Tourist information: Varese

Historical Outline: Varese and outside

Resting among the lakes, the territory of Varese never stops surprising you through the diversity of its landscapes and the deep mark history placed upon it, already in the 5th century BC, when the first populations settled in urban agglomerations made up of pile-dwellings. The urban centre is, on the other hand, of Roman origin and it used to be a military garrison. During the Middle Ages, Varese experienced the events resulting from the contention between Milan and Como first and Milan and Frederick II later, binding its own history to that of the Lombardy capital. A free comunicipality until 1765, when it became a Signoria under Francesco d'Este, then newly municipality since 1780, Varese was always a lover of its own independence. The French Revolution was welcomed with great joy as well as the rise of Napoleon, with the constitution of the cisalpine Republic; likewise Varese participated in the "Risorgimento" battles and with Italy's unification it took on a central role, sizeably developing an industrial sector which, even today, makes up the financial bone structure of the province. The territory offers sceneries of unparalleled beauty, beautiful villas scattered along mountains and lakes, where nature and culture live together in harmony to the extent of deserving Varese the name of garden-city. An itinerary which will certainly give many pleasant surprises is the one among the Art Nouveau architectures in the city and the province, particularly villas and hotels that were built in the golden age of holidaying on the lakes.

Visit Varese

There are many reminiscences of the city's millenary past, especially architecturally; just to mention a few, you can admire the Basilica di San Vittore and the annexed Baptistery of San Giovanni (12th-13th century), as well as the Bell Tower, of the 17th century. As far as civil architecture is concerned, the castles always take your breath away, especially Masnago's, and so do the magnificent villas with beautiful botanical gardens, such as Palazzo Estense, which hosts the Town Hall, Villa Mirabello, seat of the Civic Museums, the Ponti villas.

Events

Repeated every summer since 1994, the festival "Burattini, Cortili e Giardini" is a happening dedicated to children but also interesting for adults. Still during the summer, music lovers will certainly rejoice in listening to ancient organs in the churches that have always contained them, through the event "Antichi Organi, Patrimonio d'Europa".