BIKE ITINERARIES

Cycling routes in Varese area

The province of Varese is famous for its beautiful and very varied landscape, with the fertile countryside forming a backdrop for picturesque villages and places of cultural and historic interest. The grandeur of the Alps is offset by the green of the hills, and especially by the lovely verdant gardens to be found along the shores of the great lakes and in hidden corners of the many valleys. There are a host of different itineraries to choose from, and the bicycle is certainly one of the best means of exploring this rich and glorious area.

The region is characterized by an abundance of water, notably with the imposing presence of Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano and Lake Varese, all of which are glacial in origin. There are also numerous rivers in the area, including the Tresa, the Olona and the Ticino, which offer many opportunities for delightful excursions. Amongst the best-known and most beautiful valleys are the Valle Olona, the Val Veddasca, the Val Dumentina, the Valcuvia, the Valtravaglia, the Valganna, the Val Marchirolo and the Valceresio.

Whether you are a professional cyclist or an enthusiastic amateur, a lover of road cycling or mountain-biking, or just a cycle-tourist wanting to explore the area at your own pace, the province of Varese can offer you routes of every type. These may be on paved or dirt roads, with some strenuous routes which alternate between level stretches and rapid ascents, and some relaxing itineraries along the extensive cycle paths which border the many lakes in the region.
Particularly spectacular is the CicloVia dei Laghi (Lake Cycle-Way) which skirts 14 lakes in the provinces of Varese, Como and Lecco, covering a total distance of 300 km. It divides up into nine varied and stupendous routes, allowing the cyclist to choose between locations with very different natural scenery and culture. In the province of Varese, the CicloVia crosses the beautiful valleys of Valcuvia and Valganna, connecting the shores of Lake Ceresio to Lake Maggiore and passing through areas of protected countryside interspersed with attractive villages. There is also the delightful route along the shores of Lake Varese which is entirely on a good cycle path and therefore particularly suitable for families with children or inexperienced cyclists. Another pleasant cycle path forms a circuit of Lake Comabbio. An itinerary not to be missed takes you across the Valle Olona, including a stop-off at the important Renaissance town of Castiglione Olona.

You have a choice of more than twenty routes for exploring this fascinating area: from the circuit of Lake Varese with its views of Monte Rosa, to itineraries taking you as far as Lake Maggiore on the Italian-Swiss border. The landscape here is fascinating, combining rare natural beauty with some wonderful architecture, including opulent villas and mansions surrounded by gardens which are works of art in themselves. For those who prefer a contemplative atmosphere to such splendours, there are many monasteries and sanctuaries to be discovered; or historic villages which testify to the rich cultural heritage of this region.

ITINERARIES IN THE LAKE REGION

1- Tour of Lake Lugano   76,7 km
Varese - Porto Ceresio - Ponte Tresa - Morcote - Capolago - Porto Ceresio - Varese

2- Tour of Lake Maggiore   174,7 km
Varese - Vergiate - Sesto Calende - Arona - Stresa - Verbania - Ascona - Locarno - Luino - Grantola - Varese

3- Tour of the 4 Lakes    105 km
Varese - Inarzo - Corgeno - Cadrezzate - Ispra - Laveno - Luino - Geminio - Gavirate - Schiranna - Varese

4- Tour of Lake Varese    33,6 km
Varese - Schiaranna - Capolago - Biandronno - Bardello - Gavirate - Groppello - Calcinate - Schiranna - Varese

5- Tour of Cuvignone   69,1 km
Varese - Gavirate - Cittiglio - Vararo - Passo del Cuvignone - Arcumeggia - Casalzuigno - Cuvio - Brinzio - Mondonico - Ganna - Varese

6- Tour of Settetermini   79,8 km
Varese - Brinzio - Castello Cabiaglio - Cuveglio - Grantola - Monte Sette Termini - Ponte Tresa - Porto Ceresio - Varese

7- From Ceresio to Valganna valley    73,8 km
Varese - Porto Ceresio - Brusimpiano - Marchirolo - Ghirla - Marzio - Alpe Tedesco - Viggiù - Varese

8- Tour of Veddasca valley    125 km
Varese - Ponte Tresa - Luino - Maccagno - Indemini - Vira - Luino - Mesenzana - Cunardo - Varese

9- Tour of Malcantone    92,6 km
Varese - Ponte Tresa - Cademario - Sessa - Dumenza - Luino - Varese

10- From Lake Como to Ceresio    97,5 km
Varese - Malnate - San Fermo della Battaglia - Cernobbio - Argegno - Lanzo di Intelvi - Riva San Vitale - Porto Ceresio - Varese

11- From Porlezza to Sighignola - Lake Lugano    114 km
Varese - Ghirla - Ponte Tresa - Lugano - Porlezza - Lanzo di Intelvi - Sighignola - Capolago - Mendrisio - Varese

12- Tour of San Michele    80,5 km
Varese - Ponte Tresa - Luino - Porto Valtravaglia - San Michele - Brissago Valtravaglia - Mesenzana - Cuvio - Brinzio - Varese

13- Cycle route on the Ticino river    83,6 km
Varese - Mornago - Somma Lombardo - Porto Torre - Ciclabile dell'Alto Ticino - Nosate - Somma Lombardo - Cimbro - Casale Litta - Galliate Lombardo - Varese

14- In the Ticino national park    96 km
Varese - Sesto Calende - Veruno - Marano Ticino - Varallo Pombia - Vergiate - Varese

CYCLE PATHS

15- By bike round Lake Varese    28 km
Varese - Schiranna - Varese Casbeno - Cascina Galgino - Varese

16- Cycling on the banks of Lake Comabbio    12,5 km
Varano Borghi - Ternate - Comabbio - Mercallo dei Sassi

17- The cycle path in Valle Olona    20 km
Castellanza - Varano Borghi - Ternate - Olgiate Olona - Torba - Castiglione Olona

18- By bike along the Ticino river from Sesto Calende to Pavia    120 km
Sesto Calende - Somma Lombardo - Lonate Pozzolo - Nosate - Vizzola Ticino - Tornavento - Abbiategrasso - Pavia

19- The Valganna and the Valmarchirolo by bike
Ganna - Lake di Ghirla - Lavena Ponte Tresa - Ferrera - Cunardo - Fornaci - Ganna

20- From Mesenzana to Luino along the Margorabbia river
Malpensata - Mesenzana - Cassano Valcuvia - Torrente Margorabbia - Germignana - Strà di caver - Luino