Viggiù: Sculpture, Stone and Trails on Monte Orsa

Viggiù between Stone, Sculpture and Mountain Landscapes

Viggiù lies at the foot of the 998-metre-high Monte Orsa. The landscape includes Ice Age-shaped moraine hills, deciduous forests, hay meadows and limestone quarries. Around sixteen limestone quarries are located to the west; the high-quality stone is known as “pietra di Viggiù”. These themes shape Viggiù’s different facets.

Sculpture and Stoneworking Tradition

The Museo del ’900 presents an anthology of 20th-century sculpture from Viggiù. Its two central halls are dedicated to the master Buzzi Reschini; his most representative work, the monumental group “Il bene che atterra il male”, deserves particular attention there. The plaster cast collection of the sculptor Enrico Butti displays around 80 plaster models as well as his paintings. In Viggiù’s historic centre, the Museo della Scultura Viggiutese dell’Ottocento is housed in the orangery of Villa Borromeo. The villa is an elegant late Neoclassical building in the heart of Viggiù.

The history of the craft can be clearly defined in chronological terms: Between Italian unification and the First World War, activities connected with stone processing in Viggiù accounted for an average of 90 workshops with more than 600 employees. The Museo dei Picasass is housed in the former stables of Villa Borromeo.

Churches and Historic Places

The Chiesa di Santo Stefano Protomartire developed from a medieval Romanesque building into its present form with three naves separated by columns made of Saltrio stone. The Chiesa di San Siro preserves 16th-century frescoes, including an Annunciation and a Christ Pantocrator with the four Evangelists. The Chiesa di Sant'Elia is an 11th-century Cluniac hermitage on a 665-metre-high hill.

The Chiesa di San Martino can be reached via an impressive paved road known as a “rizzada”. Its entrance is marked by an 18th-century archway.

Hiking Trails between Monte Orsa and Monte Pravello

For hiking, the network of trails ranges from easy family walks to hikes in the foothills. The approximately 7-kilometre Sentiero della Pace route leads from Viggiù to the observation posts on Monte Orsa and the fortification system between Monte Orsa and Monte Pravello; Route 2 begins in Viggiù and forms a circular route around the town. The route to Monte Orsa starts in Viggiù at the “Sentiero degli Alpini” mule track, leads through the forest and to a viewpoint overlooking Porto Ceresio and its lake.

The approximately 4-kilometre Sentiero del Silenzio is marked with memorial totems; some bear QR codes that allow you to hear accounts from people who fled through this area. The trail leads to Monte Pravello, where a memorial plaque and a sculpture commemorate the tragic events of the past century. The different trail lengths provide an objective basis for comparing routes according to your interests and available time.

Practical Information

For visits to the Museo della Scultura viggiutese dell’Ottocento on other days and at other times, you can use the reservation form.

More Destinations

For more destinations to include in your travel plans, you can find Monvalle, Brunello, Gallarate, Travedona-Monate, Vergiate, Corgeno, Somma Lombardo and Castellanza here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Varese.