Varese (UK: /vəˈreɪzeɪ, -zi/ və-RAY-zay, -⁠zee,[3] US: /vɑːˈreɪseɪ/ var-AY-say;[4] Italian: [vaˈreːze] ⓘ or [vaˈreːse]; Varesino: Varés [ʋaˈreːs]; Latin: Baretium; archaic German: Väris) is a city and comune in north-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 55 km (34 mi) north-west of Milan.

[10] In 1859, Giuseppe Garibaldi confronted Austrian forces led by Field Marshal-Lieutenant Carl Baron Urban near Varese.

On the wooden cover of the double copy of the Burgi et Castellatiae de Varisio Statutes, preserved in the municipal archive, the oldest example of a civic coat of arms is depicted: "silver Samnite shield.

It is probably in the sixteenth century - as the Varese historian Luigi Borri believes in his work Documenti Varesini of 1891 - that the shield was surmounted by the marquis crown and the effigy of St. Victor, patron saint of the city.

The historic centre of the city includes the Praetorian Palace and Villa Cagna, a residential complex that also hosts the Civic Music School of Varese.

Villa Mirabello, the seat of Museo Civico Archeologico (Civic Archaeological Museum), was built in the late 600s on the top of the hill which carries its name.

Close to the city of Varese is the Campo dei Fiori Regional Park, a natural reserve of over five thousand acres consisting of the massive mountain Campo dei Fiori and Mount Martica, separate from that valley Rasa which is the junction of Valcuvia and Olona valley.

Once the peak of the Campo dei Fiori was characterized by extensive grassland, it became the historical destination of tourism of Varese and of Milan.

It is a very diverse place showing aspects of extreme interest, related both to the natural environment, both in history and culture, referring to a past full of events and traditions.

There are small farming villages, monuments of rare beauty, cave systems and articulated a well-maintained network of trails: some passable, as well as on foot, on horseback and on bicycle.

The economy of Varese is mainly based on industry and, to a lesser extent, specialized agriculture; some famous Varese-based firms are: and many more as it is one of the most industrialised areas in Northern Italy.

It is one of the two sites of the University of Insubria, located in the heart of the Garden City, and is hosting in the newly built Campus Bizzozero the faculties of Medicine, Economics, Natural Sciences etc.

Gorla Minore, a comune (municipality) in Varese, hosts the Catholic charter school, Collegio Rotondi, which was established in 1599.

[17] One of the biggest events is the yearly Tre Valli Varesine, which usually takes place at the end of September beginning of October.