Discover a region that thrives on sport and loves and respects cycling in all its disciplines. Varese and its Province are a land of Cycling par excellence, with its great cyclists, its routes that wind between the green of the pre-Alpine valleys and the blue of the land of lakes, its classics, such as the Tre Valli Varesine which has been going on for over a century, and well two editions of the World Cup. #VareseDoYouBike It is a project of the Varese Chamber of Commerce aimed at developing a cycle tourism system and sustainable mobility, involving supply chain companies, trade associations, and local authorities. An alternative way to promote, savor, and experience the excellence of a land rich in tradition and sport.
This is the aim of the institutions and those who love Varese, who believe in its potential and are happy to be able to put in their commitment and passion. A team that works in synergy with a team of guides, each one in charge of an area of the Varese territory, so as to guarantee the best knowledge and maximum timeliness in responding to market demands. Aimed at cyclists of all levels: from super enthusiasts to families Looking for routes of great cultural interest? Not just off-road, but also paved climbs to test your skills and capture the best views of the seven lakes, or dirt roads to avoid the hassle of traffic.
Let's discover the project together accompanied by Giovanni martinelli project product manager and Anna Deligios of the Chamber of Commerce of Varese.
For everyone
The aim is to create a service for guests who have chosen Varese as a destination for themselves and their bikes. "We wanted to encompass," says Martinelli, " all the itineraries in the Province of Varese. Road, gravel, mountain bike and cycle paths. We start from basic routes for families up to more challenging routes for athletes. We started from itineraries mapping them by difficulty and type, Scanning the entire province. Routes are defined as rides no less than 20 kilometers, with a maximum of 40/50 kilometers for mountain bikes and longer for roads.
«They are circular tours – he explains – which touch on what are the The most beautiful passages in the province. But also the most suitable for cycling tourism. So, if we're talking about e-bikes, there are dedicated charging stations. Or bike maintenance points, from simple inflation to washing and adjustments. They also provide all the route information, from itineraries to guides. So if you arrive at a partner point, you can get all the information you need for cycling around the province. The goal is to ensure that the entire province is connected to services. An area dedicated to cycling, with the possibility of visiting the area on foot."
The value of cycling tourism
Tourism is a vehicle of culture and also the best way to appreciate the excellence of your territory. Doing it by bike represents an added value that brings the physical to mental well-being"We've already created the guides," says Martinelli. "The next step we're about to take is to identify and include all the interested businesses and integrate them, making them key partners for tourists arriving by bicycle. Training sessions are also planned with these businesses to explain what they need to do and how to deal with cyclists who want to stay or use their facilities.
«A framework is created – he concludes – with all the services that serve the tourist who wants to experience his visit by bicycle. The ultimate goal is also to create value for businesses. We started with bike paths and divided the province into six sectors. The cycle paths are the highways that run through itThen we focused on MTB because when you talk about cycle tourism the market segment most interested in this type of experience is oriented towards ebike and slow tourism».
Between road, gravel and mountain bike
The itineraries include a network aimed at all disciplines with a majority of off-road routes. «They are 45 itineraries present – says Martinelli – which are actually evolving because our province is suited to all disciplines. Gravel can connect the whole province as well as the road».
An example for the street is the “Tour of the 7 lakes”. In the province of lakes, a tour that touches them all is a must. From Angera, you cross Lake Maggiore to Laveno, then cross the Valcuvia to reach Lake Ceresio at Lavena Ponte Tresa. The ascent, passing through the village of Marzio, leads back to the Ganna Valley, past Lakes Ghirla and Ganna, all the way to Varese. From Lake Varese, crossing the Brabbia Marsh (a LIPU nature reserve), you reach Lake Comabbio and then Lake Monate, before returning to the starting point in Angera.
For gravel accessible to everyone there is the itinerary “Regional Parks across the Visconti Plains”. On the Varese side, a natural corridor connects the province's two main regional parks, Campo dei Fiori and Ticino. A passage through the Arsago Marshes, a site of community interest, leads to the Strona Torrent following its course to the Ticino River. Following the main embankment of the river, the trail ascends the moraine hills to Lake Comabbio, finally returning to the starting point.
Chamber of Commerce on the front line
The Varese Chamber of Commerce has started the project a few years ago Varese Sport Commission, which aims in particular to attract sporting events to the area as they are factors of tourist attraction that translate into overnight stays in the province.
"As Varese Sports Commission – explains Anna Deligios – we developed the #VareseDoYouBike project focused on sport that generates tourism. The aim is to create a cycle tourism system through itineraries and services in synergy with companiesStarting with the involvement of local businesses. First and foremost, hospitality businesses, which are the primary beneficiaries of the stay and hospitality. But also local businesses and institutions, ensuring that the entire province is cyclist-friendly.
«There are very competitive territories from these points of view but I believe that Varese is up to the task in terms of landscape beauty. and also due to the tradition that exists here with regards to two wheels."
Province devoted to cycling
Varese focuses on cycling, a much-loved, appreciated, and respected sport that offers the opportunity to enjoy landscapes and panoramas not normally accessible. "Tradition," concludes Anna Deligios, "elthe history of this sport accompanies usThe meeting has just taken place Tre Valli Varesine which has reached its 101st edition. Tourists arriving from Northern Europe already know these places, such as Lake Maggiore, for example, and it is much loved. Coinciding with the GF Tre Valli Varesine we have hosted tour operators to admire and discover what Varese has to offer and they were pleasantly surprised."
A project that expands the offer, also thinking of those who move with the help of pedal assistance: available charging columns and, soon, a series of bike points and specialized workshops for emergency assistance in case of need. There will be plenty of services and tour packages to allow for multi-day tours, the true essence of cycling tourism. With train stations and ferry terminals signposted, you can take advantage of the public transport network and get around with zero impact.
