A city in north-western Lombardy and located just 55km from Milan, Varese sits at the foot of two mountain ranges as well as overlooking the glacial Lake Varese, known for its shape similar to a shoe.
The city is known for its numerous castles, such as the Rocca Borromeo and Castelli Visconte, as well as an attractive garden city and natural spring and lake, Palazzo Estense. Its rivers make it an optimal location for water based sports like canoeing and rowing, and hikers will be charmed by the valleys and woods. Varese produces a great deal of its own food, with cheeses such as Gorgonzola P.D.O. and Formaggella being two of its most known specialties.