Varese Ligure: Village, Mountain Nature and Historic Buildings

Varese Ligure between history and mountain landscapes

Varese Ligure combines distinctive buildings, a local history of its own and expansive mountain landscapes. The single-arch Ponte ad una fornice bridge was built in 1515. The Borgo Rotondo developed between the 14th and 15th centuries and has an elliptical shape.

Mountain nature among forests and pastureland

Within Varese Ligure, the Sito di Interesse Comunitario Monte Gottero - Passo del Lupo covers 1,130 hectares and lies at an altitude of 800 to 1,640 metres. The cool northern slopes of M.te Verruga and M.te Biscia are home to extensive chestnut forests as well as mixed forests of hornbeam, manna ash, chestnut and holm oak. As a result, the landscape alternates between wooded slopes and open areas.

The panoramic hiking trail also passes through chestnut forests and open pastureland. It runs through the mountain and agricultural area of Varese Ligure and can also be used by mountain bike or on horseback. The walking time for the Anello del M.te Gottero is approximately seven hours.

Hiking destinations with different time frames

One trail leads on foot to the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri in approximately three hours; it initially follows a paved road and then continues along an unpaved path. When choosing accommodation in Varese Ligure, this difference in travel time between the Alta Via and the Anello del M.te Gottero can be taken into account when planning your stay.

Village, churches and local history

The Museo di Cassego conveys local traditions and displays objects from rural everyday life. The Castello dei Fieschi is an example of 15th-century fortress architecture. The Chiesa dei Ss. Teresa d’Avila e Filippo Neri has an elegant Baroque façade and two twin towers. The Torre civica was originally the bell tower of the Chiesa di Santa Croce, which was attached to the monastery of the Augustinian fathers.

The Oratorio dei Santi Antonio e Rocco also points to a longer local development: Its building history is connected with the Confraternita dei Santi Antonio e Rocco, founded in 1451 and still active today. During a tour, this makes it possible to view different forms of religious, military and everyday history side by side, without presenting them as a single architectural ensemble.

Sciuette and an organic farming approach

The area around Varese Ligure follows an organic approach to agriculture and livestock farming. A special culinary trace leads to the Augustinian monastery associated with the Chiesa di San Filippo Neri e Santa Teresa d'Avila: almond pastry specialties called Sciuette were made there. The Sciuette were hollow inside and imitated the shapes of fruit, vegetables and flowers.

Further places for planning your trip: San Pietro Vara, Valeriano Lunense, Framura, Arcola, Portovenere, Bracelli, Sorbolo and Corniglia.

For the higher-level travel overview: La Spezia.