Penasca is an ancient medieval village in the San Fermo district of the city of Varese.
Of peasant tradition, it has a historic urban heart with narrow streets and rural buildings. Its peculiarity is the paintings and panels reproducing poems in Italian and in the vernacular.
Photo gallery
A walk in the village of San Fermo 4 of 41
Precious guardian of this little jewel of art and history is the Cultural Group “Amici di San Fermo” that keeps alive the attention on what can be included among the painted villages. In fact, it is the walls of the houses that host the paintings and poetic texts permanently.
PENASCA ART REVIEW
The idea, as told on the dedicated Facebook page, must be to the artists Enrica Turri Bonacina and Sergio Colombo creators, forty-three years ago, of the Art exhibition in Penasca among the first in the province. The event, year after year, has allowed to enrich the permanent contemporary art collection: murals, poems and prose passages, mosaics.
The next edition will be held on September 7th and 8th and will see the participation of over 50 artists including painters, sculptors and photographers.
VIA AQUILEIA THE ANCIENT ROAD THAT LEADS TO THE VILLAGE
From the valley you can go up to the village via Aquileia, the ancient pedestrian path that leads directly to the belvedere from which a panorama opens up that ranges from the Olona valley to the peaks of Sacro Monte, Campo dei Fiori and Monte Rosa. It is a 292-meter long cobbled path flanked by a stepped path that has the “status” of a public road and as such is open to the public.
CHURCH OF SS FERMO AND RUSTICO
In the village, the church of Saints Fermo and Rustico is located whose restoration work was completed in 2021.
The building dates back to the 14th century, but it is most likely located on the site of an older sacred place. For the residents, this church has great value because it is considered as the home of the patron saints inserted among the houses.
The restoration project was aimed at the recovery of the wall structures from humidity infiltrations and the conservative restoration of all the internal decorations. Photo gallery inauguration
Monsignor Delpini blesses the restored sanctuary of Saints Fermo and Rustico
HOW TO REACH PENASCA
To go up to the village of Penasca you have to reach the district of San Fermo. It is advisable to leave the car in Piazza Don Gabbani and then take Via Aquileia, the cobbled street that goes up. Alternatively, for those who do not want to walk up, you can reach it by car up to Via Rovereto and leave the car in the parking lots beyond the parish church, in Via Monte Cristallo from where you enter the village of Penasca.
