The province of Varese () is a province in the Lombardy region of Italy. Its capital is Varese, but the largest city is Busto Arsizio. The headquarters of AgustaWestland, the company merged into Leonardo since 2016 and the world's largest producer of helicopters, is based in Samarate, a comune (municipality) of the province. The province has 139 municipalities.

It has a population of 881,907 in an area of , making it the 6th most densely populated province of Italy.

History

thumb|left|Church of Santa Maria foris portas in [[Castelseprio (archaeological park)|Castelseprio archaeological park]]

In Roman times, the fortified settlements of Castelseprio and the port of Angera were of high importance in the region. The House of Visconti conquered the region in the 13th century and completely destroyed Castelseprio. The House of Visconti used the land for agricultural purposes and as part of the territories of Milan. During this Visconti rule, Varese became prosperous due to high levels of trade in the region but remained small. Prior to his appointment as Duke, Francesco III d'Este, Duke of Modena lived in the region during the 18th century. While the unification of Italy was initiating, Italian general Giuseppe Garibaldi attempted to install anti-Austrians in Varese; in response to this, the Austrians attempted to invade in 1859, and a battle occurred in Varese, resulting in Garibaldi's victory. During the second half of the 19th century, the area saw considerable economic growth with the birth of numerous factories, especially in the paper, mechanical, and textile industries. Umberto Bossi was born in 1941 near Varese, who believed that the region of Lombardy should have a degree of independence; in 1986, he founded the Lombard League which became a component of the Lega Nord ("North League").

Municipalities

  • Agra
  • Albizzate
  • Angera
  • Arcisate
  • Arsago Seprio
  • Azzate
  • Azzio
  • Barasso
  • Bardello con Malgesso e Bregano
  • Bedero Valcuvia
  • Besano
  • Besnate
  • Besozzo
  • Biandronno
  • Bisuschio
  • Bodio Lomnago
  • Brebbia
  • Bregano
  • Brenta
  • Brezzo di Bedero
  • Brinzio
  • Brissago-Valtravaglia
  • Brunello
  • Brusimpiano
  • Buguggiate
  • Busto Arsizio
  • Cadegliano-Viconago
  • Cadrezzate con Osmate
  • Cairate
  • Cantello
  • Caravate
  • Cardano al Campo
  • Carnago
  • Caronno Pertusella
  • Caronno Varesino
  • Casale Litta
  • Casalzuigno
  • Casciago
  • Casorate Sempione
  • Cassano Magnago
  • Cassano Valcuvia
  • Castellanza
  • Castello Cabiaglio
  • Castelseprio
  • Castelveccana
  • Castiglione Olona
  • Castronno
  • Cavaria con Premezzo
  • Cazzago Brabbia
  • Cislago
  • Cittiglio
  • Clivio
  • Cocquio-Trevisago
  • Comabbio
  • Comerio
  • Cremenaga
  • Crosio della Valle
  • Cuasso al Monte
  • Cugliate-Fabiasco
  • Cunardo
  • Curiglia con Monteviasco
  • Cuveglio
  • Cuvio
  • Daverio
  • Dumenza
  • Duno
  • Fagnano Olona
  • Ferno
  • Ferrera di Varese
  • Gallarate
  • Galliate Lombardo
  • Gavirate
  • Gazzada Schianno
  • Gemonio
  • Gerenzano
  • Germignaga
  • Golasecca
  • Gorla Maggiore
  • Gorla Minore
  • Gornate-Olona
  • Grantola
  • Inarzo
  • Induno Olona
  • Ispra
  • Jerago con Orago
  • Lavena Ponte Tresa
  • Laveno-Mombello
  • Leggiuno
  • Lonate Ceppino
  • Lonate Pozzolo
  • Lozza
  • Luino
  • Luvinate
  • Maccagno
  • Malgesso
  • Malnate
  • Marchirolo
  • Marnate
  • Marzio
  • Masciago Primo
  • Mercallo
  • Mesenzana
  • Montegrino Valtravaglia
  • Monvalle
  • Morazzone
  • Mornago
  • Oggiona con Santo Stefano
  • Olgiate Olona
  • Origgio
  • Orino
  • Pino sulla Sponda del Lago Maggiore
  • Porto Ceresio
  • Porto Valtravaglia
  • Rancio Valcuvia
  • Ranco
  • Saltrio
  • Samarate
  • Sangiano
  • Saronno
  • Sesto Calende
  • Solbiate Arno
  • Solbiate Olona
  • Somma Lombardo
  • Sumirago
  • Taino
  • Ternate
  • Tradate
  • Travedona-Monate
  • Tronzano Lago Maggiore
  • Uboldo
  • Valganna
  • Varano Borghi
  • Varese
  • Vedano Olona
  • Veddasca
  • Venegono Inferiore
  • Venegono Superiore
  • Vergiate
  • Viggiù
  • Vizzola Ticino

Demographics

Economy

thumb|[[Alenia Aermacchi airplane]]

The agriculture of this sub-Alpine region is based on livestock farming and the economy mainly relies on the industrial sector, with many people commuting daily to Milan. Among the main companies headquartered in the province are Alenia Aermacchi (aeronautics), AgustaWestland (aeronautics), Bticino (metalworking), Cagiva (motorcycles), Birrificio Angelo Poretti (brewery), Ignis (home appliances), Vibram (footwear soles).

<!--thumb|Chapel n°5, Sacro Monte di Varese

thumb|Varese Palace-->

Cuisine

thumb|[[Bruscitti served with polenta porridge]]

Common in the whole Insubria area is bruscitti (; , ; ) an Italian single-course meal of the Lombard, Piedmontese, and Ticinese cuisines based on finely chopped beef cooked for a long time. It is a typical winter dish and is served with polenta, or . is originally from the (municipality) of Busto Arsizio, Lombardy, Italy. Bruscitti is widespread in northwestern Lombardy (Italy), northeastern Piedmont (Italy), and lower Ticino (Switzerland). The dish probably originated in the Middle Ages. Based on finely chopped beef and cooked for a long time (from 2 At the end of cooking, it is blended with well-structured red wines such as Barbera, Barolo or Nebbiolo.

Education

In Gorla Minore, a municipality in the province of Varese, there is Collegio Rotondi, a Catholic charter school established in 1599.

Transport

thumb|[[Autostrada A8 (Italy)|Autostrada A8 near Besnate]]

thumb|[[Gallarate railway station]]

Motorways

  • Autostrada A8: Milan-Varese
  • Autostrada A9: Lainate-Como-Chiasso
  • Autostrada A36: Cassano Magnago-Lentate sul Seveso
  • Autostrada A60: Beltway around Varese

Railway lines

  • Porto Ceresio–Milan railway
  • Mendrisio–Varese railway
  • Saronno–Laveno railway
  • Domodossola–Milan railway
  • Luino–Oleggio railway

References

  • Official website