©Alessandro Leo
Varese’s Sacro Monte and Campo dei Fiori represent two of the most significant tourist destinations in Lombardy, with a history rooted in distant eras and intertwined with the cultural, religious and naturalistic growth of the Varese area.
Sacro Monte: spirituality and art
Varese’s Sacro Monte has been a destination for pilgrimage and reflection since the 17th century. The route of the 14 chapels, culminating in the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Monte, was conceived as a “sacred way” that would call the faithful to an intense spiritual experience, in a natural and architectural setting of extraordinary beauty. The chapels, adorned with sculptures and frescoes by 17th-century Lombard masters, represent a unique artistic heritage and are now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In addition to its religious component, Sacro Monte has also attracted travelers, artists and intellectuals eager to experience the excitement of a journey between art and faith. The village of Santa Maria del Monte, which houses the Sanctuary, has over time been a center of culture and spirituality. Today, the Baroffio Museum and the Lodovico Pogliaghi House Museum continue to enhance the cultural identity of the place, offering visitors an experience that combines art, history and faith.
Sacro Monte of Varese, First Chapel – Ph. renzo dionigi/flickr
Baroffio Museum and Pogliaghi House: two caskets of art on Sacro Monte
Located next to the Shrine of Santa Maria del Monte, the Baroffio Museum is a treasure chest of art that combines spirituality, history and beauty. The collection, enriched by donations from Giuseppe Baroffio Dall’Aglio, includes Flemish paintings, Lombard and Emilian works from the 15th to 18th centuries, as well as an extraordinary section of contemporary sacred art with names such as Guttuso, Manfrini, Matisse and Sironi. The museum rooms, spread over three levels, wind through 20th-century rooms and ancient rooms hidden under the shrine, enriched by precious frescoes and masterpieces such as the “Madonna and Child” by the brothers from Ligurno and illuminated antiphonaries from the 13th and 15th centuries.
©Alessandro Leo
Not far away, nestled in the greenery of Sacro Monte, stands the striking Lodovico Pogliaghi House Museum, former home of the Milanese artist and collector, now an exhibition space for eclectic works, sketches, sculptures and objects from around the world. Among its main attractions is the original model of the portal of Milan Cathedral. The house, overlooking one of the most spectacular views in Lombardy, can be visited on weekends and during special openings, and is an active part of the Varese Musei network, contributing to the enhancement of Sacro Monte as a living and accessible cultural heritage.
Casa Museo Lodovico Pogliaghi, ingresso
Campo dei Fiori: tourism between nature and hospitality of yesteryear
Continuing beyond the village of Sacro Monte, we reach the Campo dei Fiori massif, an integral part of the Regional Park of the same name. This place, known for its unspoiled nature and breathtaking views, began to develop as a tourist destination in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The symbol of that era is undoubtedly the Grand Hotel Campo dei Fiori, designed by architect Giuseppe Sommaruga and opened in 1910. This luxury hotel, frequented by the Milanese and Swiss elite, offered an exclusive setting between excursions and relaxation. The hotel even had a funicular railway that connected it directly to Varese, making the mountain more accessible and modern. Today the hotel is in a state of disrepair, but it continues to fascinate and stimulate recovery projects, such as the one promoted by FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano.
A legacy alive in the present
The link between tourism and local identity has evolved but has never been broken. Even today, Sacro Monte and Campo dei Fiori offer authentic experiences to visitors of all ages and interests. Excursions, cultural events, guided tours and enhancement initiatives make it possible to discover these wonders in every season.
The Sacro Monte of Varese, with its millennial history, and the Campo dei Fiori, with its natural beauty and historical charm, continue to represent two pillars of Lombard tourism, testifying to how tourist tradition can intertwine with spirituality, art and nature.
To discover the timeless charm of Sacro Monte and Campo dei Fiori even more closely, we invite you to watch this evocative video:
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