Shopping and outlets

Old things

If you like robi vecìi — dialect for old things — we love visiting the Mercatino di Gazzada flea market. You can find genuinely lovely pieces at prices that are not as outrageous as they can be at some antique dealers.

Outlets

There are a couple of historic Varese top brand outlets nearby: Paul & Shark at Masnago, five minutes from the casbenat, and Missoni at Gallarate.

If you want to go all in, three large shopping centres are an easy drive: Arese, Vicolungo and Serravalle. I have never been to any of them myself — not really my thing — but I know they are very popular.

At FoxTown in Switzerland, some people love it. Perhaps I am too patriotic, but a thousand times Vicolungo or Serravalle.

Beer and chocolate

Not far from here is the Poretti brewery, and directly opposite it the Lindt factory. If you are seriously into beer or chocolate, or both, it is worth enquiring about a Poretti tour or visiting the Lindt outlet.