Description of our valleys

About half of the territory of the province is characterized by some pleasant and easily accessible valleys, populated with villages controlling the river traffic. They are breezy furrows, covered with rich vegetation and marked by antique paths, reclaimed and mantained for the pleasure of excursionists who enjoy the environment, on foot, on horseback or by bicycle.

The main valleys are:

VALCERESIO, that connects Varese to lake Ceresio. It is a wide valley, pleasant to the eye and it has some unique sights, as like Villa Cicogna Mozzoni in Bisuschio and the Fossils Museum in Besano.

VALCUVIA, an open and green valley north to Campo dei Fiori, with a mild climate and relaxing landscape. It has been praised in literature as the writer Piero Chiara located many of his works in this area. Among the most attractive places, Villa della Porta Bozzolo in Casalzuigno and Arcumeggia, a village known for its frescos.
 

VALLE OLONA, situated within the eastern area of the Varese province, is recognisable and known as "il Seprio" and possesses original historical and monumental evidence that fall particularly within a relatively intact environmental context, mainly made up by wooded areas but also by cultivation which, within the network of urban centres and villages in which it is situated, represents a particularly charming reality. The tourist poles are Caronno Corbellaro (ancient rural village with the remains of S. Nazaro) and Gornate Superiore (S. Michele) to which the monumental centre of Castiglione is directly linked; and then Castelseprio, Torba and Cairate (a former monastery), without neglecting the presence of imposing farmhouses, themselves of particular historical importance. Finally, Appiano Gentile and Tradate's Parco della Pineta should be mentioned for its tourist value.
 

VALGANNA-VALMARCHIROLO, also known as the fresh valley, begins very close to the city of Varese and goes up north towards the Lake Ceresio. The slopes of the mountains are rather steep and covered with thick woods: here people settled in prehistoric times, as testified by "caverns" around a large square which is the destination of excursionists looking for the summer breeze given by a small and picturesque waterfall. There is also directly next to Varese a well known beer factory located in a liberty style building. You can find also two small but very beautiful lakes (Lago di Ganna and Lago di Ghirla) and the Badia di Ganna heritage complex.
 

VALLI DEL LUINESE, which are located north of the provincial territory, on the border with the Swiss Canton Ticino. The environment here is rougher, but better preserved and more interesting. Both valleys are closed and the inhabited places seem to cling to the mountain on small morainic lay-bies. Peacefulness is the common characteristic of this place: one of the villages, Monteviasco is reachable only by cableway or by a steeply stepped path.