Here the artistic and religious heritage is considerable: monasteries, abbeys, sanctuaries, many of which dedicated to the Virgin: not only places of prayer but also breathtaking sites.

A quickly expanding touristic frontier: it is a chance to visit sacred sites and to enjoy a holiday which, apart from its ludic and cultural profile, also offers moments of reflection.

From Saronno, which hosts the Sanctuary Beata Vergine dei Miracoli, decorated by masters of Mannerist painting such as Bernardino Luini and Gaudenzio Ferrari, we head for Busto Arsizio, with its sacred Renaissance building Santa Maria in Piazza, and then for Gallarate, where to find the ancient Collegiate, now "Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta".

Few kilometers and here we are at Madonna della Ghianda in Somma Lombardo and at the Collegiate of San Vittore with the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Arsago Seprio, a pure example of Romanic architecture. We will then continue to Sesto Calende, where we might visit the Abbey of San Donato and immerse ourselves into the beauty of the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso in Leggiuno, overhanging Lake Maggiore.

Before travelling on foot along the ascent of Sacro Monte with its chapels – an extraordinary Seventeenth century architectonic work-, we must not forget the Collegiate Complex in Castiglione Olona, Sanctuary "Madonna del Carmine" in Luino, Chiostro di Voltorre, Monastery of Cairate, Badia di Ganna and the S. Vittore Basilica in Varese.

MORE INFO: Religious Tourism