Varese, splendid, stylish city of northern Lombardy, nicknamed Garden City for the enormous presence of parks and villas scattered in its municipal terms as well as boasting a very rich historical, artistic and monumental heritage making it a very fascinating destination.
To discover the city I suggest starting your visit from the central Piazza Montegrappa, the beating heart and nerve center of Varese with where stands the Torre Campanaria, an imposing tower which boasts a height of about 80.0 meters, masterpiece in Mannerist style by the architect Giuseppe Bernasconi.
Completed in 1774, its superlative execution reflects in the architectural canons of many structures erected during the period of the noble Borromeo dynasty.
Continuation with the Collegiate Basilica of San Vittore built between the 15th and 16th centuries which splendidly combines the Mannerist, Baroque and Neoclassical styles.
The artitic imprints are of the two illustrious architects such as Pellegrino Pellegrini and Leopoldo Pollack to whom we owe the masterful execution of this masterpiece developed in the golden age of Cardinals Carlo and Federico Borromeo above the remains of a Romanesque religious temple with three naves and an extraordinary octagonal lantern.
The central door allows the access to the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the oldest building of the complex, built between the 12th and 13th centuries with a splendid gabled façade closed between two pilasters and a frame of hanging arches in the upper section that continues on the sides.
The construction was developed in two periods, the first in a five-year period between 1180 and 1185, the second between 1230 and 1330, a period in which the famous transition from Romanesque to Gothic was very frequently in Lombardy.
Visiting the interior you will immediately have the feeling of the medieval profile with the presence of classic massive walls that characterized the thirteenth-century buildings.
In the center you can admire the historic immersion baptismal font built between the 7th and 8th centuries, obtained from an excavation in the floor surmounted by a monolithic basin with a perimeter of almost 7.0 meters, carved in two distinct periods, with the first works dating back to the 13th century and others one century later.
Through the Arco Mera built in 1850 by Luigi Mera to join the square where the Basilica of San Vittore stands and the Piazza del Podestà which was in the past the heart of the city with in its center you will find a monument in honor of the Garibaldian Soldier despite being a replica dated 1901 of the original sculpture made in 1861 by the artist Buzzi.
Very close in a typically 19th century urban setting you can admire Palazzo Pretorio, a stylish palace dating back to 1570.
Next to that palace you can admire Palazzo Biumi which in the past was the Broletto, the place where the city's political life took place.
Built in 1615 by a noble Varesina family, it is enlivened by a beautiful rectangular courtyard accessible from three of its sides with a refined perimeter colonnade that forms an elegant portico.
Time for your lunch, to stay in the traditional as first courses I suggest Gnocchi with butter and sage or Risotto with asparagus , among the second courses a choice between Beef Stew with Stewed Peas or Roast Turkey with Rosemary with Steamed Potatoes.
After lunch in a pleasant walk, you will reach the magnificent complex of Palazzo Estense and Estensi Gardens, a noble ducal residence, a masterpiece of the architect Giuseppe Bianchi with works carried out between 1761 and 1766.
In those five years the building took on a late Baroque profile that is highlighted in wrought iron elements and portals with shades of neoclassical in others without disfiguring the refined layout.
The palace is surrounded by an immense Italian garden that covers a vast area that aesthetically shows something very similar to the Viennese Imperial Gardens
Of the original building, various rooms remain intact, such as the Assembly Hall, now the seat of the Municipal Council, the Reading Room,an integral part of the Civic Library, the Mayor's Hall and other adjacent rooms.
In the Estensi Gardens you can admire the beautiful Villa Mirabello which was the residence of the Marquisate Litta – Modigliani with a belvedere that boasts beautiful views of the Alps and Lake Varese.
The villa is a noble residence dating back to the 18th century partially modified in British style by the architect Clericetti while the nearest 19th century space that was once occupied by the stables contains the Civic Museums, inaugurated in 1871 under another name, namely Museo Patrio.
The rooms in the museum space contain the sections of archaeology, history with special themes on the Resistance and Risorgimento, prehistory, science, nature and the rich Pinacoteca.
On one side of the Gardens is Piazza della Motta stands the beautiful Church of Sant'Antonio Abate.
The building changed its original profile with works of a renovation carried out by the architect Giuseppe Bernasconi in 1583 with a rather sober façade but with a very interesting interior containing a wooden statue depicting Sant' Antonio Abate, a terracotta sculpture by Dionigi Bussola and Francesco Silva.
The Rococo frescoes by Giovan Battista Ronchelli are another splendid highlight in perfect harmony with the architectural lines and decorations traced by the architect Giuseppe Baroffio.
In the square in January, the Bonfire Festival is celebrated annually, a festival of great appeal with stalls displaying gastronomic and confectionery delights and above all a large, animated participation.
A short distance away along Via Sacco stands the Church of San Giuseppe, rebuilt in 1725 on a previous ecclesiastical building of the 500s following the project of the local architect Giovanni Antonio Speroni who was the proponent of a beautiful Baroque façade.
The interior has works of art of great value corresponding to the frescoes by Giovanni Battista del Sole and Antonio Recanati depicting the stories of Adam and Eve, a canvas by Guido Reni with a representation of St. Joseph with Child and splendid decorations on the vault of the choir by the talented artist Ceranino.
The visit can be considered over, surely Varese with its charm, elegance and style will leave excellent memories, a city that for atmosphere, historical and artistic beauties always is able to trasmit something very special with the desire to return.
Link : https://comune.varese.it/hh/index.php https://www.italia.it/en/lombardy/varese
Where to Stay | Recommended Hotels
Hotels di Varese - https://hoteldivarese.com/index.php/en/home-2/
Palace Grand Hotel Varese - https://www.palacevarese.com/
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