# Varese

> Italian comune

**Wikidata**: [Q6285](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6285)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varese)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/varese

## Summary
Varese is a city and comune (municipality) located in the Lombardy region of Italy. It serves as the capital of the Province of Varese and has a population of 78,409 (as of January 1, 2023). The city covers an area of 54.84 square kilometers and is situated at an elevation of 382 meters above sea level. The city's official website is https://www.comune.varese.it and its postal code is 21100.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Varese
- **Type:** Comune of Italy, City
- **Country:** Italy (since June 2, 1946)
- **Region:** Lombardy
- **Province:** Province of Varese (Capital since 1927)
- **Population:** 78,409 (as of January 1, 2023, according to ISTAT)
- **Area:** 54.84 square kilometers (as of October 9, 2011)
- **Elevation:** 382 meters above sea level
- **Coordinates:** 45.816666666667° N, 8.8333333333333° E
- **Demonym:** Varesini (masculine plural)
- **Patron Saint:** Victor Maurus
- **Time Zone:** UTC+01:00 (CET), UTC+02:00 (CEST - daylight saving)
- **License Plate Code:** VA
- **Local Dialing Code:** 0332
- **ISTAT ID:** 012133
- **UN/LOCODE:** ITVAR
- **Italian Cadastre Code:** L682
- **Seismic Classification:** 4
- **Unemployment Rate:** 7.8%
- **Head of Government:** Davide Galimberti (since June 20, 2016)
- **Award Received:** Gold medal for merit in school, culture and art
- **Official Language:** Italian

## FAQs
**What is Varese?**
Varese is an Italian comune and city, and it is the capital of the Province of Varese in the Lombardy region.

**What is the population of Varese?**
As of January 1, 2023, the resident population of Varese is 78,409, according to the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT).

**What are the key geographical details of Varese?**
Varese covers an area of 54.84 square kilometers and is located at an elevation of 382 meters above sea level. Its geographic coordinates are approximately 45.82° N latitude and 8.83° E longitude.

**Who is the current mayor of Varese?**
Davide Galimberti has served as the head of government (mayor) of Varese since June 20, 2016.

**What are the twin towns of Varese?**
Varese is twinned with Alba Iulia (Romania), Tongling (China), and Romans-sur-Isère (France).

**What is the historical significance of Varese's governance?**
Varese has been part of several historical states, including the Duchy of Milan, the Cisalpine Republic, the Italian Republic, the Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic), the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia, the Kingdom of Sardinia, and the Kingdom of Italy, before becoming part of the modern Italian Republic in 1946.

**What are some notable buildings and facilities owned by the city of Varese?**
The city owns several facilities including PalaWhirlpool, ACinque ICE Arena, Palazzo Estense, Civic Tower of Varese, Piscina comunale Fausto Fabiano, and Stadio Franco Ossola.

**What significant events have taken place in Varese?**
Varese has hosted the 2008 UCI Women's Road World Cup, the 2008 UCI Road World Championships, and the World Rowing U23 Championships.

## Why It Matters
Varese holds significant administrative, cultural, and historical importance within the Lombardy region of Italy. As the capital of the Province of Varese since 1927, it serves as a central hub for governance and public services. The city's historical journey, having been part of various sovereign entities from the Duchy of Milan to the Kingdom of Italy, highlights its long-standing role in the region's political evolution.

The city's cultural contributions are recognized through awards such as the Gold medal for merit in school, culture, and art. Its international connections are fostered through town twinning programs with Alba Iulia, Tongling, and Romans-sur-Isère. Furthermore, Varese's capacity to host international sporting events like the UCI Road World Championships and World Rowing U23 Championships underscores its infrastructure and global engagement. The presence of notable facilities like the Palazzo Estense and PalaWhirlpool further cements its status as a key urban center in northern Italy.

## Notable For
- **Provincial Capital:** Serves as the administrative center for the Province of Varese.
- **Historical Transition:** Has been governed by eight different sovereign states, dating back to the Duchy of Milan in 1395.
- **International Sports Host:** Hosted the 2008 UCI Road World Championships and World Rowing U23 Championships.
- **Cultural Recognition:** Received the Gold medal for merit in school, culture, and art.
- **Global Connections:** Maintains sister-city relationships with Alba Iulia, Tongling, and Romans-sur-Isère.
- **Extensive Wikipedia Presence:** Has Wikipedia articles in over 100 languages, indicating broad global interest and recognition.
- **Diverse Architectural Ownership:** Owns and manages key public facilities including PalaWhirlpool, Stadio Franco Ossola, and the historic Palazzo Estense.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Varese is situated in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, within the Province of Varese. The city's precise coordinates are 45.816666666667° N latitude and 8.8333333333333° E longitude. It sits at an elevation of 382 meters above sea level. The city covers a total area of 54.84 square kilometers, as recorded on October 9, 2011.

The city's geographic boundaries are well-defined, with its northernmost point at 45.8838664° N, 8.8037673° E, southernmost at 45.7785528° N, 8.8576685° E, easternmost at 45.7999303° N, 8.8699458° E, and westernmost at 45.8150225° N, 8.7369506° E. Varese shares borders with numerous neighboring municipalities, including Arcisate, Azzate, Biandronno, Bodio Lomnago, Brinzio, Buguggiate, Cantello, Casciago, Castello Cabiaglio, Cazzago Brabbia, Galliate Lombardo, Gavirate, Gazzada Schianno, Induno Olona, Lozza, Luvinate, Malnate, and Vedano Olona.

### Governance and Politics
Varese operates as a comune (municipality) within the Italian Republic. The city's current head of government is Davide Galimberti, who assumed office on June 20, 2016. He succeeded Attilio Fontana, who served from June 6, 2006, to June 20, 2016.

The city has a rich political history, having been part of various ruling entities over the centuries:
- **Duchy of Milan:** 1395 – 1797
- **Cisalpine Republic:** 1797 – 1802
- **Italian Republic:** 1802 – 1805
- **Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic):** 1805 – 1814
- **Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia:** 1815 – 1859
- **Kingdom of Sardinia:** 1859 – 1861
- **Kingdom of Italy:** 1861 – 1946
- **Italian Republic:** June 2, 1946 – Present

Varese serves as the capital of the Province of Varese, a status it has held since 1927. It also functioned as a provincial capital from 1787 to 1791. The city is located in a zone with a seismic classification of 4.

### Demographics
According to the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), the resident population of Varese has shown slight variations in recent years:
- **2016 (June 30):** 80,629
- **2016 (August):** 80,606
- **2017 (January 1):** 80,694
- **2018 (January 1):** 80,544
- **2023 (January 1):** 78,409 (Most recent preferred value)

The inhabitants of Varese are referred to as "varesini" (masculine plural). The unemployment rate in the city is recorded at 7.8%.

### Culture and Heritage
Varese has a strong cultural identity, anchored by its patron saint, Victor Maurus. The city's cultural significance was nationally recognized with the award of the Gold medal for merit in school, culture, and art.

The city owns and maintains several important historical and cultural sites:
- **Palazzo Estense:** A historic palace.
- **Civic Tower of Varese:** A notable civic structure.
- **Piscina comunale Fausto Fabiano:** A public swimming facility.
- **Stadio Franco Ossola:** A primary sports stadium.
- **PalaWhirlpool:** A major indoor arena.
- **ACinque ICE Arena:** An ice sports facility.

Varese's historical and cultural records are preserved in various institutional archives, identified by Lombardiabeniculturali institution IDs that span from the 14th century to 1971.

### International Relations
Varese is actively engaged in international cooperation through town twinning agreements with three cities:
1.  **Alba Iulia**, Romania (since 2003)
2.  **Tongling**, China
3.  **Romans-sur-Isère**, France

### Sports and Events
The city has a proven track record of hosting major international sporting events. Notable events include the 2008 UCI Road World Championships, the 2008 UCI Women's Road World Cup, and the World Rowing U23 Championships. These events leverage the city's sports infrastructure, including the Stadio Franco Ossola and PalaWhirlpool.

### Infrastructure and Services
Varese is well-connected and serviced by modern infrastructure. Its postal code is 21100, and it uses the license plate code VA. The local dialing code is 0332. The city operates in the Central European Time (CET) zone (UTC+01:00) and observes Central European Summer Time (CEST) (UTC+02:00) during daylight saving periods. The official website of the comune is https://www.comune.varese.it, provided in Italian.

The city is also identified by several unique administrative codes, including:
- **ISTAT ID:** 012133
- **UN/LOCODE:** ITVAR
- **Italian Cadastre Code:** L682
- **Indicepa ID:** c_l682

### Academic and Encyclopedic Recognition
Varese is documented and referenced in numerous prestigious encyclopedic and academic sources, including:
- Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition
- Great Soviet Encyclopedia
- Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary
- Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
- Great Russian Encyclopedia

The city is also cataloged in various international library and authority systems, such as the Library of Congress (n 79038502), the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names (7006041), and the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF ID: 155418799), demonstrating its global recognition. The topic's main category on Wikimedia Commons is "Category:Varese".

## References

1. archINFORM
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. MusicBrainz
5. [Source](http://demo.istat.it/bilmens2016gen/index.html)
6. [Source](http://demo.istat.it/bilmens2016gen/index02.html)
7. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html)
8. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2017. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2017/index3.html)
9. [Source](https://demo.istat.it/?l=it)
10. GeoNames
11. [Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011. Italian National Institute of Statistics](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224)
12. Wiki Loves Monuments Italia
13. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
14. [Source](https://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/Varese;3992310.html)
15. Seismic classification in Italy
16. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)