Things to do in Rancio Valcuvia Italy – what to see attractions and activities

The Tower of the Arians is a structure of ancient origins. It is thought to date back to medieval times and its purpose was to defend and protect. The construction was kept in good condition. It is close to the town and is surrounded by lots of vegetation.

It was founded in the 12th century by Benedictine monks in a convergent territory of various valleys: Valganna, Valcuvia and Valmarchirolo. For centuries it has been a safe haven for pilgrims who traveled from the nearby Canton of Ticino and Central Europe to the south and vice versa. The Abbey was built around the original nucleus of the church established for the worship of the Martyr San Gemolo

Villa Della Porta Bozzolo was built in the second half of the 16th century, at the behest of the notary Giroldino Della Porta. The intent was to build a stately home for him and his family. During the 18th century, an Italian garden with fountains and a beautifully frescoed newsstand was added. After becoming the property of the Carpani, the Richini and the Bozzolo, the structure was finally donated to the FAI.

The park dominates the hilly area of the city of Varese, and includes two massifs, the Massif of Mount Martica and the Campo dei Fiori Massif. It is part of the Varese Prealps chain, and has slopes dominated by deciduous forests such as beech and chestnut trees and many animal species including the two majestic ungulates, the deer and the roe deer, as well as foxes, hares and red squirrels.

Villa Panza is known for its contemporary art collection. Surrounded by a magnificent Italian garden, it was built in the middle of the 18th century by the will of the Marquis Paolo Antonio Menafoglio. In the salons and large stables, more than one hundred works by contemporary artists are exhibited today, as well as rich furnishings from the period ranging from the 16th to the 19th century and to an important collection of African art and pre-Columbian.

The Sacro Monte of Varese, with its 14 Chapels that wind along a cobblestone of about 2 km, is undoubtedly the most fascinating Marian itinerary in the world.

The Valganna Caves are caves of karst origin and are located in the territory of Induno Olona. These caves are among the best known in the area. They are the karst product of the Margorabbia River, which disappears in Cunardo under a system of caves.

The Villa, built in 1901, takes its name from the Polish banker Giuseppe Toeplitz, who bought it in 1914. In 1972 the property was acquired by the Municipality of Varese, who decided to open the park to the public. Today the park covers an area of about four hectares, characterized by an original architecture of driveways embellished with numerous varieties of exotic species and rejoiced by water features.

Collections of minerals and fossils are exhibited in the museum. There are about 6,700 finds, including minerals and fossils of fish, vegetables, crustaceans, reptiles found. The three specimens of Lariosaurus Valceresii and the Cave Bear dating back about 215 million years ago are also very important. In addition, there are also two other sections with 700 taxidermised animals from locally sourced and a photographic archive of 8000 slides.

The Church of San Bernardino was built in 1567 in honor of the Saint. Inside the rooms have a rectangular shape and are made of marble. On the altar there are frescoes in which the 'Adoration of the Shepherds' and the 'Nativity of Maria' are represented.

The Verbano Railway Museum is located in the old nineteenth-century garage of the locomotives of Luino. To make the Museum valuable is an impressive German locomotive BR 50 3673 built by the Borsig workshops in 1941, still working today. In addition, events and initiatives are organized periodically, such as vintage trips to Switzerland by the Verbano Express Association.

The Paleontological Civic Archaeological Museum was founded in 1977. It is located in the beautiful Palazzo Verbania. It was established by the will of Pietro Astini. The Museum consists of a picture gallery, an archaeological section and a vast collection of fossils and minerals, all found in the area. School groups can make guided tours upon reservation.

The villa that houses the Civic Library of Luino and the Vittorio Sereni Archive is the result of structural and decorative interventions that have occurred over the years, accompanied by the change of ownership of the same in different hands.

The Tactile Museum of Varese was inaugurated in 2011, on the inspiration of the Italian Blind Union. This represents today a unique example in Europe, as it is dedicated exclusively to the display of tactile models made of wood. Its main objective is to become a sort of three-dimensional encyclopedia capable of stimulating not only the interest in tactile knowledge, but also that for the artistic and non-artistic 'world'. In fact, the sighted visitors pay the visit blindfolded in such a way as to experience tactile knowledge in its most essential form. In addition, very interesting and fun sensory paths are organized here.

Masnago Castle was built around the fifteenth century by the Castiglioni family for military purposes. A characteristic feature of this building are the numerous international Gothic frescoes that enrich the walls inside it, and, in addition to these, we also find the works of modern Lombard painters collected and contemporaries. Today the municipality has used it as a Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.

The promenade allows you to walk along the lakefront ensuring a panoramic and breathtaking view of the entire Gulf of Ceresio. In summer in the evening it is often animated by a lively market.

The Estense Palace is one of the most visited and appreciated historical points in Varese. The construction dates back to the second half of the 18th century on a project by the architect Giuseppe Antonio Bianchi, who also created a splendid garden, and it was for years the residence of the Duke of Modena Francesco III of Este. Nowadays, the Palace is home to the City Hall of the city of Varese.

The “Enrico Butti” Museum was founded in 1927. A year earlier, Butti decided to donate to the City Council its gipsotheque of contemporary art. Here it is possible to observe sculptures, including 87 plaster models and some paintings. Between 2002 and 2004, the structure was adjusted to accommodate all the objects present.

The collegiate basilica of San Vittore is dedicated to San Vittore and was built between the 16th and 17th centuries on a fourteenth-century structure. It has a baroque bell tower, and a neoclassical façade by Leopoldo Pollack.

The construction of the bell tower began in the 11th century and ended in 1631 by Bernascone, an architect well known at the time. Recently, he underwent restoration, as there was a fire. From the bell tower you can see an enviable and beautiful view of the whole city.

The Baptistery of Saint John was built between the end of the 13th and early fourteenth century. The architecture consists of two quadrangular blocks. Restorations were made always keeping the original masonry and decoration. The façade has a bell structure.

The museum, which was formerly based in Villa Mirabella, was moved inside the Castle of Masnago in 1995. He owns several collections of contemporary and modern art, works by numerous artists from Varese and beyond. You can admire the work of Pellini, Longoni, Magatti, Bodini, and many other homologous artists. The museum is open to the public.

Piazza Montegrappa is located in the center of Varese and represents the main square of the city. Surrounded by numerous bars, a symbol of the city's nightlife, in the center there is a large and evocative fountain.

This museum is currently being housed in the Villa Mirabello. It was built in 1871 by local scholars and enthusiasts. In 1875 the Marquis Andrea Ponti made donations to the museum that allowed him to become a famous museum in the region. Today, the museum preserves prehistoric Varesotto materials ranging from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age.

The construction of the building began in the 18th century and takes its name from the hill where it is located. It has an English-style garden that preserves very rare trees such as the centuries-old cedar of Lebanon. Today it is home to the Civic Museum of Varese. Inside the archaeological museum you can observe the ``mummy of the museums of Varese ``, still under study, taken care of by the Institute of Anatomy and Pathological Histology of the University of Pisa. Among the findings of the culture of Golasecca can be noted the tomb of the Warrior of Sesto Calende.

The Presepe Verghiano is the unique theatrical event worldwide that narrates the story of the Nativity within the Verga universe, where the various characters of the operas Cavalleria Rusticana, La Lupa, L’Amante di Gramigna, Storia di una Capinera, Nedda, Mazzarò, I Malavoglia, Jeli il Pastore will be the protagonists of this surreal journey of the faithful in their homage for the newborn Jesus.

Opened in 2002, the Teatro di Varese was built with an avant-garde architectural style. The building accommodates up to 1,208 people and organizes events with actors of national fame.

The International Ceramic Design Museum - Civic Collection of Terraglia is located in the interiors of the sixteenth-century rooms of Palazzo Perabò. The exhibition includes vases, plates, umbrella stands and table sets made between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries by the excellent manufactures of Laveno Mombello.

The square and the Parish Church are dedicated to S. Maria Assunta with its stone facade of Angera and decorated in a rose while the interior is entirely decorated with frescoed ceilings, the ancient church of S. Alessandro, is probably of Longobard

The Olona Valley Park is located in the southeast of the country in Molini, and spans in an area of about 80,000 sqm. It includes the last part of the Olona Valley and the area of the confluence with the adjacent valleys.

The war memorial, which gives glory to Italian soldiers who perished during the Great War in almost every city of Italy, in Malnate saw the light after a troubled process. The story of his birth has its origin in 1922.

The Museum of Natural Sciences, since 2007, is located in the rooms of Villa Braghenti. The materials on display, such as shells and fossils, are divided into eight sections according to specific issues. All objects are linked to the territory. In the Museum there is also a library where we can find all the books on specialization in archaeology and art history.

The Villa Cagnola was built in the 18th century. In 1700 the building was the private residence of the noble Perbo. In 1850 the villa passed under the property of Giuseppe Cagnola who transformed it into a Villa of Delights. In fact, he furnished it with different works of art. Since the nobleman had no children, he donated the villa to the Church. Currently in the rooms of the villa there is the Higher Institute of Religious Studies.