GIACOMO ZAVATTERI TOUR GUIDE/TRANSLATOR

At a driving distance of only 30 minutes from Milan, in Varese district, is located the village of Castiglione Olona.  It is such a jewel of renaissance art to be nicknamed “an island of Tuscany in Lombardy”.
The village was the court of the great cardinal Branda Castiglione, ambassador of the Pope and one of the most important religious and political character of the time, fine intellectual and patron of the most innovative artists.

During the guided tour we will admire the Branda Castiglioni palace, built by the family in XIV century and enlarged by the Cardinal Branda in XV century, the Chiesa di Villa, directly influenced by the old sacristy of San Lorenzo in Florence built by Brunelleschi and the Collegiata, typical church in XV century Lombard fashion, decorated with frescoes by Vecchietta and Masolino da Panicale, two Tuscany painters. 
Close to the Collegiata there is the best jewel hidden in Castiglione Olona: the baptistery decorated with beautiful frescos by Masolino da Panicale, it is a real time-machine able to bring us directly to the XV century.
Eventually there is the possibility to visit the interesting Museo d’Arte Plastica, with works of contemporary art, inside the Corte del Doro.

This guided tour is around 3 hours. Accessible by means of public transport and private cars.

 

 

Varese guided tour n.2

Deep inside the forest that covers the hills of the Varese district lays the archaeological area of Castelseprio.
Here is located an ancient fortress that was one of the key point for the defence of the area during Roman Empire.  The ruins of the ancient city tell us a fascinating story about Byzantium, Lombards and Franks, a noble history ended by Milan archbishop Ottone Visconti in 1287, when he ordered the total destruction of the city, levelled to the ground houses and fortifications and forbidden their re-construction forever.  
The guided tour illustrates the fortifications, the basilica of San Giovannni (St.Jhon), the houses of the city and the church of San Paolo (St. Paul).
Just out of the old city walls lies the church of Santa Maria Foris Portas, this is very  well preserved and it is one of the most important building for the study of history of art as it is a masterpiece of Christian art. The most interesting feature is inside, where we can admire the beautiful frescos painted by an artist probably coming from the Middle East and, they are a very rare example of histories from the New Testament Apocrypha.
It is really impossible to summarize here every history and the many misteris related to this fashinanting place, you shall visit Castelseprio.

Nearby is located the complex of Torba, perfectly preserved and restored by the FAI. It is possible to visit also this monument.

 

This guided tour is around 3 hours. Accessible by means of public transport and private buses or cars.