Dating back to the 5th century, the Monastero di Torba started life as a forward watchtower for the Lombard castrum (fortified settlement) of Sibrium; and it was the only one to remain intact. It was then turned into the centrepiece of a Benedictine convent and adorned with rare 8th-century frescoes.
The Monastero di Torba has a restaurant (mains around €12) with simple pastas and baked dishes.
23.48 MILES
Milan's most famous mural, Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, is hidden away on a wall of the refectory adjoining the Basilica di Santa Maria delle…
24.22 MILES
A vision in pink Candoglia marble, Milan's extravagant Gothic cathedral, 600 years in the making, aptly reflects the city's creativity and ambition. Its…
22.73 MILES
Behind striking Renaissance-revival black-and-white walls, Milan’s wealthy have kept their dynastic ambitions alive long after death with grand sculptural…
23.73 MILES
Located upstairs from one of Italy’s most prestigious art schools, this gallery houses Milan’s collection of Old Masters, much of it ‘lifted’ from Venice…
24.08 MILES
A stroll around the Quadrilatero d'Oro, the world's most famous shopping district, is a must even for those not sartorially inclined. The quaintly cobbled…
23.58 MILES
Originally a Visconti fortress, this iconic red-brick castle was later home to the mighty Sforza dynasty, who ruled Renaissance Milan. The castle's…
24.24 MILES
Overlooking Piazza del Duomo, with fabulous views of the cathedral, is Mussolini's Arengario, from where he would harangue huge crowds in his heyday. Now…
25.71 MILES
Conceived by designer Miuccia Prada and architect Rem Koolhaas, this museum is as innovative and creative as the minds that gave it shape. Seven renovated…
0.14 MILES
On the grounds of the Parco Archeologico di Castelseprio, this museum contains a small repository of objects and documents on the site.
2. Parco Archeologico di Castelseprio
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Spread out in peaceful woods about 1.5km outside the village of Castelseprio, around 20km south of Varese, is the ancient archaeological site of Sibrium,…
3. Chiesa di Santa Maria Foris Portas
0.39 MILES
Just outside the archaeological site of Sibrium, the small pre-Romanesque Chiesa di Santa Maria Foris Portas was built around the 7th century. Inside in…
1.97 MILES
The nondescript modern town of Castiglione Olona, 8km south of Varese off the SP42 road, contains a quite extraordinary gem. The old centre was largely…
5. Museo Civico Archeologico di Villa Mirabello
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Villa Mirabello houses Varese’s main museum, which has a wide-ranging collection covering prehistoric times, the Roman era, the Lombards and the Middle…
6.35 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…
6.36 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…
6.4 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…