LAKE OF VARESE AND
THE BYCICLE LANE
Among the many cycle paths in Lombardy, that of Lake Varese is not to be missed, a ring of 28Km!
We advise against running the entire loop (it would be long and perhaps even boring on foot).
The most beautiful stretch is from the boarding point for the Virginia island to Gavirate.
The most convenient solution is to park at the Lido di Gavirate and head anticlockwise towards Biandronno.
Among other things, this is the most equipped stretch, with many refreshment points, bars and beaches.
​
Lake Varese cycle path:
Where to rent bikes
If you can't bring bicycles with you, we have seen two bicycle rental points on the cycle path of Lake Varese. The first is at the beach of Schiranna, where the cycle and pedestrian path officially begins, with km 0.
The second is at the beach of Gavirate.
Lake Varese cycle path:
Where to park
the closest and most convenient place to start along the cycle path of Lake Varese is the parking lot of the Tigros supermarket in Buguggiate, in via Giuseppe Verdi 24.
If the car park is full, you have to go towards Varese and, after a roundabout with an airplane, on the right, you will find a paid car park.
To Visit:
1) Sanctuary of the Madonna del Lago in Azzate
A few kilometers from the parking lot, you will find the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Lago, surrounded by fields and woods. This small sanctuary, built at the end of the 17th century, according to tradition was built at the behest of a noble knight, who during a harsh winter crossed the frozen lake from Gavirate to Azzate, without realizing that he was walking on the water. When a farmer explained the risk he had taken, the nobleman wanted to erect a sanctuary as a place of thanksgiving and devotion.
To Visit:
2) The Lido di Bodio
The first place where you will cross the lake is the Bodio beach, where you will find benches to relax and a very nice view.
There are also explanatory panels of the Neolithic finds found on Lake Varese.
To Visit:
3) The Lido and the ice-houses of Cazzago Brabbia
The ice shelters of Cazzago Brabbia have a long and fascinating history, and have contributed to the changes that have occurred in the environment over the previous centuries. The shelters were built entirely of stone at the end of the 18th century, on the shores of Lake Varese, in cavities dug about ten meters deep. They have conical roofs, similar to the trulli that can be admired in some Apulian locations, and were built to store ice and fish from Lake Varese.
To Visit:
4) The Isolino Virginia of Biandronno
Once in Biandronno, you will find the berth for Isolino Virginia, one of the most famous sites of European Prehistory and fascinating UNESCO World Heritage site .
​
The island of about 9200 square meters of surface, and with a characteristic triangular shape, is the oldest prehistoric pile-dwelling settlement of the Alpine Arch included in the UNESCO World Heritage List "Prehistoric pile-dwelling sites of the arch alpine ".
To Visit:
5) Lido di Gavirate: play and refreshment points
After passing a beautiful wooden bridge, you will reach Gavirate. In the area there are many bars and restaurants and a nice playground. Also take some time to take photos on the beautiful wooden walkway. The Lido di Gavirate is, according to many tourists, the most beautiful place on Lake Varese, and also the most popular.
To Visit:
6) Lido Della Schiranna
From Gavirate you pass the Canottieri; expect a stop near the Aero Club Adele Orsi, where you will see lots of gliders. You will then reach the Lido di Schiranna and the Luigi Zanzi Park. Here, too, there is no shortage of dining options, a playground and a swimming pool. The area is beautiful with lots of shade to relax and play.
To Visit:
7) Cloister of Voltorre
Here, hidden among farmhouses and plants, stands the Cloister, dedicated to San Michele, recognized as a national monument in 1911: it is a building complex consisting of a cloister, a tower, a church and some rooms that repeat themselves on the south side. on the first floor.
The Cloister was reborn thanks to the restorations carried out by the Department of Artistic and Architectural Heritage of the Province of Varese. The restoration of the monument, in addition to recovering all the artistic assets owned and with a view to a destination of use appropriate to the times and the spirit of a Benedictine monastery - a place of culture, reflection and art - has allowed the reuse of the entire structure as a space intended for artistic and cultural activities.