Varese - Villa Panza & Sacro Monte Unesco di Varese

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We drove from Milan to Varese on August 2010.  It was a lovely day.  The first programme was a visit to Villa Panza, a property of FAI.  Villa Panza is a noble house with an English garden of +30,000 square metres.  The Panza di Biumo family bought the villa in the 1930s.  It was restored and turned into a living house (also as a museum).  The owner donated the complex and 113 art pieces to FAI.  After immense restoration and conversion, it has been opened to the public.  It costs you €3 to take photos inside FAI properties after you have paid the rather expensive entrance fee, €8 for this one.


The first highlight of the day is an exhibition of art pieces from Christiane Löhr (click the link to appreciate her excellent works). She is a German artist.  The works we saw were made with horse hair and plants.  They are intricate, required a lot of detailed labour and superb techniques.



The garden has many different plantations.  Walking through is a pleasure.  


The villa itself is a living quarter plus artworks of strong colours.  Huge colour paintings are hung in different rooms.  A room has four pieces of contrasting colours, some with black and yellow, peaceful blue of different shades.  

A number of rooms are dedicated to the play of coloured fluorescent light.  The blending of early 20 century family apartment, colour shade paintings and fluorescent give another dimension of  art and life appreciation.


The Church of Saint Maximilian Kolbe is a white hemisphere beautiful monument arising out of the blue along the avenue that connects the Varese city center to Sacro Monte (UNESCO site since 2003). The interior is all in white: the organ, walls, benches, etc. 




Behind the altar houses a Crucifix of the seventeenth century, artist unknown, without the cross because it represents the risen Christ.


Close to the church is a spire similar to the Duomo of Milan. it symbolizes the continuity between the old and the new.


Then we went to the Sacro Monte di Varese (sacred hill of Varese) where 14 chapels dotted along 2.5 kilometres with a gradual climb of 300 metres.  You will be amazed by the beautiful chapels, art and fantastic views of a lake, plains and valley.  




Art in each chapel is attributed to Jesus Christ's life.  Frescoes, murals and real sized painted terracotta figures compose theatrical scenes, from the Announciation to death of Jesus.  But the last chapel is dedicated to the rise of Mary given the place is very Catholic which Maria has a supreme position.


Further steps upon the end of the chapel path is the Village of Santa Maria delle Monte.  You can have a wonderful panoramic view of the surroundings.   There is a sizeable terrace for your eyes to appreciate the beautiful scenery.  At time of our visit, a group of children was rehearsing a play, singing an Italian song.  For a rest, you may opt to restaurants with first-class views of the nature.  Wanna go there?  



Location: 21100 Varese, VA, Italy

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