Deep-dive
Tourism: the UNESCO Sacro Monte, Villa Mirabello and the Via Francisca
Visits include the Sacro Monte di Varese, one of the four UNESCO sites in the province, Villa Mirabello with its Archaeological Museum and park, the Palazzo and Giardini Estensi and the Varese stretch of the Via Francisca del Lucomagno, which ends in Pavia.
Sections: Attractions · Museums · Nature · Itineraries · Excursions · Accessible visits
- Sacro Monte di Varese: one of the four UNESCO sites in the area named by the Region (with Monte San Giorgio, Isolino Virginia and Monastero di Torba); access from viale del Santuario.
- Villa Mirabello (piazza della Motta 4): home of the Archaeological Museum, with a prehistoric section, a Roman one and a small Risorgimento section; the free-entry park has monumental trees, including a cedar of Lebanon over 28 metres tall.
- Palazzo and Giardini Estensi (via Luigi Sacco 5): the gardens have been public since 1882 and border the Villa Mirabello park.
- Via Francisca del Lucomagno: an ancient Roman-Lombard road from Constance to Pavia, 510 km; Varese lies between the second and third Italian stages.
- Isolino Virginia and Monastero di Torba: UNESCO sites in the province, part of the prehistoric Alpine pile-dwellings and of the Longobards in Italy respectively.
Information
The Infopoint Varese is at via Luigi Sacco 11; the Comune also publishes a “Siti UNESCO” section covering the sites of the city and the province.
Sources
in-Lombardia – Varese UNESCO (Regione Lombardia, turismo)· Regione Lombardia
Updated: 2026-10-20
Comune di Varese – Villa Mirabello (museo e parco)· Comune di Varese
Updated: 2026-10-20
Comune di Varese – La Via Francisca del Lucomagno· Comune di Varese
Updated: 2026-10-20
Updated: 2026-10-20
Reviewed: 10/23/2026 · by piero.avolio · rev. 1 · Period: → 2027-10-31
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