Valganna and Valmarchirolo

This valley area, also known as "valle fresca" (cool valley), starts just north of Varese and reaches Lake Lugano. The slopes of the mountains rising up from its sides are steep and cloaked in dense forests, with settlements dating right back to prehistoric times.

Today the area is a favourite with tourists looking for a refreshing climate in the hot summer months.

In this environmental context of exceptional landscape beauty, there is an episode of industrial archaeology, a famous beer factory with original Art Nouveau architecture.