Castelseprio www.castelseprio.net

Placed on the low pre-alpine hills to the south of Varese, it is interesting for its Longobard settlement dating back to the 5th century. The remains of the fortress-town enclosed by thick walls, shelter to the population during the wars are still there. Capital of a vast contado that stretched as far as Como, Bellinzona and Milan, at a strategic cross-roads, Castelseprio was a dominant town for centuries until it was sacked and destroyed. The castrum walls extended as far as the outpost with the tower of Torba.

The 6th century church of Santa Maria Foris Portas is of great importance as it houses a cycle of frescoes by an unknown eastern artist.

The village of Castelseprio, formerly Vico Seprio, is situated approximately one kilometer from the archaeological site and it was pre-existing to the destruction of the fortress. It has always been supposed a back-dating of the village as to the age of the castrum on the hill, but only in September 2000 some archaeological finds moved the origin of the village to the II century B.C.

To see:

- the archeological site