Things to see in Busto Arsizio

Busto Arsizio (Lombard: Büsti Grandi) is a city of 83,000 people (2017) in Varese Province, in the Lombardy region of Italy.

Busto Arsizio is at the northern limit of the Po Valley.

The climate of Busto Arsizio is continental. Winters are cold and have many frosty days. Summers are hot and muggy. The phenomenon of fog is frequent, although less and less.

The most important buildings of the city are the churches. There are several built in the last millennium, many of which are reconstructions of former churches.

The shrine of Santa Maria di Piazza: The most remarkable building of the Renaissance period – indeed the only remaining – is the shrine of Santa Maria di Piazza ("Saint Mary of the Square"), also called shrine of the Beata Vergine dell'Aiuto ("Blessed Virgin of the Help"). The building stands in the city centre. It was built between 1515 and 1522. The village of Crespi d'Adda, built up for Cristoforo Benigno Crespi, is home to a smaller version of the shrine.

The church of Saint John the Baptist: Paintings in Saint John the Baptist church. The church of Saint John the Baptist, in the city centre, was built between 1609 and 1635 by Francesco Maria Ricchini, but the bell tower is older (between 1400 and 1418). The façade, finished in 1701 by Domenico Valmagini, has many statues and decorations. In the interior are numerous paintings by Daniele Crespi, a celebrated painter born at Busto Arsizio, such as Cristo morto con San Domenico and Biagio Bellotti. The square in front of this church was built over the ancient cemetery.