VARESE - a Brief Guide of the Surrounding Area and Our Tips for Your Free Time
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- WELCOME TO VARESE - A brief guide of the surrounding area and our tips for your free time We think you can appreciate this home-made work in which find a feature of the area : we are not a DMC but we would really like to suggest you something to make unforgettable your staying here ! So, you can begin from these ideas to arrange the POST CONGRESS TIME, or a SIDE PROGRAM for the partners and even to organize a TOUR for few days in the area : in case you are looking for something in particular, feel free to contact our office, we’ll be glad to help you with more details ! INDEX Page 2______________________________________ Transportation Page 3______________________________________ Sacro Monte of Varese Page 4______________________________________ Lake Maggiore Sanctuary of Santa Caterina Public Gardens and Palazzo Estense Page 5______________________________________ Villa Mirabello Villa Menafoglio Litta Panza Villa Ponti Page 6______________________________________ Villa Toepliz FAI Properties : • Villa della Porta Bozzolo • Villa Menafoglio Litta Panza & its Art Collection • Velate Tower • Torba Monastery Page 7______________________________________ Wine, food and local specialities Page 8______________________________________ Organize a dinner out of the hotel Page 9______________________________________ Sports and fun Page 10_____________________________________ Outlets in the area 1 Coming from abroad you probably will land at the international Airport of Milano Malpensa : once you are there, you can choose to go to Varese by taxi, or with a private driver with a limousine, a minivan or a big bus . Please contact : TRANSERVICE LIMOUSINE www.transervicelimousine.com in case you need 1 or more cars Please contact : MORANDI AUTOSERVIZI www.moranditour .it if you need a bus from 12 to 70 sitting places 2 The Sacro Monte of Varese. Looking down over Varese you will find the religious architectural complex of the Sacro Monte with its fascinating medieval village. The Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Monte and the 14 Chapels are dedicated to the mysteries of the Rosary. At the Sacro Monte one can also visit the Baroffio Museum which conserves the original mould of the bronze doors of the Dome of Milan. Building of the Sacro Monte di Varese began in 1604 under the command of the Franciscan monk Giovanni Battista Aguggiari. The monumental architectural complex of the Sacro Monte of Varese with the fascinating medieval village, the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Monte and the 14 Chapels, dedicated to the mysteries of the Rosary. Pilgrims follow a pathway that is over 2 km long that rises over 400 metres. The chapels are divided into three sections, each separated from the next by arches that represent the three Mysteries of the Rosary. www.sacromonte.va.it Organize an half day visit with your group ! You may contact one of the Official Tourist Guide of Varese at http://www.provincia.va.it/marketing.htm and stop there for an afternoon break in the historical village. 3 Lake Maggiore is located 30 kilometres west of Varese, its northern part lies in Switzerland – Situated at the foot of the Italian Alps, it offers an experience that can only enjoyed in new and different ways each year. Lake Maggiore is famous also for the beautiful gardens found on Isola Madre, Isola Bella, Villa Taranto and Villa Pallavicino. The whole coastline of the Lake Maggiore is scattered with many historical villas surrounded by mature parks. www.lagomaggiore.net The pictures show the Sanctuary Santa Caterina on Lake Maggiore. You can reach the sanctuary on foot or by boat. According to tradition the hermitage was founded by Alberto Besozzi, who after having survived a heavy storm while crossing the lake decided to retreat to that rocky ledge to live the life of a hermit. Here Alberto built a chapel in honour of Santa Caterina, visible today at the back of the church. The latter, which dates to the 10th century, was soon joined by two other churches dedicated to San Nicola and Santa Maria Nuova which were built in the 14th century. Public Gardens & Palazzo Estense – One of main attractions of Varese is the pink with its famous public gardens, modelled from the Schonbrunn gardens in Vienna. The Palazzo Estense was built in the 18th century for the Este Duke of Modena as a summer residence: the duke of Modena, Francesco III Este was the Lord of Varese and Governor of Lombardy during the second half of the 18th century. The palace's rooms are covered with stunning frescoes of the period. The building and the beautiful Italian water gardens are now owned the municipality of Varese and are open to the general public . 4 One of the many parks and monuments of Varese is the Villa Mirabello and its beautiful English Garden, built in the XVIII century, which houses the civic museums of Varese. It exhibits masterpieces of the Lombardy school, including Cairo, Nuvolone, Morazzone Procaccini Hayez, Pellizza da Volpedo, Cremona, Ranzoni, Grandi and Balla. In the archaeological section you can see the famous "diatreta cagnola", a glass cage cup from the Roman period. Villa Menafoglio Litta Panza in Varese was built in the XVIII century by Marquis Paolo Antonio Menafoglio and extended in the neo classic period by architect Luigi Canonica, commissioned by Duke Pompeo Litta Visconti Arese. The first part of the noble house dates back to the last years of the 17th Century. The villa is famous around the world for the collection of contemporary art, started by Giuseppe Panza di Biumo. Villa Ponti (Villa Napoleonica) in Varese was rebuilt between 1858 and 1860 by architect Giuseppe Balzaretto. It was originally built during the 17th century, Today it is owned by the Varese Chamber of Commerce, and is now used as a congress centre. The villa acquired its more popular name of Villa Napoleonica after Garibaldi stayed there during the battle of Varese at lower Biumo on the 26th May 1859. 5 The Villa Toeplitz and the famous water gardens in Sant’ Ambrogio Varese were built at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1920 the villa was acquired by the Baron Giuseppe Toeplitz who added the observatory and created the multi level Italian style gardens with interlinked water features and grottoes which cover almost 8 hectors. The water gardens are complemented by the English style gardens to the east of the villa with its mature beech trees and box hedges. The Villa and the beautiful Italian water gardens are now owned the municipality of Varese and are open to the general public. The Villa Toeplitz houses two small museums, the history of electronic music and the African collection of the Castiglioni brothers, two famous archaeologists from Varese. FAI Properties – FAI offers visitors the chance to see and appreciate historic homes, castles and abbeys, libraries and art collections, historic gardens and coastal areas, and the pleasure of enjoying happy moments amidst harmony and beauty: in few minutes driving you can reach few places like Villa della Porta Bozzolo , Villa Menafoglio Litta Panza & its Art Collection. See more at www.fondoambiente.it Velate Tower Torba Monastery 6 Wine, food and local specialities The territory’s singular conformation, offering panoramas of incomparable beauty, is also reflected in the Varese gastronomy and in its typical products: cheeses, cold cuts, wine and honey are but a few of the delicacies of this province, products that to this day are prepared in true artisan style according to age old traditions. Wine www.cascinapiano.it Grappa www.rossidangera.com Amaretto di Saronno (liquor & bisquits) www.disaronno.it Honey www.mielevarese.it Aparagous from Cantello (Va) Gorgonzola cheese Pro Loco di Cantello www.gorgonzola.com Tel. 0332-417064 Goat Violin (ham) The ”Hugly & Good“from Gavirate(Va) Peach under syrup from Monate (Va) Az. Agr. Kedo - Curiglia con Monteviasco Antica Pasticceria Veniani Tel. 0332-568501 Gavirate Tel. 0332-743084 7 Organize a dinner out of the hotel ! Switzerland and it’s Casinos Only 40 minutes driving you may reach some different Casinos in Switzerland where you can play, have a particular gala dinner and maybe… win ! Mendrisio www.casinomendrisio.ch Lugano www.casinolugano.ch Campione d’Italia www.casinocampione.it Sailing on the lake with your private boat and staff ! Contact the sailing Company +39.0322.233206, or mail to: [email protected] Or simply choosing a nice restaurant nearby : Da Venanzio web site Induno Olona (Va) 10 km far form the hotel 60 sitting places +39 0332 200333 Teatro web site Varese city 5 km far form the hotel 60 sitting places +39 0332 241124 Da Annetta web site Capolago (Va) 7 km far form the hotel 80 sitting places +39 0332 490230 Tana d’Orso web site Mustonate (Va) 7 km far form the hotel 160 sitting places +39 0332 320392 Osteria del Sass web site Besozzo (Va) 15 km far form the hotel 30 sitting places +39 0332 771005 Pizzeria della Motta web site Varese city 5 km far from the hotel 100 sitting places + 39 0332 231800 8 TAKE A LOOK AT OUR PROVINCE FROM AN HOT AIR BALLOON Contact a specialized agency : ANGLERIA TOURS Tel. +39 0331 920120 www.angleriatours.it 9 Take the opportunity to play here your favourite sport ! Sport has been a way of thinking that is a trademark of the Varese Province’s culture, based on commitment and tenacity in attaining results and on the quest to reach common goals through individual effort. The marvellous natural setting that characterises the territory makes it possible for every type of sport discipline to be practised : You can reach several golf courses within 20 minutes driving and we might arrange something just for them (like a private shuttle bus, a package lunch, shoe shine service, etc). Please, find all the information you may need at www.palacevarese.it/golf.asp.