Varese & Holy Mount: Private Tour of Culture, Tastes & UNESCO Heritage

Highlights

• Explore Varese's historic center
• Taste a typical dessert
• Visit the Sacred Mount of Varese

What's included

Itinerary

1. 1

   Palazzo e Giardini Estensi

   45min

   The palace was built in a Lombard "Barocchetto" style with Neoclassical influences, as a leisure residence for Francesco III D'Este, Duke of Modena and Reggio Emilia. After the Duke's death and due to the high maintenance costs, the palace changed various owners until it was bought in 1837 by Carlo Pellegrini Robbioni, who made some modifications to the garden, according to the English romantic taste of the age. In 1882 the mansion was acquired by Varese City Hall and open to the public the following year.

2. 2

   Sacro Monte di Varese

   3h

   In the small village of Santa Maria del Monte, close to Varese, the tradition tells about a Romanesque monastery dedicated to the Virgin since the 11th century. In 1472 the site was entirely reconstructed, since the pristine structure was no more sufficient to provide shelter and hospitality to the great number of pilgrims coming from the surroundings. In XVII century, a series of 14 chapels was built along the cobbled way connecting to the sanctuary, under the art direction of Giuseppe Bernascone. The chapels are beautifully integrated in the landscape and are symbolically associated to the Mysteries of Rosary

Before you go

Location