Varese - Villa Panza & Sacro Monte Unesco di Varese

-

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

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kbal Spean

-
Image
Kbal Spean is a unique archaeological site situated 50km from the Siem Reap.   Religious stone cravings sit on the river banks and bed, 150m stretch of the Stung Kbal Spean River.     Kbal Spean is commonly known as the "Valley of a 1000 Lingas " or "The River of a Thousand Lingas". Lingas are phallic representations sacred to Brahmanism.   It is a symbol of fertility.   Hundreds of them are carved into the rock of the river.   Other carvings include gods such as Vishnu , Shiva , Brahma and animals. To appreciate the beautiful carvings in the nature, one has to climb a trek for around 30 minutes.   Exhausted but worthwhile. Reclining Vishnu is often the theme of carvings.   Others include Shiva and Uma mounted on the bull, Brahma on a lotus petal and still others which I can't figure out exactly. Animals, lingas, yoni dot here and there.            Downdream is a waterfall. On the way is another spot with carving
Read more

Hong Kong Heritage Museum - The Hakkas and Fishing Origin

-
Image
15 June 2012 HK Heritage Museum - Hakka Women It has been more than 10 years that I haven't been to the Hong Kong Heritage Museum .  Today, a Picasso exhibition brought me back.  Hmm, a Spanish artist associating with the Chinese heritage.  It's a special event of the French May .  It drew a lot of people to the museum, though a bit remote.  People, family speaking different languages crowded at the venue.  Picasso 's paintings shown were across his different periods.  Many photos of him and friends were also shown. Hong Kong Heritage Museum is unique in providing the history of Hong Kong, featuring Hakka (Guest family) migration, as a fishing village, the traditional Cantonese opera as the integral parts of Hong Kong's heritage, history and culture. During the reign of Yongzheng and Qianlong of Qing Dynasty (18th century), people were encouraged to utilise wasteland for farming.  A big demographic shift of residents in the south moved to Hong Kong. Th
Read more

Marshal Zen Garden Beitou 北投少帥禪園

-
Image
Marshal Zen Garden was built during the Japanese-colonised period of the 1920's.  It was renowned for the hot spring and was used as the entertainment hub of the Japanese pilots during the end of the World War II. In the 1960's, it was used to confine Marshal Chang Xue-liang and his wife Zhao Di. We checked in in our hotel Double Inn and was driven there.  The environment is very soothing with a lot of green, flowers and typical Japanese set up. We first enjoyed our afternoon tea after travelling straight from Alishan to Chiayi to Taipei. You can visit the Zen Garden if you hold a booking of  the tour, hot spring or restaurant. It was very nice to enjoy the afternoon in its tea house  小六茶舖. It's cosy and the food was superb, good value for the money. NTD900 for two. Marshal Chang and his wife were detained at the Zen Garden for decades.  Though it was years ago, the exhibition of his room, photos and his life made me feel the loss of
Read more