Lake Maggiore & Around - The Italian Lakes - page 178

1 Città Vecchia C3

2 Palazzo Estense B3

3 Villa Panza C1

Sights

4 Basilica di San Vittore C3

5 Giardini Estensi B3

6 Piazza Monte Grappa B3

7 Torre Civica B3

8 Villa Mirabello Museum B3

Eating

9 Ristorante Teatro C2

10 Vecchia Trattoria della Pesa C2

Sights

Palazzo Estense
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(off Via Montebello) From the 17th century, nobles and the rich, many from Milan, began to
build second residences around Varese's historic centre. Of these, the most sumptuous is
the Palazzo Estense, completed in 1771 for Francesco III d'Este, the Austrian-appointed
governor of the Duchy of Milan.
From Via Sacco, the main entrance is surprisingly understated as the main graceful
facade actually looks south onto the Italianate Giardini Estensi MAP GOOGLE MAP (admission free;
8am-dusk) . The building now belongs to the town hall and cannot be visited, but anyone
may swan through the entrance into the gardens, punctuated by ponds, an, hidden on a rise
behind Villa Mirabello is a giant cedar of Lebanon.
From Palazzo Estense, villa fans could round off by walking half a kilometre from Via
Sacco to the 17th-century Villa Recalcati , now seat of the provincial government. You can
wander around the outside of the building.

ARCHITECTURE

Villa Mirabello Museum
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MUSEUM