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Castelseprio

Province: Varese · Region: Lombardy · Population: 1,281 · Postal code: 21050

In 1287 the Milanese took the fortified town of Castelseprio, capital of a county stretching from Lake Lugano to the Ticino, and Ottone Visconti ruled that it should never be rebuilt. Only the churches were spared. For five centuries the vegetation ate the ruins, while a short distance away the village of Vicoseprio went on living.

Excavations between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries brought to light a site of European importance: the basilica of San Giovanni, San Paolo, the monastery of Torba and above all the Byzantine-style frescoes of Santa Maria foris portas. Since 2011 the archaeological zone has been a UNESCO site among the places of Lombard power. The municipality, merged into Carnago in 1928, became independent again in 1947.

The Castelseprio guide

What to eat here 1

Risotto alla Milanese

Where to stay

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Getting there

Nearest airport: Milano Malpensa, 14 km away
What's around

Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.

Near Castelseprio

The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.

Carnago Carnago Varese · 2 km Lonate Ceppino Lonate Ceppino Varese · 2 km Gornate Olona Gornate Olona Varese · 2 km Cairate Cairate Varese · 3 km Solbiate Arno Varese · 3 km Caronno Varesino Varese · 4 km

Places to see within 25 km

Outside Castelseprio, but an easy day trip away.

Royal Palace of Caserta 📍 Caserta · 21 km The Bourbon palace: 1,200 rooms, 1,742 windows and three kilometres of fountains uphill. Ponte Leproso 📍 Benevento · 17 km Roman bridge over the Sabato where the Via Appia entered Benevento, rebuilt in 1712; UNESCO site. Basilica del Corpus Domini 📍 Maddaloni · 17 km Maddaloni's main church, with a high altar designed by Luigi Vanvitelli and panels by Pompeo Landolfo. basilica della Madonna delle Grazie 📍 Benevento · 17 km Neoclassical Greek-cross basilica to the patron Madonna of Benevento, with a Franciscan convent. teatro romano di Benevento 📍 Benevento · 17 km Roman theatre inaugurated under Hadrian between 125 and 128, with a 98-metre cavea; still used for shows. duomo di Benevento 📍 Benevento · 17 km Cathedral rebuilt after its destruction in 1943, keeping the Romanesque façade, bell tower and ancient crypt.