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Italy
Lombardy
Varese

Parco regionale Campo dei Fiori

Routes
Places to see
Italy
Lombardy
Varese

Parco regionale Campo dei Fiori

Attractions and Places To See around Parco regionale Campo dei Fiori - Top 20

Best attractions and places to see around Parco regionale Campo dei Fiori, a protected area in Lombardy, Italy, offers a diverse range of attractions. The park covers approximately 6,300 hectares and is characterized by two major massifs, Campo dei Fiori and Martica, separated by the Rasa Valley. It features notable landmarks, striking natural features, significant cultural sites, and extensive karst phenomena with over 130 discovered caves.

Best attractions and places to see around Parco regionale Campo dei Fiori

  • The most popular attractions is Sacro Monte of Varese and the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Monte, a religious building and UNESCO World Heritage site. This site includes a sanctuary and a village at its peak, offering panoramic views of the Lombard plain and surrounding lakes.
  • Another must-see spot is Chapel VII - The Flagellation, a religious building and historical site within the Sacro Monte di Varese complex. This chapel features eight statues by Martino Retti and frescoes by Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli, depicting scenes from Christ's life.
  • Visitors also love Monte Chiusarella — Summit and Summit Cross, a summit and viewpoint. Located at 915 meters above sea level, it provides a 360° panorama of the lakes and the Alpine and pre-Alpine belt.
  • Parco regionale Campo dei Fiori is known for its cultural sites, natural features, and extensive hiking trails. The region offers a variety of attractions, including historical monuments, significant karst formations, and diverse flora and fauna to explore.
  • The attractions around Parco regionale Campo dei Fiori are appreciated by the komoot community, with over 260 upvotes and 250 photos shared across various highlights.

Last updated: May 9, 2026

Sacro Monte of Varese and the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Monte

Highlight • Religious Site

Santa Maria del Monte is a small village, which contains a sanctuary inside, and offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Lombard plain and the surrounding lakes. It is also an excellent refreshment point, where you can try the local culinary specialities. The village is located within the Campo dei Fiori regional park and is a UNESCO heritage site.

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Madonna dei Ciclisti Shrine

Highlight • Monument

The Madonna of the cyclists is a painting by Franco Tardonato. Dating back to 1963, the painting is located inside a newsstand: many people who love sport, and cycling in particular, pay honor to the Madonna of cyclists, especially on the day of the Annunciation, December 8th.

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Chapel VII - The Flagellation

Highlight • Religious Site

During the week and when it's not in season, I can only recommend the tour, otherwise there are too many people!

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The meadows on calcareous soil, the so-called "Prati Magri", which cover the slope from the top of Monte Chiusarella to Pian Waldés and extend both towards the Pissavacca Valley to the east and towards the town of Rasa to the west, constitute a habitat of great naturalistic interest

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In the surroundings of Lake Maggiore there are many places in nature where you can enjoy a fun Sunday walk. A simple route inside the Campo dei Fiori Regional Park, especially loved by children for the presence of wooden sculptures. You will find yourself immersed in an enchanted forest where the wooden sculptures seem to come to life and animate nature. The departure is from the small town of Cerro di Caldana in the province of Varese, a few kilometers from the shores of Lake Maggiore.

The Cerro di Caldana sculpture trail falls within the territory of the Campo dei Fiori Regional Park, a protected natural area in Lombardy which falls within the province of Varese. The Park was established in 1984 and is today a highly sought after tourist destination especially by lovers of trekking and mountain walks. The network of hiking paths present within the Campo dei Fiori Park is very rich and varied: among all the proposed routes we also find the sculpture path, which is actually the first portion of path number 17 which connects the town of Cerro of Caldana to the Orino Fort, one of the cornerstones of the Cadorna Line built during the First World War. The Orino Fort today represents the arrival point of many paths, because at an altitude of 1139 meters above sea level it hosts one of the most beautiful balconies with a 360° view over Lake Maggiore and the entire province of Varese.

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Tips from the Community

angelo fornier
May 4, 2026, Sacro Monte di Varese and Santa Maria del Monte Sanctuary

The fact that it is a pilgrimage site does not exclude appropriate clothing, especially footwear; hiking shoes are recommended, even low-cut ones, as long as they have a good sole: you walk on cobblestones and, if it rains, the stones become slippery!

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You should see a fantastic path and a great view

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Pleasant. Be very careful when cutting through the woods or taking the short route. The gentlest route, starting from Rasa keeping to the right, is suitable for practically everyone.

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Un cammino di ciottoli fra boschi e antiche cappelle, che conduce a un minuscolo borgo medievale: vi porto con me al Sacro Monte di Varese, patrimonio Unesco Era da tanto che volevo andarci e ce l’ho fatta! Il Sacro Monte di Varese, patrimonio Unesco, è un complesso devozionale del 1600 sulle pendici del Monte di Velate. Andando oltre l’aspetto religioso, è uno splendido cammino che sale fino al borgo medievale di Santa Maria del Monte, arroccato a 850 metri di altezza. Circa 2 chilometri lungo una strada di ciottoli costellata di antiche cappelle. Una splendida gita fuori porta se siete in Lombardia. Il Sacro Monte è costituito da 14 cappelle che raccontano i misteri del rosario (la storia di Maria dall’annunciazione dell’arcangelo Gabriele alla resurrezione di Cristo), il santuario e la cripta. È stato costruito lungo tutto il ‘600 come opera di evangelizzazione contro la riforma protestante. Secondo la tradizione fu Sant’Ambrogio nel IV secolo a portare sul monte la devozione alla Vergine Maria, per celebrare la vittoria sugli eretici nei pressi della Torre degli Ariani(costruzione romana nel monastero del borgo di cui vi parlerò fra poco). Il luogo infatti era strategico per controllare le invasioni da nord. A introdurre il percorso ci pensa il primo arco, detto “del rosario”, a cui poi ne seguiranno altri due. Il viale è molto ampio e spazioso, contornato da boschi fittissimi ed eleganti dimore. Il Sacro Monte infatti è immerso nel Parco regionale Campo dei Fiori, 6.300 ettari di verde e poi è una passeggiata di circa 45 minuti, non una scarpinata devastante e la pendenza è fattibilissima, infatti c’erano parecchi bimbi. I lavori per costruire il Viale delle Cappelle iniziarono nel 1604. L’obiettivo era quello di offrire ai pellegrini un percorso più agevole rispetto ai vecchi sentieri, recitando il rosario e meditando di cappella in cappella. Ogni cappella è diversa dalle altre, ma hanno tutte al loro interno gruppi di sculture in terracotta. Non mancano nemmeno gli affreschi, che raffigurano paesaggi o templi. Le cappelle non sono aperte al pubblico, ma grazie ad ampie finestre si può guardare all’interno. Quando arrivate all’ultima cappella, con Santa Maria del Monte che vi guarda dalla cima, un largo sorriso vi illuminerà il volto. È un borgo minuscolo ma di grande bellezza. La sua nascita e il suo sviluppo sono strettamente legati al santuario. Le prime abitazioni infatti dovevano ospitare le persone che si occupavano della chiesa e dei pellegrini in arrivo. Il nucleo più antico è tutt’uno col santuario. Poco sotto il campanile di fine ‘500, a destra salite verso Piazza Paolo VI, da cui si accede al santuario. Dalla terrazza del Mosè dell’800, su uno sperone roccioso sul Viale delle Cappelle, c’è una vista bellissima, mentre a fianco c’è un belvedere con tanto di spiegone. Il panorama abbraccia tutta la pianura padana da Varese a Como, dalle Alpi fino a Milano avvolta nello smog. A sinistra del campanile invece vi infilate in un breve cunicolo che percorre la casa parrocchiale e altri locali del santuario. Anche in questo antico corridoio ci sono piccole finestre che si aprono sulla valle. Non manca poi un lillipuziano dedalo di vicoletti per un tuffo nel passato. Dal cunicolo si sbuca nella Piazzetta Monastero. Qui si affacciano il santuario, il monastero delle romite ambrosiane (eretto nel 1474 e in cui vive una trentina di monache) e il Museo Baroffio. Questa sede ospita la collezione storico-artistica della chiesa, i dipinti di Giuseppe Baroffio Dall’Aglio, e una sezione d’arte del ‘900. Se vi interessa, all’ingresso del borgo c’è anche la Casa Museo Lodovico Pogliaghi. Il pittore, scultore e scenografo, innamorato duro di Santa Maria del Monte, ha costruito una splendida villa in cui è raccolta la sua eclettica collezione di opere d’arte. E arriviamo al cuore del Sacro Monte di Varese, il santuario, che rappresenta anche la quindicesima cappella. Citato per la prima volta nel 922, è sicuramente ancora più antico. Quello che vediamo oggi è il risultato di una serie di interventi. Tre sono le costruzioni fondamentali: una chiesa di età carolingio-ottoniana del IX-X secolo; una nuova chiesa di età romanica; l’ampliamento voluto nel 1400 dal Duca di Milano Galeazzo Maria Sforza e dai suoi avi. Infine, sotto l’altare c’è la cripta con affreschi devozionali; al suo interno conserva i resti della prima chiesa edificata sul monte fra il IX e il X secolo. Come arrivare – in macchina: il percorso pedonale inizia dalla località Prima Cappella, col monumentale arco del rosario. Poco prima, a destra c’è un mini parcheggio e una viuzza in discesa in cui lasciare la vettura (Via dell’Immacolata).
Se volete arrivare direttamente al borgo in auto, la meta è Piazzale Pogliaghi, nella parte alta del Sacro Monte. Beati quelli che troveranno posto! – in funicolare: la funicolare Vellone-Sacro Monte, dei primi del ‘900, collega la valle del Vellone col borgo. È attiva nei weekend. La stazione a valle può essere raggiunta col bus della linea C, che passa per il centro di Varese. Chi arriva in treno può prenderlo in Corso Moro o Via Veratti, se invece siete in macchina parcheggiate in Piazzale Montanari. – in autobus: quando la funicolare non è attiva, la linea C porta fino al borgo.

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they are very beautiful and scenic places.

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Chapel Seven 🏛 the Flagellation Sacro Monte⛰

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Chapel of the Blessed, very beautiful 🌈 the frescoes 🎨

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The chapel was commissioned by the Litta brothers, nobles from Milan, in memory of their family coat of arms. The eight statues are by Martino Retti (1608), who wanted to create figures that "would reproduce as much as possible the naturalness". In the centre is the suffering Christ, over whom the henchmen are drawing grotesque faces. In the background are three large fresco scenes by Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli, alias Morazzone (1609): Christ before Caiaphas; Christ and Barabbas shown to the people; the naked Christ being drawn to be scourged.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What historical or cultural sites can I explore around Parco regionale Campo dei Fiori?

The region is rich in history and culture. A must-visit is the Sacro Monte of Varese and the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Monte, a UNESCO World Heritage site offering a spiritual journey and panoramic views. You can also see the Madonna dei Ciclisti Shrine, a monument dedicated to cyclists, and architectural examples like the Rocca di Orino, an ancient fortified structure, and the Velate Tower, an 11th-century defensive building. The Ganna Abbey and museums like Casa Museo Pogliaghi and Museo Baroffio also offer cultural insights.

Where can I find the best panoramic views in Parco regionale Campo dei Fiori?

For breathtaking panoramic views, head to the Sacro Monte of Varese and the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Monte, which overlooks the Lombard plain and surrounding lakes. Another excellent spot is Monte Chiusarella — Summit and Summit Cross, located at 915 meters above sea level, providing a 360° panorama of the lakes and the Alpine and pre-Alpine belt. Punta Paradiso, the highest point of Campo dei Fiori, also offers magnificent vistas.

Are there family-friendly attractions or activities in the park?

Yes, several attractions are suitable for families. The walk up to the Sacro Monte of Varese is popular, with its chapels and a charming village at the top. Monte Chiusarella is also considered family-friendly, offering accessible trails and rewarding views. The park's numerous hiking trails, especially the easier ones, are great for family outings, allowing exploration of its diverse natural features.

What natural features can I see in Parco regionale Campo dei Fiori?

The park is renowned for its diverse natural beauty. You can explore significant karst phenomena, including over 130 discovered caves. The two major massifs, Campo dei Fiori and Martica, offer impressive landscapes. Nature reserves like Lake Ganna and Lake Brinzio are noted for their serene beauty. Don't miss natural monuments such as the 'Fonte del Ceppo' karstic spring and the 'Marmitte dei giganti' sculpted rocks. The park also boasts diverse forests, rare wild orchids, and a variety of wildlife.

What outdoor activities can I do near these attractions?

Beyond exploring the attractions, the park offers extensive opportunities for outdoor activities. You can enjoy various forms of cycling, including gravel biking and mountain biking on dedicated trails. For those who prefer walking, there are numerous mountain hikes and over 20 hiking trails throughout the park, catering to different difficulty levels.

Are there specific hiking trails for different skill levels?

Yes, Parco regionale Campo dei Fiori offers sixteen major marked trails, ranging from easy walks to more challenging mountain hikes. For example, the Monte Chiusarella loop from Rasa is a moderate option, while the Laveno Harbour – Lago Maggiore Cable Car loop presents a more difficult mountaineering challenge. The park's diverse terrain ensures there's a suitable trail for every hiker.

What is the best time of year to visit Parco regionale Campo dei Fiori?

The park offers beauty throughout the year. Spring and autumn are ideal for hiking and exploring the diverse flora, with chestnut and beech forests displaying vibrant colors. Summer is pleasant for outdoor activities, though some areas might be busier. Even in winter, the park can be enjoyed, with opportunities for winter activities and serene, less crowded trails.

Is public transport available to reach the main attractions?

Yes, for key attractions like the Sacro Monte of Varese, public transport options are available. A funicular connects the Vellone valley with the village, operating on weekends. Additionally, bus line C from Varese city center can take you directly to the village, especially when the funicular is not active.

Are there options for parking near the main attractions?

For visitors arriving by car, parking is available near major sites. For instance, to access the pedestrian path to Sacro Monte of Varese, there's a small parking area at Prima Cappella. If you wish to drive directly to the village at the top, Piazzale Pogliaghi offers parking, though spots can be limited, especially during peak times.

What do visitors enjoy most about Parco regionale Campo dei Fiori?

Visitors frequently praise the stunning panoramic views, particularly from sites like the Sacro Monte of Varese and Monte Chiusarella. The well-maintained hiking trails, the rich historical and cultural heritage, and the diverse natural landscapes, including the unique karst formations and serene lakes, are also highly appreciated. Many enjoy the blend of spiritual journey, architectural beauty, and natural exploration.

Can I find less crowded trails for a more peaceful experience?

While popular spots can attract visitors, the park's extensive network of over 20 hiking trails means you can often find quieter paths. Exploring trails that venture deeper into the Martica massif or around the less frequented nature reserves like Lake Brinzio, especially during weekdays or off-peak seasons, can offer a more serene and peaceful experience away from the main tourist hubs.

Are there any specific points of interest for cycling enthusiasts?

Cycling enthusiasts will find several points of interest. The Madonna dei Ciclisti Shrine is a significant monument often visited by cyclists. The park also features numerous routes suitable for gravel biking and mountain biking, with trails like the 'Madonna dei Ciclisti Shrine – Lake Pralugano loop' offering scenic rides.

What kind of wildlife can I expect to see in the park?

Parco regionale Campo dei Fiori is home to a rich variety of wildlife. Birdwatchers can spot nesting raptors such as Black Kites, Buzzards, Sparrowhawks, and Peregrine Falcons, along with various migrating birds. Mammals like red deer, roe deer, wild boars, foxes, and badgers also inhabit the area. The park's caves are particularly notable for hosting 16 species of bats.

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