Varese is a town of 79,100 inhabitants in the province of Varese, in Lombardy, Italy. It is the capital of its province.
The municipality covers 54.93 km², with a density of 1,440 inhabitants per km².
The nearest airport is Milan Malpensa (MXP), about 22 km away as the crow flies. Read our guide to the airport.
Things to see in Varese
- Sacro Monte of VareseFaith
- Villa PanzaArt
The garden city of the seven lakes
Varese, between Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano, is a green city of villas and parks at the foot of the Campo dei Fiori mountain, with seven lakes within easy reach.
What to see
The Estense Gardens, modelled on Schönbrunn, surround the town hall palace. Villa Panza has one of the best collections of contemporary American art in Europe, set in an eighteenth century villa. Above the city, the Sacro Monte di Varese, a UNESCO site, is a cobbled path with fourteen chapels leading to a medieval village with spectacular views. The Basilica of San Vittore and Corso Matteotti are the heart of the old town.
Food
Lake fish, brutti ma buoni hazelnut biscuits, honey and the cheeses of the valleys.
Around Varese
Lake Varese with its cycle path around it, Castiglione Olona, a Renaissance village, the monastery of Torba, a UNESCO Lombard site, Lake Maggiore and Lugano in Switzerland. Milan Malpensa airport is 30 minutes away.
Varese on the map
Nearby towns
Where to stay in and around Varese
Tours and activities nearby
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