Varese

Varese
—  Comune  —
Città di Varese
Palazzo Estense, town hall of Varese
Varese
Location of Varese in Italy
Coordinates:
Country Italy
Region Lombardy
Province Varese (VA)
Frazioni Avigno, Belforte, Biumo Inferiore, Biumo Superiore, Bizzozero, Bobbiate, Bosto, Bregazzana, Bustecche, Calcinate degli Orrigoni, Calcinate del Pesce, Campo dei Fiori, Capolago, Cartabbia, Casa Bassa, Casbeno, Cascina Gualtino, Cascina Mentasti, Caverzasio, Fogliaro, Gaggio, Giubiano, Lissago, Masnago, Mirasole, Mustonate, Oronco, Prima Cappella, Rasa di Varese, San Fermo, Sangallo, Santa Maria del Monte, Sant'Ambrogio, Schiranna, Ungheria, Velate
Government
 • Mayor Attilio Fontana
Area
 • Total 54 km2 (20.8 sq mi)
Elevation 382 m (1,253 ft)
Population (31 January 2009)
 • Total 81,922
 • Density 1,517.1/km2 (3,929.2/sq mi)
Demonym Varesini
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 21100
Dialing code 0332
Patron saint San Vittore
Saint day May 8
Website Official website

Varese (Italian: [vaˈreːze] ( listen), Latin Baretium, archaic German: Väris, Varès in Varesino) is a town and comune in north-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 55 km north of Milan.

It is the capital of the Province of Varese. The hinterland or urban part of the city is called Varesotto.

Contents

Geography

The town of Varese lies at the feet of Sacro Monte di Varese, which is part of the Campo dei Fiori mountain range. The town also looks over Lake Varese.

Demographics

Varese, like the province, has a very high immigrant population owing to both its economy (many multi-national companies and the nearby EU institution JRC) and its location (proximity to Milan makes it an ideal place for the latter city's workers).

History

In 1859, Giuseppe Garibaldi confronted Austrian forces led by Field Marshal-Lieutenant Carl Baron Urban near Varese. Also, it was here were Alessandro Marchetti's Savoia-Marchetti SM.93 made his first test flights.

Transport

The town is served by both the state-run Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) and Ferrovie Nord Milano (TRENORD), both of which run high-frequency train services to Milan. In addition, there is a project under way to connect Varese with Malpensa Airport; this line would then continue past Varese to Mendrisio and Lugano in Switzerland. Construction of the Varese-Mendrisio section (17.7 kilometers (11.0 mi) long) is expected to begin in 2009.[1]

The town has both an extensive city bus network and provincial bus services. The A8 motorway connects Varese with Milan. This motorway was part of the first toll road system in the world. The Italian government gave permission in 2008 to start works on the long awaited Varese-Como-Bergamo motorway, which would also include a bypass of the town of Varese. Works are to start in 2010, and they might be finished by 2013.[2]

Main sights

The town is most famous for the Sacro Monte di Varese ('the sacred mountain of Varese'), a place of pilgrimage and worship. It is one of the Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy, included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Economy

The economy of Varese is mainly based on industry and, to a lesser extent, specialized agriculture; some famous Varese-based firms are:

and many more as it is one of the most industrialised areas in Northern Italy.

Varese is home to Malpensa International Airport, which serves the international traffic of Milan, Italy.

Education

Varese is home to a European School, the European School, Varese, which was established in 1960 for the children of European Union staff, who work mainly at one of the three Joint Research Centres in nearby Ispra.

It is one of the two sites of the University of Insubria.

Notable people associated with Varese

Music festivals

Sport

Varese is known for the Pallacanestro Varese which played, in the 1970s, 10 European Champions Cup finals in a row and won 5 of them.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Varese is twinned with:

References

External links