Description of the attraction
Palazzo Estense is a baroque palace built in the second half of the 18th century for Francesco III d'Este and his family in the Italian town of Varese in Lombardy. The palace was designed by the architect Giuseppe Antonio Bianchi. Palazzo Estense was completed in the 1760s, and for many years was home to Francesco III d'Este, Duke of Modena, who ruled in Lombardy.
Francesco III first visited Varese in 1755 and literally fell in love with this town - so much so that he decided to buy it from the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa. His request was granted, and soon Varese became one of the possessions of the d'Este family. In 1765, Francesco bought the Villa Tommaso Orrigoni and ordered it to be rebuilt with the intention of turning it into a residence for his court. During the reconstruction, part of the villa was demolished, and new premises were built on the vacated land. At the same time, a garden (designed by the same Bianchi) was laid out around the palace - one of the most beautiful in all of Lombardy of the 18th century. In the garden, you can see a large fountain installed right in front of the Palazzo, the chapel of San Giovanni Battista and numerous sculptures.
Today, Palazzo Estense, renowned for its opulent decorations and stucco moldings, is home to municipal offices, conferences and concerts.
