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/