hallways of the common spaces, in the rooms,in the breakfast lounge and in the garden.The B&B is managed by Mr.Michele and Mrs. Rosalba who are also the owners and managers,a very nice couple who will welcome you.

The white building with wooden shutters arranged on two floors and on one side on the top an ample wooden door on the 2nd floor, a small door at entrance and a passage directly leading to the courtyard.

In the interior you will find the three rooms which are called Camera della Nonna(Grand Mother Room),Camera Verde (the Green Room) and the Camera Blu (blue room) they are all established on the 2nd floor.They are fully furnished, well decorated with taste, providing TV and private bathroomThey are connected to the ground floor by a lovely staircase and will notice on the walls some attractive decorations, chandeliers and a captivating detail in red brick and all those details transmit a warm welcome to the guests showing a traditional and genuine Italian image.

The garden is a creation of Mr.Michele,a gentleman very fond about gardening, flowers and,nature and his idea and since the inception of the B&B was that  to develop something special,something alternative, loyal to his own concepts and projects.

He created in a pretty large space, sections with flowers and trees but also typical plants of the Mediterranean area such as rosemary,sage and basil and all that was in his opinion the key to transmit a very special air and atmosphere making you experience of the Mediterranean flavors and aromas transmitting in a sort of message that the customers are in Italy.

In the garden you will also notice the presence of a nice replica of a medieval well and a couple of neoclassical statues who complete the exterior scenario of the structure.

Mr.Michele during a chat we had said : "I want the clients when come into this area can smell the essence of what I developed and for me they will totally feel in contact with what means the country and that is what I wanted to do simply and nothing else."

The name of the B&B Piccolo Mondo Antico translated means Little Ancient World,inspiration taken by that famous literary work with the same name written by Antonio Fogazzaro in 1895 in the province of Como, concretely in Valsolda on the Italian shore of Lake Lugano.

In front of the garden you will see some objects representing the old Italy,some pictures of different Italian villages and towns (from Alpine areas to Costa Amalfitana and Southern Italy,rural objects and traditional agriculture utensils and tools,,some old clocks, including an old radio of the last century and all that was developed to link the denomination of the structure to a lively reality of the environment also visible in the space occupied by a portico situated on the left side of the building.

The B&B is located in Castellanza a town close to the previously mentioned  Legnano , one of the main centres of that geografhic area called Altomilanese not far from Saronno, the famous centre birthplace of the Amaretto liquor which is just 20 minutes away driving and Milan Malpensa Airport is  located at less of 30 minutes by car.The other nearest airport Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport if you land in Lombardy with a low cost is approximately 1 hour driving from the B&B.

The location is simply excellent if you choose to stay in Piccolo Mondo Antico because you can reach driving the centre of Milan  in about 25 minutes so ideal base also if you are there for business or ready to partecipate to a fair or an exposition celebrated in the second Italian city,Como Lake in 30-35 minutes,Lake Maggiore in 30 minutes the very attractive ,Monza in just 40 minutes and Novara in Piedmont in about half hour.

 That very recommended geographic position is great to enjoy all the mentioned destinations with brilliant excursions during a day and many others.Furthermore  from there you are not far from the fascinating Lugano in Switzerland which is about at 40/45 minutes by car and the elegant City of Varese is just 24 kilometres away.

Next to the B&B I recommend you to visit a very good Ice Cream shop producing exquisite  homemade ice creams loyal to the most in typical Italian tradition and a superb Granita, a good place if you are planning your holidays in summer and you will be delighted by such cool and delicious products.

Very close you will also find an excellent Italian restaurant Settembrini a very classical catering establishment which provides garden and offering  an extensive menu with a wide range of starters, main courses with pasta, risotto,  fresh fish,meat,and long list of traditional pizzas.

Furthermore you will have the chance to choose in a varied list delicious desserts,such as Tiramisu, Profiteroles and all the major traditional Italian specialities and a  great choice of selected wines from all Italy completes the brilliant offer of that restaurant.

If you are organising a tailor made tour in Italy and concretely in that corner of Northern Lombardy I added below some links which maybe could be interesting for you to develop your ideas in terms of excursions and visit during your stay.

 If you want to spend a dynamic holidays not far from the Italian lakes and very interesting cities and towns in Lombardy, Piedmont and Switzerland Piccolo Mondo Antico could be an interesting option for you.

Francesco Mari


 www.nelpiccolomondoantico.it
  www.bed-and-breakfast.it
lombardia.visitaci.it
www.vareselandoftourism.com
www.vareseturismo.it
 www.castellanzaonline.it