Gavirate | Medieval Beauties & Sweet Delights on Lake Varese

 

Gavirate, a captivating town located on a sinuous shore of Lake Varese in the shade of gentle hilly slopes and a short distance from the Varese Prealps in a very suggestive landscape set that will undoubtedly cheers everyone as well as for the remarkable historical heritage that this center possesses which was already known since the seventh century BC.

 A Celtic, Roman, Lombard and Frankish settlement, Gavirate had other important chronological stages under the influences of the Duchy of Milan and the Aragonese and Austrian royal courts  before entering the Kingdom of Italy.

Apart the opportunity to appreciate the historical and natural beauty of this locality In the Varese area you can discover a local confectionery product that has conquered the palates of thousands and thousands of people, namely the Brutti e Buoni di Gavirate, sweet delights that boast a divine fragrance and a fame that began in the late 1900s.

I suggest starting the visit by entering the picturesque hamlet of Voltorre located at the foot of the Campo dei Fiori Massif Park where the magnificent 12th century cloister stands, one of the architectural masterpieces of the pure Romanesque-Lombard, a medieval treasure corresponding to  the Cluniac Abbey era that reached the limelight during the period of the Benedictine Monks and awarded as National Monument in 1911. 

In addition to the cloister, the complex has a tower and the Church with a beautiful portico with wooden rafters completed by a series of beautiful columns with Ionic, Corinthian, Byzantine and Greek capitals erected on a quadrangular perimeter.

Continuation along the coast of Lake Varese, the tenth largest Italian lake basin with its suggestive silhouette resembling a shoe that finds in Gavirate one of its most fascinating shores, enlivened by small inlets, tiny bays and reeds inhabited by numerous invertebrates, Herons, Night Herons, Little Bitterns and other species of birds.

Afterwards you can move towards the beautiful lakefront with an attractive Lido that leads to Piazza Matteotti where the Palazzo Comunale stands, a beautiful building of 1823 by the architect Giovanni Adamioli in which sinuous arches and a large portico stand out.

Continuation with the 18th century Parish Church of San Giovanni with three naves remodeled on the remains of a building of the 400 with baroque and neo-classical forms in which a large tympanum and refined columns that form an elegant portico next to a high bell tower stand out. 

You will then admire the splendid medieval Torrazzo raised behind the apse of the ecclesiastical body, an imposing structure without plaster, decorated with protruding pilasters.

Do not miss to visit the Church of the Trinity, a religious structure with a beautiful façade with three arches and a portico dating back to 1647 used in the past as  a Lazzaretto and restored in 1923. 

To end the visit you can enter the fascinating hamlet of Ca' dei Monti on the slopes of the summit of Sass Gross, an  area adored by countless trekking fans thanks to the presence of suggestive, steep paths that cross the unforgettable Campo dei Fiori Park among extensive beech and chestnut groves.

This area is also a destination for passionate mushroom hunters with woods rich in edible chestnuts where you will seea on a picturesque hilly relief the Church of the Lazzaretto, a small chapel with a fresco depicting St. Charles.

Then I recommend visiting a Pastry Shop-Laboratory that produces the famous Brutti e Buoni, iconic baked goods created in 1878 by Costantino Veniani with an old recipe jealously preserved, although these desserts according to some historical rumors were originally generated by the desire to improve some dry biscuits and also had honey as an ingredient in some elaboration experiments. 

Their name derives from their not entirely orthodox profile, aesthetically a little rough while the second word, simply for their divine goodness.

These sweets were then produced on a large scale in the province of Varese becoming one of the refined delicacies of the Gaviratese artisan pastry shop and today they are made manually, wrapped in tissue paper so as to look like large candies and packaged faithful to the old traditions.

The primary ingredients and the preparation of this confectionery masterpiece precede a whipping of egg white left at room temperature by adding almonds and ground walnuts toasted with sugar, vanilla, icing sugar and then being filled with the syringe method. 

There are ariants created with the use of dark chocolate, turnip coconut flakes or cinnamon.The dough of each piece is shaped into the typical round shape before being subjected to cooking which will take place in a ventilated oven at 125.0 degrees for about 30 minutes.

If you want a golden shade, the solution is very simple, letting it cook for 15 minutes further, while a second step of another half hour at very low temperatures will be carried out to dry the base.

The Brutti e Buoni have a rounded shape weighing between 8.0 and 10.0 grams. Their flavor is sublime, starring the unique special and delicate aroma of vanilla alongside the fragrance of walnuts and almonds, qualities that have made these delicacies very versatile, perfect if accompanied by dessert wines, sparkling wines, enjoyed with coffee, cappuccino, chocolate, tea and excellent with creams.

The packaging takes place in cubic boxes in lilac, blue, pink and green colors with a weight ranging between 30, 45 and 60 grams closed by a ribbon with a bow on the upper surface while the plastic bags of 100.0 and 200.0 grams have a cardboard closure at the top with the golden label of the manufacturer in the middle while the metal boxes are of 150,  250, 350 and 500 grams. 

Time for your lunch of the day remaining in the traditional, local cuisine I recommend Homemade Potato Gnocchi with Tomato and Basil Sauce or Mezze Maniche with pepper, taleggio cheese and bacon belt, second courses with the option of Roast Veal or Steamed Trout with green sauce both served with a side of fresh vegetables.

Visiting Gavirate is a wonderful experience that combines art, history, Lake Varese and its nature and confectionery products of great importance, a day of tourism that will surely leave you satisfied in admiring this corner of Italy that offers many attractions.

 

Link : https://www.comune.gavirate.va.it/hh/index.php

http://www.bruttiebuoni.it/Home.html

 

Where to Stay | Recommeded Accommodation

Terrazza Mirabella

Tramonto al Lago