166 Route 25. CASTIGLIONE D'OLONA.
to the N.E., on the road to Biume Inferiore ; then, near the latter
village, Villa Litta Modignani,vtMch still bears traces of a skirmish
fought here on 26th May, 1859; Villa Taccioli, Poggi, and others.
Walks. To the Colle Campiglio, I72 M. to the S., on the road to
Masnago and Laveno, commanding a fine view; to S. Albino, ls/4 M. to
the S. of Varese, with a view of the lake; to the Lago di Varese (Osteria
della Schiranna), 27a M.; then, skirting the lake, to Gropello, Oltrona,
Voltorre (where there is an old monastery of the Canonici Lateranensi con¬
taining interesting Romanesque cloisters), and Gavirate, 772 M. (see below).
The most interesting excursion, however, is by S. Ambrogio and Fo-
gliardi to the Madonna del Monte, a celebrated resort of pilgrims, 872 M.
to the N.W. (carriage-road to Fogliardi, then a bridle-path). Fourteen
chapels or stations of various forms, adorned with frescoes and groups in
stucco, have been erected along the broad path, by which the monastery
and church on the mountain (2841 ft.) are attained. The view hence is
not less celebrated than the peculiar sanctity of the spot. The small
lakes of Comabbio, Biandrone, and Monate, that of Varese, two arms of
the Lago Maggiore, part of the Lake of Como, and the expansive and
fruitful plain as far as Milan are visible. — A far more comprehensive
view, including the glacier-world also, is obtained (best by morning-light)
from the Tre Croci (3966 ft.), 1 hr. to the N.W. of the Madonna. Several
taverns adjoin the monastery. Donkeys and guides (unnecessary) are to
be found at the foot of the mountain. Comp. the Map.
About 672 M. to the S.E. of Varese, not far from the road to Bizzo-
zero and Tradate (diligence, see p. 165; from Tradate to Milan, 23 M.,
steam - tramway in 274 hrs., fares lfr. 65, lfr. 10 c), lies Castiglione
d'Olona, with 1500 inhab. (no tolerable inn). The Collegiate church
and the adjacent Baptistery contain frescoes by Masolino (1428); those
in the former represent scenes from the lives of Mary and SS. Stephen
and Laurence ; those in the latter, from the life of John the Baptist. These
frescoes are interesting in the history of art, as several frescoes in the Cap¬
pella Brancacci at Florence (p. 429) were formerly ascribed to Masolino.
From Varese to Como, I872 M., diligence twice daily in 3 hrs. (fares
4 or 372 fr.). — The road crosses the Olona and then the Lanza, near its
influx into the Olona, and ascends rapidly to Malnate. Farther on it
passes Binago and Solbiate, and attains its culminating point (900 ft. above
the Lake of Como) at Olgiate. It then turns E. to Lurate Abbate, Lucino,
and Rebbio, traversing a luxuriantly fertile district with numerous villas.
Beyond Camerlata (p. 147) it skirts the base of an eminence surmounted
by the ruins of the Castello Baradello, and descends through the long S.
suburb of S. Bartolommeo to Como (p. 148).
From Varese to Laveno, 1272 M., diligence twice daily in 272 hrs.
(fares 4 or 372 fr.). The road leads by Masnago and Casciago, and ascends
to Luinate, whence a beautiful view S.W. is obtained of the Lake of Varese
and the small adjacent Lake of Biandrone, and also of the farther distant
lakes of Monate and Comabbio. The next villages are Barrasso and Comerio,
the latter with a number of pleasant villas, whence the road, passing near
the N.W. extremity of the Lago di Varese, gradually descends to Gavirate.
In the vicinity of the latter are quarries of the 'marmo majolica', a kind
of marble used for decorative purposes. For a short distance the road
commands a view of Monte Rosa. Cocquio and Gemonio are situated to
the right of the road. Farther on, the Boesio, which flows through the
Val Cuvio, is crossed, and, beyond Citliglio, its right bank skirted. The
road then leads past the S. base of the Sasso del Ferro to Laveno (p. 170),
a steamboat-station. — Boat to the Borromean Islands and Pallanza with
3 rowers 10-12 fr.; to Isola Bella I72 hr., thence to Isola Madre in 20 min.,
to Pallanza in 20 min. more.
From Varese to Porto Ceresio, 772 M., diligence twice daily in
I74 hr. (fares 372 or 3 fr.; one-horse carr. 10, two-horse 20 fr.). This is a
very picturesque drive. The road leads by Biume Inferiore, Induno (with
the Villa Medici) and Arcisale to Risuschio, where the Villa Cicogna, with
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