What is "varenna"

Varenna is a comune (municipality) on Lake Como in the Province of Lecco in the Italian region Lombardy, located about north of Milan and about northwest of Lecco.

Varenna was founded by local fishermen in 769, and was later allied of 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 the Lariosaurus and a sea reptile from the Middle Triassic period 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. It is served by Varenna-Esino-Perledo station, on the Tirano–Lecco railway.