Discover Gallarate: Art and Architectural History

Gallarate brings together art, historical collections, and architectural history. Its heritage ranges from a documentary mention dating to 974 to medieval buildings and a museum of contemporary art. Churches, architecture, and local traditions add to these diverse cultural themes.

Art and Archaeological Collections

MA*GA was officially founded in 1966 under the name Civica Galleria d’Arte Moderna di Gallarate. Museo MA*GA is a contemporary art museum. Its founding year and museum profile thus provide two distinct points of reference: 1966 marks its official founding under that name, while the museum description places it within the field of contemporary art.

The Museo della Società Gallaratese per gli Studi Patri is located in the preserved part of a Franciscan monastery built in 1234. Roman sarcophagi, a sarcophagus lid, and medieval materials are displayed in the Gothic cloister with its portico. The museum’s historic setting and the objects on display thus bring together architectural history and different periods.

A separate entrance leads to the first archaeological room, which houses prehistoric finds from pile-dwelling settlements in the Varesotto area, as well as a dugout canoe from Lago di Monate. Together with the Roman and medieval objects in the Gothic cloister, these collection pieces represent different periods without being reducible to a single era.

Churches and Architectural History

The Chiesa di San Pietro largely retains its original Romanesque structure; Gothic elements were added later. This building therefore offers a way to consider the relationship between an older structure and later additions. The stylistic terms describe different parts of its architectural history.

Gallarate’s central church is the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta. It was built between 1856 and 1860 in the Neoclassical style, based on a design by Milanese architect Giacomo Moraglia, and consecrated in 1861. The construction period and year of consecration mark successive stages: construction and design on the one hand, and consecration on the other.

The two churches offer different architectural points of reference: at San Pietro, the emphasis is on the combination of a Romanesque structure and later Gothic elements; at the basilica, the style, architect, construction period, and year of consecration are clearly specified. Comparing their architectural histories therefore offers a look at both an older structure with later additions and a Neoclassical building whose date is documented.

An earlier church dedicated to Santa Maria, later called “Faietto,” is mentioned in a document from 974. This is a different historical reference from the architectural history of today’s Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta: the document names an earlier church, while the basilica is associated with its construction in the 19th century.

Palazzo del Broletto is also connected to medieval history: it was established in the 13th century as a monastery of the Umiliati di San Michele. At the Cimitero Monumentale, planning and construction began in 1865, based on a design by architect Camillo Boito; the concept included the large Ponti family tomb chapel. Some of the graves there are attributed to the Liberty style.

Botany, Pastries, and Local Traditions

Parco Bassetti is a botanical garden, offering a different subject from the churches, collections, and historic buildings. If you explore Gallarate through different interests, the garden can be considered a botanical point of reference alongside the city’s architectural and cultural history.

Amaretto di Gallarate is one of the local pastries. It is made exclusively by hand, soft inside and crisp outside, with a slightly flattened shape.

A 2025 municipal description calls Cuntrada dal Broeud a tradition that has been maintained in Gallarate for sixty years. It takes place on the first Sunday after the Feast of Madonna del Carmine, in the square of the Basilica di Santa Maria. After the parish priest blesses it, broth made with meat and vegetables is distributed to the faithful. The location, timing, and proceedings give the custom a specific connection to the basilica and the religious calendar.

Discover more destinations: Gazzada Schianno, Colmegna, Cunardo, Brezzo Di Bedero, Marzio, Cuasso al Monte, Crugnola, Casalzuigno.

For the broader travel overview: Varese.