Varese facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Varese Varés  (Lombard)
Comune
Città di Varese
The Piazza del Podestà
Flag Coat of arms
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
Area
• Total	54 km2 (21 sq mi)
Elevation	382 m (1,253 ft)
Population  (28 February 2017)
• Total	80,588
• Density	1,492/km2 (3,870/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Varesini
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	21100
Dialing code	0332
Patron saint	San Vittore
Saint day	8 May

Varese is a city and a comune (which means a municipality or town) in northern Italy. It is located in the region of Lombardy, about 55 kilometers (34 miles) northwest of Milan. In 2018, Varese had a population of 80,559 people.

Varese is the capital city of the Province of Varese. The area around the city, which includes its suburbs, is known as Varesotto.

Exploring Varese's Geography

The city of Varese sits at the base of Sacro Monte di Varese. This mountain is part of the Campo dei Fiori mountain range. On this mountain, you can find an astronomical observatory and a geophysical center.

The village on the mountain is called Santa Maria del Monte. It has a medieval sanctuary, which you can reach by walking along an avenue with chapels. Varese itself is built on seven hills: San Pedrino, Giubiano, Campigli, Sant'Albino, Biumo Superiore, Colle di Montalbano (Villa Mirabello), and Miogni. The city also overlooks Lake Varese.

Understanding Varese's Climate

Varese's winters are cool, but not greatly affected by nearby lakes like Lago Maggiore. In late autumn and winter, temperatures often drop below freezing. This makes it cooler than areas south of the city. Unlike some other cities in Lombardy, fog is not very common here.

Varese is one of the rainiest cities in Italy. It gets more than 1500 millimeters (59 inches) of rain each year. Since the 1980s, snow has fallen less often. The average annual snowfall has decreased from 69 cm (27 inches) to 33 cm (13 inches).

Varese's Population and Economy

Varese has many people who have moved there from other places. This is because of its strong economy. Many international companies and the EU's Joint Research Centre are nearby. Also, its closeness to Milan makes it a great place for people who work in Milan to live.

A Look at Varese's History

Varese has been known as a town since the Early Middle Ages. By 1848, its population was about 4,000 people.

In 1859, a famous Italian general, Giuseppe Garibaldi, fought against Austrian forces near Varese. Also, the Savoia-Marchetti SM.93 aircraft, designed by Alessandro Marchetti, had its first test flights here.

In the 20th century, Varese grew a lot. Its economy boomed, especially in manufacturing. Key industries included mechanical and electromechanical goods, and textiles. Varese was also very famous for its footwear industry.

Symbols of Varese

The coat of arms of Varese

The coat of arms, or symbol, of the City of Varese dates back to around 1347. It shows a silver shield with two red corners at the top. The shield is surrounded by a black band.

Later, in the 16th century, a marquis crown was added above the shield. The image of Saint Victor, the city's patron saint, was also added. The coat of arms and flag were officially recognized in the 1940s.

Getting Around Varese: Transport

Varese has a good network of roads and railways. Many people travel into Varese each day, with over 113,000 vehicles entering on an average weekday.

Most people in Varese use private cars to get around. Public transport, like buses, is also popular. The A8 motorway connects Varese directly to Milan. The city also has a Ring Road System, which helps traffic flow around the city.

Varese has three main railway stations:

• Varese FS connects to Milan and Porto Ceresio. It also has direct trains to Malpensa Airport, Como, and even to Switzerland (Mendrisio and Lugano).
• Varese Nord and Varese Casbeno are part of another train line that connects to Milan Cadorna.

The city has a large bus network with 12 lines, plus 3 lines in the urban area. There are also suburban bus services. You can even take international buses from Varese to Lugano and Mendrisio in Switzerland. Varese also has a funicular, which is like a small train that goes up a steep hill, called the Vellone-Sacro Monte funicular. The closest airport is Varese-Venegono Airport, about 10 km (6 miles) southeast of the city.

Amazing Places to See in Varese

Varese is home to the Sacro Monte di Varese, which means 'the Sacred Mount of Varese'. This is a very important place for pilgrimage and worship. It is one of the Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy, and it is even listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Historic Buildings and Villas

Varese has many beautiful castles, some of which once belonged to the Borromeo family. In the city center, you can find the Praetorian Palace and Villa Cagna.

After the 19th century, many grand villas with lovely gardens were built. Many of these are now open for visitors to enjoy:

• Palazzo Estense with its gardens was built in the 17th century and is now the town hall.
• Villa Mirabello was built in the late 1600s on top of a hill. It houses the Civic Archaeological Museum and has a park connected to the Palazzo Estense gardens.
• Villa Recalcati in Casbeno was built in the early 18th century. It was once a fancy hotel and now holds government offices.
• Villa Mylius, near the town center, was once owned by Jesuits. It became a large villa and was later donated to the town of Varese.
• Villa Toeplitz in the Sant'Ambrogio area has a big public park. It was bought by a banker named Giuseppe Toeplitz in 1914. The villa and its beautiful Italian park were given to the Municipality of Varese in 1972.
• Ville Ponti was built between 1850 and 1870. It is now a convention center.
• Villa Menafoglio Litta Panza is a great example of a vacation home from the mid-18th century. It now holds a collection of modern art.
• Villa Augusta was built in the late 19th century. It now houses city offices, and its park is open to the public.
• Villa Baragiola in Masnago has a popular park. The villa itself now holds some city offices.
• Masnago Castle is another historic site in the city.

• Some examples of Varese villas
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Natural Parks and Green Spaces

Besides the many public parks that belong to historic villas, Varese has the Park Luigi Zanzi in Schiranna. This large botanical garden is located on the banks of Lake Varese. It has many types of trees and birds. In summer, it's a beach, and you can also enjoy peaceful walks or bike rides on the path.

Close to Varese is the Campo dei Fiori Regional Park. This is a natural reserve with over five thousand acres of land. It includes the large mountains Campo dei Fiori and Mount Martica. This park is known for its spectacular blooms, which gave the area its name. It's a diverse place with interesting natural environments, history, and culture. You can find small farming villages, beautiful monuments, and cave systems. There's also a well-kept network of trails for walking, horseback riding, and cycling.

Varese's Economy and Industries

Varese's economy is mostly based on industry. It also has some specialized agriculture. Many famous companies are based in Varese, including:

• Aermacchi (military training aircraft)
• AgustaWestland (helicopters)
• Bticino (electrical products)
• Cagiva, MV Agusta (motorbikes)
• Cobra Automotive Technologies (car technology)
• Ficep (Machine Tools for steel construction)
• Ignis (now part of Whirlpool) (electronics)
• Vibram (shoe soles)
• Prealpi (cheese)
• Mazzuchelli (plastics)
• Missoni (fashion)
• Di Varese (shoes)

Varese is also close to Malpensa International Airport, which is a major airport for international travel to and from Milan.

Learning in Varese: Education

Varese is home to a European School, the European School, Varese. It was started in 1960 for the children of European Union staff. These staff members mainly work at the Joint Research Centre in nearby Ispra.

The city also has one of the two campuses of the University of Insubria. This university is located in the heart of Varese, often called the "Garden City." Its new Campus Bizzozero hosts faculties like Medicine, Economics, and Natural Sciences.

In Gorla Minore, a town in Varese, there is a Catholic school called Collegio Rotondi. This school was established way back in 1599.

Famous People from Varese

Many notable people have connections to Varese, including:

• Flaminio Bertoni (1903–1964), a sculptor and designer known for designing famous Citroën cars like the 2CV and DS.
• Giulio Bizzozero (1846–1901), a pioneer in using microscopes for medical research.
• Umberto Bossi (born 1941), a politician who led the Lega Nord party.
• Gennaro Gattuso (born 1978), a professional football (soccer) player.
• Dino Meneghin (born 1950), a professional basketball player who played for Ignis Varese.
• Ottavio Missoni, the designer and founder of the famous Italian fashion house Missoni, which is also based in Varese.
• Mario Monti (born 1943), an economist and politician.
• Renato Pozzetto (born 1940), a popular Italian actor and director.
• Francesco Tamagno (1850–1905), a famous opera singer who lived and died in Varese.

Cycling Stars from Varese

Varese has a strong history with competitive cycling. It has hosted the World Road Cycling Championships in 1951 and 2008.

A big annual event is the Tre Valli Varesine, a cycling race that goes through three valleys around Varese. Many famous cyclists are from Varese or have trained there, such as:

• Ivan Basso (born 1977), who won the Giro d'Italia twice.
• Alfredo Binda (1902–1986), a cycling legend from the 1920s and 1930s.
• Gianni Bugno (born 1964), another well-known cyclist.
• Stefano Garzelli (born 1973), who won the 2000 Giro d'Italia.
• Óscar Freire (born 1976), a Spanish cyclist.

Music and Sports in Varese

Music Festivals

Varese hosts music events like:

• Open Jazz Varese [1]
• Ghost Day Festival

Sports Teams

Varese is very famous for its basketball team, Pallacanestro Varese. This team played in 10 FIBA European Champions Cup finals in a row from 1970 to 1979, winning five titles!

Other sports teams in Varese include:

• SSD Varese Calcio (football/soccer)
• ASD Città di Varese (football/soccer)
• HC Varese (ice hockey)

Varese's International Connections

Varese is twinned with two other cities, meaning they have a special friendly relationship:

• Alba Iulia, Romania
• Romans-sur-Isère, France

See also

In Spanish: Varese para niños