Once you have in mind to visit a place, perhaps you will check on a map, or you will prepare a detailed plan of what to do and to visit, or again you will try to find the best restaurants or … you will read stories taking place there.
So if you are planning to visit Varese during the U19 e U23 World Rowing Championships (July 25th-31st, 2022), we introduce you to a few reading proposals where events and characters are set in our town – why not enjoying in trying to recognize them when you are here?
Detective stories, for a tour into crime
If you like crime novels for sure you cannot miss Delitti sul Lago (Crimes on the Lake), a collection of twenty detective stories set on the lakes of Varese, Maggiore, Orta, Ceresio, Iseo, Como and Garda. Specifically our province is the location of Due dettagli (Two Details), Delitto in Onda (Murder on Air), La Casa delle Bambole (The house of dolls), La piccola ballerina (The little dancer) and Accadde a Halloween (It happened at Halloween).
Again you cannot miss the series of stories written by Laura Veroni having as main character the judge Elena Macchi (I delitti di Varese – Murders in Varese , Varese non avere paura – Do not be afraid, Varese, La morte ti presenta il conto – Death will send you the bill); Lo spirito dell’ Excelsior/Delitto al Grand Hotel di Varese (The ghost of Excelsior / Murder at the Grand Hotel of Varese ) written by Roberta Lucato; Un nido di vespe /Indagine tra Varese e il Lago Maggiore (A Wasps’ Nest – an investigation in Varese and Lake Maggiore), by Davide Longo.
Art and History
Are you fond of arts? If this is the case, your will love the following books dedicated to a couple of the most famous and panoramic places of our area written by M. Albeni: Santa Maria del Monte. I graffiti (Santa Maria del Monte. The Graffiti) and Prima del Sacro Monte: Luoghi archeologici e storie nascoste nei secoli precedenti il Viale delle Cappelle (Before Sacro Monte: Archeological sites and hidden stories along the centuries before the existance of the Stations of the Cross walking path).
Another branch of art is related to Arpa che muta giaci – Quando Varese era la rivale di Milano . Le grandi stagioni musicali e di prosa del Teatro Sociale ( Dumb laying Harp. When Varese rivalled with Milano. The great music and drama season of the Social Theatre). The main character is the Theatre itself, of which the writer Massimiliano Broglia reviews thirty years of activity, from 1830 to 1861.
An insight into historical events is Varese storia e protagonisti. Dal Settecento alla Resistenza (History and main characters of Varese. From 18th century to Resistance), where the author Gianni Perna describes the town history through the life and vicissitudes of people living here. Similarly we have Il corpo del reato – Storia del varesino Renato Ascoli che aiutò famiglie ebree a fuggire dai nazi-fascisti (Material evidence – the story of Renato Ascoli who helped Jewish families to escape from Nazi-fascists) by Laura Tirelli and Marco Ascoli.
In the essay From Laveno (1926) to Dresda (1944) and back, the memories of Olindo Cardoni describe almost one century of the story of Laveno, from the end of 19th century to fascism and up the end of the ceramics industry at the end of 20th century.
Curiosity, fantasy and a jump into the future
Is it true that hotels do have a soul ? Let us check together by reading Il gigante e la montagna. Storia e storie del Grand Hotel Campo dei Fiori (The giant and the mountain. History and stories of the Campo dei Fiori Grand Hotel). This book is an overview of the many events which have taken place in the hotel, which is not only one of the most significant landmarks of Italian Art Nouveau, but has also been a crossing point for visitors, a home for regular guests, a heart for the owners.
Silvio Foini leads us to the Monastery of Torba, haunted by demon Asharot, and to the four characters of Il Custode del Male (The Guardian of Evil).
Last but not least let us have a look at the future : Varese 2051. How Varese is going to be in thirty years’ time. Thoughts of a few researchers about social, economic, political, environmental forecast. The authors Cesare Chericati and Antonio Martina share a few ideas about the evolution of our town in the next 20 – 30 years.
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