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The History of Varese. Italian Lakes
The History of Varese. Italian Lakes
The History of Varese. Located in the heart of what is now known as Lombardy, is the Lombard Plain lying majestically at the feet of the world renowned Alps. Frequently invaded and coveted for its great abundance of resources and fertile soils, this Lombardy was first inhabited by the Gaelic’s and eventually became part of the Roman province of Cisalpine Gaul, and it suffered heavily during the barbarian invasion that took place toward the end of the Roman Empire.
In 569 AD, the region was made the center of the Kingdom of the Lombard’s, for whom it was named, and then later was unified, with the Charlemagne Empire in 774 AD.
Around the end of the 10th century and towards the beginning of the 11th century, economical revivals began to occur in the land, and significant trade mainly between Northern Europeans and those of the Eastern Mediterranean.
By the 12th century, several cities united in the Lombard League, in an effort to defy Emperor Frederick I, who wanted to assert his authority over the Communes, thus defeating him at Legano in 1176.
By the 13th century, the region was marked by struggles between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, which resulted in wars among the cities and rivalries between families. With the exception of the town of Mantua, Lombardy fell in the 14th and 15th centuries under the sway of the Visconti family and the Sforza Dukes of Milan.
Between 1535 and 1713, Lombardy was ruled by the Spanish, followed by that of Austria between 1713 and 1796, and that of France between 1796 and 1814.
The Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom was established under Austrian rule in 1815, and much to Austria’s surprise, ousted the Austrians in 1849.
By 1859, Lombardy was permanently returned to the bosom of Italy.
Italian Lakes Tourist Information Guides – Tourism in Varese.
