VARESE "GARDEN CITY"
AND SACRED MOUNT
The parks surrounding the Varese villas are the ideal introduction to a stay in the garden city.
Green lungs and flower beds that announce the beauty of Palazzo Estense.
From the eighteenth-century Palazzo Estense to the perspectives of the Sacro Monte.
From the ripples of the lake to the slopes of Campo dei Fiori. A garden city to discover, even by bicycle.
THE SACRED MOUNT
The Sacro Monte di Varese is one of the most famous places in the city: it combines the art of its chapels and the sanctuary with the beauty of the panorama that can be enjoyed from the top. It is part of the group of the nine Pre-Alpine Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy and since 2003 it has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. According to the first findings, this hill lying near the Campo dei Fiori massif was used as a sort of fortress for defensive purposes and only later became a real place of worship.
VILLA TOEPLITZ​
ADDRESS: Via Giambattista Vico - VARESE
(URBAN BUS LINES: C - Z)
Villa Toeplitz stands on the hill, at the foot of the Sacro Monte, in a dominant position. The park covers an area of about four hectares and is one of the most beautiful in Italy.
The buildings that rise in the park are many: the greenhouses, the stable, the chapel, the bowling green, the clay tennis court, the belvedere, the swimming pool and, of course, the Villa.
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PARK OPENING HOURS:
Summer opening hours: 8.00 - 20.00
Winter opening hours: 8.00 - 18.00
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TICKETS:
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Full ticket: € 7
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Reduced ticket (5 - 10 years): € 5
TICKETS:
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Student ticket (up to 25 years old): € 10
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Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children): € 35
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Free ticket: FAI members
VILLA PANZA
Surrounded by a splendid park that extends over 33,000 square meters, Villa Panza overlooks the city of Varese from the hill of Biumo Superiore. More than one hundred works by contemporary artists are now exhibited in the halls and large stables, as well as rich furnishings and an important collection of African and pre-Columbian art.
OPENING TIME:
From WED to SUN: 10.00 - 18.00
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Full ticket: € 15
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Reduced ticket (6 - 18 years): € 7
INDIRIZZO: Piazza Litta, 1 - Varese
VILLE PONTI
Villa Andrea
ADDRESS: Piazza Litta, 2 -Varese
Villa Andrea, built in 1858, is elegant and airy, decorated with obelisks and columns, surprises visitors with monumental interiors, harmoniously arranged around a large octagonal atrium 33 meters high. The halls are large, bright and beautifully decorated; the large windows allow a wonderful view of the park and the city of Varese.
The Villa is a congress center and is not open to the public.
However, it is possible to visit the surrounding park and see the villa from the outside.
OPENING HOURS: Always open
ENTRANCE: Free
PALAZZO ESTENSE
ADDRESS: Via Lugi Sacco, 5 -Varese
Defined by Giacomo Leopardi as a "Small Versailles", Palazzo Estense built in the second half of the 18th century to become the residence of Francesco III d'Este, Duke of Modena and Governor of Lombardy.
Enter the interior rooms of the palace to admire the decorations with artfully made stuccoes, but above all the beautiful Hall of honor. The garden, which joins that of Villa Mirabello, is animated by avenues, flower beds and a large circular pool. Every summer it is illuminated on the occasion of the "Sounds and lights" show, truly unmissable. Today it is the seat of the Municipal Administration and the Civic Library; some rooms are used for conferences and concerts.
OPENING TIME:
Summer Hours: 8.00 - 20.00 Winter opening hours: 8.00 - 18.00
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THE GARDENS OF
PALAZZO ESTENSE
The garden that extends behind the building was organized in the Italian and French style, inspired by the park of the royal residence in Schönbrunn. The main feature of the gardens is the parterre, punctuated by flower beds and low-stemmed plants, in which the large central fountain is located.
Today the area is a public park, directly connected to the gardens of Villa Mirabello, and daily attracts hundreds of visitors who flock to its paths to fully enjoy such beauty.
OPENING HOURS: Always open with variable hours
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ENTRANCE:Free