Saronno sights: 4 highlights, amaretti and how to get there

Saronno – About 20 minutes after leaving Malpensa Airport for Milan, the train stops in a town that few travellers have on their itinerary.

The most important of the sights in Saronno is that Santuario della Beata Vergine dei Miracoli, the pilgrimage church of Our Lady of Miracles on the northern edge of town: Bernardino Luini painted the main chapel there in 1525, and Gaudenzio Ferrari began painting the dome in 1534. There are also two places bearing the Gianetti name: a villa with two collections and a ceramics museum with European and East Asian porcelain, plus the Teatro Giuditta Pasta, a five-minute walk from the station.

Here you can discover what the church contains, when the villa opens, how frequently the trains run and why the town tastes of almonds.

Saronno belongs to Varese province in Lombardy and, according to the statistics agency ISTAT's estimate for 1 January 2026, has exactly 38,812 residents. The town is a hub for Trenord, the Lombardy regional rail network: the Malpensa Express, the airport train to Malpensa, and trains to Como, Varese and Novara stop here.

How much do Saronno's attractions cost?

Regular admission to the Gianetti ceramics museum costs 8 €, or 6 € reduced. Entry to the collections at Villa Gianetti is free; theatre ticket prices depend on the performance.

Admission to the collections at Villa Gianetti is free. Reduced rates at the ceramics museum apply, among others, to visitors up to 26 and over 65 years old; admission is free up to age 14.

As of November 2026 · Prices according to Comune di Saronno and Villa Gianetti; special events may differ.

Which 4 sights in Saronno should you see?

Four places make the visit worthwhile: the Santuario with frescoes by Luini and Gaudenzio Ferrari, Villa Gianetti, the Gianetti porcelain museum and the theatre named after a famous singer.

1. Santuario della Beata Vergine dei Miracoli

The pilgrimage church stands on Piazza Santuario north of the old town centre. According to tradition, its origins lie in the healing of a sick man named Pedretto. The foundation stone for the Santuario was laid on 8 May 1498. Milan cathedral master builder Giovanni Antonio Amadeo designed the Renaissance church. Paolo della Porta added the bell tower between 1511 and 1516.

Inside, two painters make the visit worthwhile. Bernardino Luini, one of the leading fresco painters of the Lombard Renaissance, painted the main chapel and the bay before it in 1525. Gaudenzio Ferrari arrived in 1534 and decorated the pendentives and the dome, which was modelled on Santa Maria presso San Celso in Milan.

From outside, the church looks younger than it is. Vincenzo Seregni extended its front between 1556 and 1566; the facade of pale Saltrio stone dates from 1596. The Madonna with four angels on the pediment was added in the 17th century. Since 1822, a marble group depicting the Lamentation of Christ by Pompeo Marchesi has stood in the square, on an altar by Antonio Canova.

Good to know: The Santuario is a pilgrimage and parish church, not a museum. Visit outside Mass times so you can look up at the dome in peace.

2. Villa Gianetti and the De Rocchi and Cavallari collections

The Villa Gianetti, a town villa at Via Roma 20, was built for the Gianetti family in 1919 in Lombard Neo-Renaissance style. The municipality acquired the house in 1925. Today it displays two collections: Collezione De Rocchi with works by painter Francesco De Rocchi, and the Collezione Cavallari about soprano Giuditta Pasta.

The villa opens on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 15 to 18, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 12.30 and 15 to 18. Behind the house is a public garden with a playground; the side entrance is on Via Alessandro Manzoni 6.

Good to know: The villa is closed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. If you visit during the week, come on a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon.

3. Museo della Ceramica Giuseppe Gianetti

The Museo della Ceramica Giuseppe Gianetti, the ceramics museum on Via Carcano 9, occupies Villa Biffi, a house built in 1940 with historic rooms still intact. Its collection includes European and East Asian porcelain, including pieces from Meissen, as well as Italian majolica. Contemporary ceramics and changing exhibitions add to the displays.

Good to know: Regular admission costs 8 €, or 6 € reduced. For a visit without an appointment, come on Tuesday or Thursday from 15 to 18 or Saturday from 15 to 19; last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Morning visits require booking. Check special openings in advance on the museum website.

4. Teatro Giuditta Pasta

The Teatro Giuditta Pasta, the town theatre on Via I Maggio, is a five-minute walk from the railway station. Its 2026/27 season is titled Radici (Roots), with Andrea Chiodi as artistic director. In May 2027, the theatre hosts the sixth edition of the Concorso Lirico Internazionale Giuditta Pasta , an international singing competition.

Good to know: Plays are performed in Italian. If you do not speak the language, the singing competition makes a better evening, since you can enjoy arias without a translation.

How do you get to Saronno?

The fastest way is by train: The Malpensa Express stops in Saronno; from there it takes about 20 minutes to Malpensa Airport's Terminal 1 and about 20 minutes to Milan Cadorna station in central Milan.

The airport train runs on two lines, one from Milan Cadorna and one from Milan Central Station, and both stop in Saronno every 30 minutes. Terminal 2 is about 25 minutes away. A direct train to Lake Como, the station on the lakeshore at Como, takes about 40 minutes, while trains to Varese also take about 40 minutes, or about 30 minutes on faster services. Novara is about 50 minutes away; the S9 suburban train runs directly to Seregno.

By car, take the A9 motorway from Milan towards Como and Chiasso and exit at Saronno, or use state road SS233, the Varesina.

Use this overview of the main connections from Saronno station to plan your trip. All times are approximate and based on Trenord timetables in effect since June 2026.

What should you try in Saronno?

Amaretti and amaretto: crisp almond biscuits and a sweet liqueur with the aroma of bitter almonds. Both have carried the town's name around the world, and two companies based in Saronno each have their own story.

The company Paolo Lazzaroni & Figli in the Via Gorizia bakes Amaretti Chiostro di Saronno, crisp macaroons made from sugar, apricot kernels and egg white. According to the company, it has made its own amaretto since 1851. The liqueur is 23,5 % derived from an extract of these amaretti.

The world's best-known amaretto, meanwhile, is called Disaronno and comes from the Reina family. In 1947, they founded the company Illva Saronno, which in 2026 was renamed Disaronno Group ; its roots go back to a grocery shop Domenico Reina opened in Saronno around 1900. The company presents the liqueur's origin as a legend set around 1525 and Bernardino Luini, the painter of the frescoes in the Santuario.

Where should you eat in Saronno?

Two restaurants in Saronno are listed in the Michelin Guide: one with a star for a special evening and a seafood bar for a more casual meal.

Book the starred restaurant in advance through the sui generis. websitewhich fish bar can be booked by phone. Olio Fishbar is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Where should you stay in Saronno?

If you are staying in Saronno before an early flight from Malpensa, choose somewhere near the station. The town's largest hotel is just a few steps away.

The map below shows more hotels and holiday apartments in Saronno and the surrounding area.

When is the best time to visit Saronno?

Saronno is worth visiting year-round because all four sights are indoors. The 2026/27 season of the Teatro Giuditta Pasta began in October, with the singing competition following in May 2027.

One simple rule applies during the week: visit on Tuesday, Thursday or at the weekend, or you will find Villa Gianetti closed. If you combine Saronno with the airport, plan an afternoon; that is when the villa opens on weekdays.

What should you know about Saronno?

1. The railway museum is closed. The MILS, the museum of industry and work in the Saronno area, closed its former premises in the workshops of railway company Ferrovienord on 30 June 2025. The collection is due to move into a new railway museum in renovated premises in Saronno; Ferrovienord will announce the date.

2. Villa Gianetti opens on four days. Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, and twice a day on Saturday and Sunday. You can still use the garden behind the house for a break.

3. Malpensa costs extra. Trenord charges a special fare for journeys to the airport. If you travel between Milan, Saronno and Malpensa in one day, buy the airport leg as a separate ticket.

4. The Santuario is on the edge of town. The pilgrimage church stands north of the old town centre. Plan a separate walk to it rather than a quick detour between two trains.

5. Saronno is an everyday town. Companies such as Lazzaroni and Disaronno are based in this town of 38,812 residents, and its streets are part of daily life. That is exactly what makes an afternoon here relaxed, while Milan is still only 20 minutes away.

Who should visit Saronno?

Art lovers can see Luini and Gaudenzio Ferrari together in the Santuario, without the queues at Milan's major churches.

Travellers in transit with enough time before their flight can swap the terminal for a Renaissance church. The roughly 20 minutes refer to the train journey to Terminal 1; allow extra time for walking, baggage drop and security.

Music lovers can connect the Collezione Cavallari's Giuditta Pasta displays with an evening at the theatre named after her.

Connoisseur can take home amaretti from the town that gave them their name.

Combine Saronno with Milan, Como and Lake Maggiore

Milan is about 20 minutes away by train; our guide to the Milan sightsshows what you can see there in one or two days, from the Milan Cathedral and the Brera district. Heading north, it takes about 40 minutes to reach Como on Lake Como. To travel farther west, go via Malpensa Airport to Lake Maggiore.

Our verdict: Saronno's sights in half a day

Saronno is not a destination for an entire trip but a half-day visit with a clear plan. The Santuario alone justifies the stop: Luini and Gaudenzio Ferrari beneath one dome, 20 minutes from the airport.

The stop involves no detour: Saronno lies on the route between Milan and Malpensa, so you simply get off and back on the train.

Plan your stop for a Tuesday, Thursday or weekend and combine it with Milan: our guide to the Milan sights will help you fill the rest of your days.

Prices, hours of operation, and schedules are subject to change. Check the official websites for the latest information before your trip.