Varese is a provincial capital of Lombardy and is located in the north-east part of the region. It is set at 382 metres above sea level, right at the foot of Lombardy‘s Prealps.In medieval times it was an independent municipality and subsequently was subjugated by Milan and experiencing the very same destiny of that city. In the eighteenth century it was granted to Francesco III d‘Est and at that time many villas and parks were built.Its most important sites include the Basilica of San Vittore, the Battistero di San Giovanni, the Palazzo Estense that nowadays is the Town Hall and the Palazzo dei Musei Civici.