Varenna

Varenna (Comasco, Lecchese: Varena) is a comune (municipality) on Lake Como in the Province of Lecco in the Italian region of Lombardy, located about 60 kilometres (37 mi) north of Milan and about 20 kilometres (12 mi) northwest of Lecco.

CountryItaly

FrazioniFiumelatte

Elevation

220 m (720 ft)

DemonymVarennesi

Quick facts Varena (Lombard), Country ...

Varenna Varena (Lombard)
Comune
Comune di Varenna
Varenna seen from an approaching ferry
Varenna Location of Varenna in Italy Show map of Italy Varenna Varenna (Lombardy) Show map of Lombardy
Coordinates: 46°1′N 9°17′E
Country	Italy
Region	Lombardy
Province	Lecco (LC)
Frazioni	Fiumelatte
Government
• Mayor	Carlo Molteni
Area [1]
• Total	11.2 km2 (4.3 sq mi)
Elevation	220 m (720 ft)
Population  (31 December 2010)[2]
• Total	812
• Density	72.5/km2 (188/sq mi)
Demonym	Varennesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Website	www.comune.varenna.lc.it

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Varenna was founded by local fishermen in AD 769 and was later allied with the commune of Milan. In 1126 it was destroyed by the rival commune of Como, and later received the refugees from the Isola Comacina, who had met the same fate (1169).

Varenna borders the following municipalities: Esino Lario, Lierna, Oliveto Lario, Perledo. The main sights are the Castello di Vezio, a small museum dedicated to Lariosaurus (a Middle Triassic sea reptile related to turtles), as well as the beautiful gardens at Villa Monastero. Across the lake in the province of Como are: Bellagio, Griante and Menaggio.

Villa Monastero, in between Varenna and Fiumelatte is nowadays a museum, botanical garden and convention center. It was founded as a Cistercian monastery in the 11th or 12th century.^[3] It is served by Varenna-Esino-Perledo station, on the Tirano–Lecco railway.