Experience the best of Ferno

Ferno is a small town in the province of Varese, in the plain of north-west Lombardy, some 40 km from Milan. It lies beside Malpensa, Milan's main intercontinental airport, and the surrounding land is a mix of low farmland, light woods and quiet villages. Gallarate and Busto Arsizio, two industrial towns, are close neighbours.

The Ticino, which flows south out of Lake Maggiore, runs through a protected valley park of woods, meadows and rice fields to the west. The southern end of the lake, with the towns of Sesto Calende and Arona, is a short drive north, and Varese, its small lakes and the pilgrimage chapels of the Sacro Monte lie to the north-east. Milan, with its cathedral and La Scala opera house, is within easy reach by road and rail.

Lombard cooking is built on rice, butter and polenta: risotto alla milanese coloured with saffron, cotoletta, polenta served with game or cheese, and panettone at Christmas. Winters can be foggy, summers are warm and humid, and spring and autumn are the best seasons. Lake fish appears on menus around Maggiore.