North off Piazza Monte Grappa, the delightful pedestrianised Corso Matteotti signals the western boundary of Varese's tiny old centre, at whose heart rises the baroque Basilica di San Vittore. The interior is a lavish affair, while the exterior is watched over by the muscular, freestanding Torre Campanaria (Bell Tower) which dates from the 17th and 18th centuries.

The surrounding tangle of lanes makes for a pleasant meander, dotted with several eateries and cafes.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Basilica di San Vittore

0.03 MILES

The showcase attraction of Varese's centre is this ornate basilica, built between the 16th and 17th centuries. The more stolid facade was an 18th-century…

2. Piazza Monte Grappa

0.07 MILES

Piazza Monte Grappa, on the cusp of Varese's old town, is fascinating for history and architecture buffs. The square was completely remade in grand…

3. Torre Civica

0.09 MILES

Soaring high above Varese's main square, this enormous clock tower was built in 1933, and has quite the Fascist-era aesthetic about it. At the base, you…

4. Palazzo Estense

0.13 MILES

From the 17th century, nobles and the rich, many from Milan, began to build second residences around Varese's historic centre. Of these, the most…

5. Giardini Estensi

0.16 MILES

Set on a hillside just south of Varese's old centre, these picturesque gardens make a pleasant setting for a stroll. A large circular fountain, a pretty…

7. Villa Panza

0.49 MILES

On a rise north of Varese’s centre, where the high walls of private residences enclose narrow, winding lanes, Villa Panza enjoys beautiful views of the…

8. Villa Recalcati

0.69 MILES

A magnificent 17th-century villa that houses the provincial government. In the late 1800s, it was transformed into a grand hotel, and hosted luminaries…