Viggiù

Access

Viggiù is easily accessible by car from the city of Varese (about 15 minutes' drive), via the provincial road or the provincial road . The motorway quickly connects the area to Milan, about 50 km away, while the Swiss border at Stabio is only a few kilometres away. The nearest railway stations are Arcisate and Gaggiolo, both served by the line from Varese to Mendrisio.

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Introduction

Viggiù is a municipality in the province of Varese, Lombardy, located a few kilometres from the border with Switzerland, at the foot of Monte Orsa, in the Valceresio area. Its territory covers an area of 9.26 km² and rises to an altitude of about 506 m above sea level. It has just over five thousand inhabitants, called viggiutesi, and borders the Varese municipalities of Besano, Saltrio, Clivio, Arcisate and Cantello, as well as the Swiss municipality of Meride.

Description

Standing in very ancient times, Viggiù claims origins that oscillate between legend and history. According to one widespread hypothesis, the village derives from the Latin Vicus Juli, or "village of Julius", founded at the behest of Julius Caesar; another attributes it instead to Orobic peoples of the protohistoric age. Archaeological finds from the Roman period, discovered above all on the San Martino hill, testify to a consolidated presence already at that time and feed the tradition according to which Cascina Vidisello developed on the foundations of an ancient encampment.
During the Middle Ages, Viggiù became known for the working of the famous 'Viggiù stone', a light-coloured limestone, much appreciated for its ductility. This gave rise to a flourishing sculptural and architectural tradition, which saw Viggiù craftsmen - known as 'picasass' - working on cathedrals, churches and palaces all over Europe. As early as the 12th century, many of them belonged to the Confraternita dei Maestri Comacini, and between the 16th and 17th centuries, families of local artists such as the Butti, Giudici, Longhi, Piatti and Galli worked in Rome, to whom we partly owe the village's fame as 'Terra d'artisti' (land of artists).The historic centre retains an architectural imprint linked to this tradition, with courtyard houses adorned with carved stone portals and workshops that served as art workshops. Particularly noteworthy is the Gipsoteca Enrico Butti, founded by the sculptor of the same name at the end of the 19th century and now home to an important civic museum dedicated to local sculpture, flanked by the Museo degli Artisti Viggiutesi del Novecento.
The economy of Viggiù has maintained a strong craft roots, with activities related to stone working and the textile and manufacturing sectors. The presence of frontier workers operating in Swiss territory is also significant. In recent years, tourist and cultural interest has grown thanks to the historical-artistic value of its churches - such as the parish church of Santo Stefano protomartire, San Martino and the Madonna della Croce - and to local initiatives that enhance the artistic heritage and traditions of the town.
The Viggiù area is included in the UNESCO site of Monte San Giorgio, recognised for its Middle Triassic fossils, testifying to the area's naturalistic importance. The hilly location and surrounding heights offer panoramic views towards the Valceresio and nearby Switzerland, with hiking trails winding through broadleaf forests and abandoned quarries.

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Information

Area: 9.26 km².
Altitude: 506 m a.s.l..
Inhabitants: 5,153 (2024).
Maximum elevation: Monte Orsa.
Name in dialect: Vigiüü.
Name of inhabitants: viggiutesi.
Patron Saint: Santo Stefano protomartire.
Neighbouring municipalities: Arcisate, Besano, Bisuschio, Cantello, Clivio, Meride (CH), Saltrio.
Official site: www.comune.viggiu.va.it