Besnate: Trails, Archaeology and Everyday Culture

Besnate offers several ways to shape a stay: trails connecting its districts, the archaeological history of Lagozza, a small church building and insights into ways of life in the past. If you choose a destination based on specific interests, you can give these offerings different priorities—from outdoor activity to cultural and food history.

Trails and Routes

The Rete dei Sentieri dei Borghi comprises five trails and was established to connect the four districts of Besnate. The Anello dei Borghi circular route starts at Ponte della ferrovia on Via Libertà. Besnate also takes part in the Castelli Viscontei project, which has established seven routes called “Percorsi del Cuore.” These details refer to different points of reference: the start of the Anello, the borghi trail network and the project’s seven routes.

Besnate’s walking group alternates between forest paths, nearby cycle paths and lightly trafficked roads within the town. If you plan to join this walking group, check the current route before setting out, as the route arrangements may change.

Landscape and Getting Around

The municipal territory of Besnate lies in the Varese area of the Parco Regionale Lombardo del Ticino. Piazza Santa Maria del Castello is fully accessible. If specific physical features are important for your plans, check before your visit whether they meet your particular requirements.

Church and Ways of Life in the Past

Santa Maria del Castello is a small, rectangular, single-nave church building with a square choir. “Single-nave” describes a church interior with one main nave; together with the square choir, this gives the building a clearly defined layout.

The Museo Etnografico e della Civiltà Contadina illustrates significant aspects of everyday life in the past. The church and museum therefore offer different cultural perspectives: the architecture of a particular church building and depictions of historical ways of life. For visitors who want to discover Besnate through more than its trails, these themes complement the town’s archaeological history.

Lagozza and Archaeological Traces

Lagozza di Besnate gave its name to the Lagozza culture of the same name. Archaeological investigations at Lagozza uncovered pile-dwelling structures and yielded numerous prehistoric finds. The basin also tells a story of landscape change: it is now drained, but was once an extensive marsh. Here, archaeological traces meet the history of a former wetland.

Lagozzetta is a second archaeological area, identified in the 19th century a short distance from Lagozza. The town’s history thus brings together two distinct time references: prehistoric finds from investigations at Lagozza and the identification of Lagozzetta in the 19th century.

A Local Food Tradition

Besnate’s food culture includes Mais di Besnate. It was reintroduced in 2014 after more than 60 years and is traditionally grown and processed. The topic therefore encompasses both cultivation and processing, complementing the trails and archaeology themes with a regional food tradition.

Discover more destinations: Bregano, Sesto Calende, Corgeno, Montecatini, Leggiuno, Cunardo, Montegrino Valtravaglia, Brunello.

For the overview of the wider area: Varese.