What to do and see in Province of Varese, Lombardy: The Best Cultural Tours

May 28, 2021 Almeta Stockton

The province of Varese (Italian: provincia di Varese) is a province in the Lombardy region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Varese (population of 80,857 inhabitants), but its largest city is Busto Arsizio. The headquarters of the AgustaWestland, the company merged into Leonardo since 2016, the world's largest producer of helicopters, is based in Samarate, a comune of the province. As of 2015, it has a population of 889,410 inhabitants over an area of 1,198.11 square kilometres (462.59 sq mi). The provincial president is Nicola Gunnar Vincenzi.
Restaurants in Province of Varese

1. The best of Lake Maggiore on a private guided boat tour

Piazzale Lido, 28838 Stresa VB, Italy Micaela - Private Tour Guide Lake Maggiore Orta Guided Tours
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 2 reviews

Whether you are a small party, a family or a couple, a private boat tour cruising lake Maggiore can be a unique way to discover this lovely lake and its enchanting scenery: green hills, snow-capped mountains, beautiful islands, elegant villas with stunning gardens, villages and pretty towns, gorgeous views....all this while sitting in a safe and comfortable private motorboat accompanied by a licensed local guide and captain. This stress-free tour will enable you to discover lake Maggiore's beauties wihout any effort, away from the crowds, in a relaxed atmosphere. Just you and your party cruising for the length of time you will choose ( 1 hour, 90 minutes or more). You can decide to have a stop or more stops during the cruise at one of the picturesque towns on lake Maggiore to enjoy a gelato ( ice cream) or a coffee! IMPORTANT NOTES: private boat skipper is certified, fully insured and has a regular license issued by the local authority that entitles him to transport tourists on board.

Inclusions: Private guide service

Exclusions: Private boat transport

Reviewed By Cecelia K

My husband and I recently spent a week in the Lago Maggiore area, after not having gone anywhere since March. We were and still are very concerned about guarding against COVID and wanted to take as many precautions as we could, while still enjoying a one-week getaway. We were distancing ourselves, eating outside whenever possible, wearing our masks, and always had sanitizing supplies with us. We had never before been to Italy and we had never before hired a private guide and we were not sure what to expect. We gave it a try, especially so we wouldn’t expose ourselves to too many people too close together for too long. We first read about Micaela from Tripadvisor, but then we read about a lot more of what she had to offer on her website. She was very responsive to all of our emails and questions. Well, hiring Micaela was our best decision! We spent two whole days and two partial days with her and we are so glad we did. It was soooo worth it! For our first tour with her, we explored the three Borromean Islands, getting around with a private boat. We met at the boat landing at the Piazzale Lido near the cable car to Mt. Mottarone (our hotel was conveniently nearby). Micaela shared her knowledge of the rich history, art, and culture of the area, as well as her extensive knowledge of the local flora. The palace and its history on Isola Bella was amazing, as well as the very beautiful ten-level terraced and sculptured gardens, where we also learned about the citron. We ate a most delicious lunch on Isola Pescatore (our best meal)! This island was so quaint and chock-full of character. At Isola Madre, we much enjoyed visiting the country villa and equally beautiful, but different English-style gardens. It was a fabulous day! We also took a private boat to Caterina del Sasso (partial day), which was stunning. We learned how the monastery came to be, about the frescoes, the religious order and more. It’s rock-hugging location is awesome. For our off-the-beaten-path tour, we took a very pleasant walk to the outskirts of Orta San Giulio, seeing the non-touristy side - how people live and what they do, learning more about this area and ending up at a very small typical old-time village. We then walked along lovely Lake Orta to the charming town center of Orta San Giulio. From there, we took a boat to the small island not far away and toured the beautiful basilica and complex there, learning about the frescoes and the lives of the martyrs. The churches here are real gems. For our last tour, we took a sunset cruise, again using a private boat. Micaela told us about many of the enchanting villas along the coast and more. She provided us with a bottle of wine, complete with snacks, while we watched the changing colors of the sunset as it played out in the sky, clouds, water, mountains and off of buildings. It was so relaxing and serene and we loved every minute! Our boat captain was also very nice, polite and accommodating. Micaela and the captain were very good about wearing their masks. We took them off during times when there was plenty of distancing room. Micaela was professional and knowledgeable, friendly and helpful, personable and thoughtful and spoke great English. Hiring her so greatly enhanced our trip tenfold and we definitely recommend her without hesitation! [Her husband is also a private driver, so they would make an excellent pair, if you needed that as well.] We will always remember her and cherish this wonderful trip!!! Grazie mille, Micaela! ????????☀️????

2. A private tour between culture and taste: Varese and its Holy Mount

Monte Grappa Square, Piazza Monte Grappa, 21100 Varese VA, Italy Book Your Italy DMC
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1 reviews

A few kilometers away from Milan and Como lies Varese, a quite unknown destination which, indeed, was chosen as a leisure site by many wealthy and aristocrats families between the 17th and 20th century. The town has thus become a "garden city", thanks to the several gorgeous villas and their gardens. This private tour will allow you to explore the artistic and architectural wonders of Varese town centre, besides of enjoying a typical dessert in a historical cafeteria. Later, you will reach the UNESCO heritage of the Sacred Mount, a Renaissance sanctuary connected to the valley by a cobbled way, dotted by fourteen magnificent baroque chapels. On the small and charming village close to the sanctuary, Santa Maria del Monte, you will enjoy an exclusive tasting of Borducan, a liqueur made of orange and aromatic herbs.

Inclusions: Qualified private guide, Tasting of a typical local sweet, in a historic cafeteria, Tasting of a local liqueur, served with a slice of cake, Private transportation

Exclusions: Gratuities, Lunch

3. Discover Italy. Private & Customizable tour (7/10/14 days)

Limousine Service in Italy

Visit one of the most beautiful and evocative European countries. Italy is made up of landscapes of a completely different nature ranging from the splendid beaches of the Mediterranean to the hilly landscapes of Tuscany. The historical and artistic importance of Rome, Naples, Florence, Venice as well as small cities such as Siena, Pisa, Lucca, Ferrara, Padua, Ravenna represent the real gems of a country where traditions have centuries of history. If you already have your itinerary in mind you can contact our office for more information. You can decide between three options: 7 days, 10 days or 14 days of tour with private driver. Your driver will be at your disposal 24/7. We will book for you the private tour guides and all your tickets for the Museums, historical sites or parks that you will want to visit.

Inclusions: Pick up and drop off all over Italy. Hotels, private apartments, train stations, airports, ports, Fully customizable tour, you can decide the entire itinerary, Private tour. We do not combine groups, Luxury Mercedes vehicles. E class, V Class, Vito or Sprinter, English speaking driver at your disposal 24/7, Our office will help you and give you useful advice to define your tour, We'll book a private guide in the cities, museums and historical sites you will decide to visit, We will pre-purchase the skip the line tickets you will need during your vacation

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities (not mandatory), The cost of the tickets for tourist attractions, museums, historical sites, The cost for the private boat tours with skipper. We book the tour for you, The cost for tour guides in Rome, Naples, Florence, Venice, Milan, Turin, etc.

Reviewed By nirmalm2013

We had a very enjoyable and informative all-day tour of Rome and Vatican City. Our guide, Nicola, was very knowledgeable and friendly. He arranged the schedule perfectly and gave us keen insights on each point of interest that we visited. Our driver, Claudio, expertly navigated the routes and was very friendly as well. We engaged Claudio to give us another half-day tour of Castel Gandolfo, which was superb. I strongly recommend Limousine Service in Italy for your travel needs.

4. Across lake Maggiore to the Hermitage of St. Caterina, with an onboard aperitif

Piazza Marconi, 16, 28838 Stresa VB, Italy Book Your Italy DMC

The two sides of lake Maggiore are amazingly different: Westwards, the sweet sines of the gulf on which Stresa and Baveno lay, in front of the charming Borromean Islands with their botanical gardens and villas. Eastwards, the deep waters in which high and wooded cliffs tumble down. This private tour will allow you to enjoy this beautiful diversity, taking you to the discovery of a hidden jewel, built sheer up on the water, close to the town of Laveno Mombello: the Hermitage of Santa Caterina, offering priceless works of art and a breathtaking view on lake Maggiore. This unforgettable experience will end with an exclusive aperitif, served onboard on your route back.

Inclusions: Qualified private guide, Private transfer by a taxi-boat, Exclusive aperitif onboard

Exclusions: Gratuities, Dinner, Lunch

5. A private wintertime tour on lake Maggiore

28838 Stresa, Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Italy Micaela - Private Tour Guide Lake Maggiore Orta Guided Tours

This is a special wintertime tour, available also during the Christmas season, that will allow you to see two of the highlights of lake Maggiore also in the winter: the hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso and isola Bella. Using a comfortable private boat ( covered!) we will enjoy a cruise on lake Maggiore as far as the lombard shore where we will visit the fascinating hermitage of Santa Caterina with its 16th-century frescoed church. The church and the two convents were built on very steep rocks on the lake and the view iof this incredible site from the water is really impressive. We will then enjoy another boat ride to isola Bella. The interiors of Isola Bella's palace and the gardens will not be accessible this time of the year, but you will be able to admire the beauty of isola Bella through its picturesque village on a guided stroll with your private local guide. You will also enjoy a private boat tour around isola Bella to see the whole island with its terraced gardens.

Inclusions: Private transportation, Private local guide

Exclusions: Entry ticket to the hermitage of santa Caterina € 5 per person

Reviewed By Cecelia K

My husband and I recently spent a week in the Lago Maggiore area, after not having gone anywhere since March. We were and still are very concerned about guarding against COVID and wanted to take as many precautions as we could, while still enjoying a one-week getaway. We were distancing ourselves, eating outside whenever possible, wearing our masks, and always had sanitizing supplies with us. We had never before been to Italy and we had never before hired a private guide and we were not sure what to expect. We gave it a try, especially so we wouldn’t expose ourselves to too many people too close together for too long. We first read about Micaela from Tripadvisor, but then we read about a lot more of what she had to offer on her website. She was very responsive to all of our emails and questions. Well, hiring Micaela was our best decision! We spent two whole days and two partial days with her and we are so glad we did. It was soooo worth it! For our first tour with her, we explored the three Borromean Islands, getting around with a private boat. We met at the boat landing at the Piazzale Lido near the cable car to Mt. Mottarone (our hotel was conveniently nearby). Micaela shared her knowledge of the rich history, art, and culture of the area, as well as her extensive knowledge of the local flora. The palace and its history on Isola Bella was amazing, as well as the very beautiful ten-level terraced and sculptured gardens, where we also learned about the citron. We ate a most delicious lunch on Isola Pescatore (our best meal)! This island was so quaint and chock-full of character. At Isola Madre, we much enjoyed visiting the country villa and equally beautiful, but different English-style gardens. It was a fabulous day! We also took a private boat to Caterina del Sasso (partial day), which was stunning. We learned how the monastery came to be, about the frescoes, the religious order and more. It’s rock-hugging location is awesome. For our off-the-beaten-path tour, we took a very pleasant walk to the outskirts of Orta San Giulio, seeing the non-touristy side - how people live and what they do, learning more about this area and ending up at a very small typical old-time village. We then walked along lovely Lake Orta to the charming town center of Orta San Giulio. From there, we took a boat to the small island not far away and toured the beautiful basilica and complex there, learning about the frescoes and the lives of the martyrs. The churches here are real gems. For our last tour, we took a sunset cruise, again using a private boat. Micaela told us about many of the enchanting villas along the coast and more. She provided us with a bottle of wine, complete with snacks, while we watched the changing colors of the sunset as it played out in the sky, clouds, water, mountains and off of buildings. It was so relaxing and serene and we loved every minute! Our boat captain was also very nice, polite and accommodating. Micaela and the captain were very good about wearing their masks. We took them off during times when there was plenty of distancing room. Micaela was professional and knowledgeable, friendly and helpful, personable and thoughtful and spoke great English. Hiring her so greatly enhanced our trip tenfold and we definitely recommend her without hesitation! [Her husband is also a private driver, so they would make an excellent pair, if you needed that as well.] We will always remember her and cherish this wonderful trip!!! Grazie mille, Micaela! ????????☀️????

6. A private panoramic and original tour around Lake Maggiore

Piazza Marconi, 16, 28838 Stresa VB, Italy Book Your Italy DMC

The two sides of Lake Maggiore are amazingly different: westwards, the sweet sines of the gulf on which Stresa and Baveno lay, in front of the charming Borromean Islands with their botanical gardens and villas. Eastwards, the deep waters in which high and wooded cliffs tumble down. This private tour will allow you to enjoy this beautiful diversity, taking you to the discovery of two jewels, built sheer up on the water: the Borromean fortress of Angera, now a museum with, amazing Medieval decorations, the massive tower, from which your gaze can abrace a beautiful panorama and its Medieval garden. Then, the Hermitage of Santa Caterina, a religiuos complex perched on the cliff , overlooking Lake Maggiore. You'll realize how beauty has really occupied any possible space in these surroundings.

Inclusions: Qualified private guide, Private transportation

Exclusions: Lunch, Gratuities

7. Discovering Lake Maggiore: the best panoramic private cruise

Piazza Marconi, 16, 28838 Stresa VB, Italy Book Your Italy DMC

Lake Maggiore is a land of enchantment, whose coastlines are dotted by small, charming villages, art treasures, majestic castles and gorgeous gardens. In the middle of it lay the Borromean Islands, who has been chosen through the centuries by wealthy families, especially the Borromeo, for their leisure residences. This private cruise will take you to Isola Bella, seat of a fairy palace and a terraced botanical garden, then to Isola dei Pescatori, the only permanently inhabited one, where you may enjoy a good seafood lunch. Then, reaching the cliffs and woods of the lake eastern coast, you will find as a hidden jewel the Hermitage of Santa Caterina, a monastery built sheer on the waters, overlooking the lake with an astonishing view.

Inclusions: Qualified private guide, Transfer by private taxi boat with skipper at disposal

Exclusions: Gratuities, Lunch

ThingsTodoPost © 2018 - 2024 All rights reserved.