Holiday apartment in Barasso: Between Campo dei Fiori and Lake Varese

Barasso lies between the slopes of Campo dei Fiori and the shores of Lake Varese. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Barasso, you are choosing a place where landscapes, churches, art and local traditions are closely intertwined. The Campo dei Fiori area, on whose slopes Barasso is located, is protected by the Campo dei Fiori Regional Park. For planning your trip, this creates an interesting mix of a connection with nature and cultural discoveries.

What makes a holiday apartment in Barasso an interesting base

The parish church of San Martino, dedicated to the patron saint San Martino, is located in the historic centre. Another prominent site is the old Sant’Ambrogio church in the hamlet of Molina. It dates back to the 11th century and stands on a gentle slope with panoramic views of Lake Varese. Those who value local history and distinctive landscapes when choosing accommodation will therefore find different points of interest in Barasso, without having to limit themselves to just one type of holiday experience.

Art, craftsmanship and historic sites

Barasso is also shaped by its pipe-making tradition. Fratelli Rossi, home to Italy’s first industrial pipe production, was based here; the pipe-making tradition is still considered a defining feature of the town. Barasso was also home to the artists Vittorio Tavernari, Herman Metelerkamp and Angelo Bertoglio, who had their studios there. Since 2007, the municipal project “Barasso in Arte” has brought art exhibitions and cultural exhibitions to Barasso almost every year. These different facets make the town particularly interesting for you if craftsmanship, regional culture and exhibitions are regular parts of a trip.

Casa del Sole is also one of the town’s notable historic subjects. It is a former heliotherapy colony that was inaugurated in 1935. Casa del Sole includes an adjoining park within the Campo dei Fiori Regional Park. The building is intended for public and private events. Thus, alongside the churches and the pipe-making tradition, there is another specific place where historical significance and cultural use come together.

Sports and paths through the landscape

For active days, the Magister municipal sports centre offers football pitches, padel courts and a refreshment area. Cycling is also associated with Barasso: the 104th edition of the Tre Valli Varesine cycling race passed through the town on 7 October 2025. Another way to access the landscape is via Sentiero no. 10. This path can be reached via Via Al Piano; people coming from the town below can park there. If you choose your holiday apartment in Barasso based on your travel group’s interests, you can thus take cultural sightseeing, sports and nature walks into account as different focal points.

Festivals, exhibitions and special dates

A traditional Marian procession takes place in Barasso for the patron saint’s festival, organised by the parish of San Martino. One specific event date was the Festa dello Sport, held on 5 April 2025 at the Centro Sportivo Magister in Barasso. The Mercatino di Art-Hobbisti was also announced as a pre-Christmas market for art and crafts. Barasso also hosted the 25th edition of this Mercatino di Art-Hobbisti. The various events therefore range from religious tradition and sport to art and crafts.

When choosing your holiday apartment in Barasso, you can therefore first consider which of these aspects of the town should shape your trip. Churches and historic sites lead to San Martino, Sant’Ambrogio and Casa del Sole. Those interested in art will find several distinct themes in the studios of the three artists, the pipe-making tradition and “Barasso in Arte”. For active days, the sports centre, Sentiero no. 10 and the documented route of the Tre Valli Varesine cycling race are central points of interest. The location between Campo dei Fiori and Lake Varese complements these cultural and sporting points of interest with a distinctly scenic setting.

Other places to consider for your trip

If you would like to include other places in your selection alongside Barasso, you can also consider Busto Arsizio, Gornate Olona, Brusimpiano, Brunello, Casorate Sempione, Cardano Al Campo, Vergiate and Bassano.

For the overarching travel overview: Varese.