Varese

Built around a historic settlement above Lake Varese, Varese grew into the provincial capital of northern Lombardy. The city lies between the lake and the wooded slopes of the Campo dei Fiori massif, part of a regional park rising behind its streets. Its best-known cultural landmark is the Sacro Monte di Varese, a pilgrimage complex of 14 chapels leading to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Monte and included in the UNESCO-listed Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy. In the centre, Palazzo Estense and its formal gardens recall the 18th-century court of Duke Francesco III d'Este. Browse additional webcams from the Varese area to extend your view of Lombardy's lake-and-foothill country.

Shaped by the Po Valley and the southern Alps, Lombardy developed into Italy’s leading economic region. Its territory runs from high Alpine valleys to the broad Po plain, where the Adda, Oglio and Ticino are major waterways. Milan is its metropolitan centre, marked by the Gothic Duomo and a long role in finance, design and publishing. Farther east, Bergamo is divided between its walled Città Alta and modern lower city; nearby Lake Iseo lies between Lombardy’s pre-Alpine ridges. Rice fields around Pavia, vineyards in Franciacorta and lake towns give the region a markedly varied identity. Browse other webcams across Lombardy to place this setting in a wider geographic context.

Among the countries of southern Europe, Italy stands out for its Mediterranean coastline and cities marked by the legacy of ancient Rome. The Alps form its northern frontier, while the Apennines run down the peninsula and the Po crosses the broad plain of the north. Rome’s Colosseum and Roman Forum recall the ancient empire; Florence is closely associated with the Renaissance, and Venice is built across a lagoon on the Adriatic. Food changes markedly between regions, from olive-oil cooking in the south to rice dishes in the Po Valley. Sicily and Sardinia add distinct island identities to a country whose regions retain strong local character. Explore nearby webcam locations that provide complementary perspectives on Italy’s coasts, cities and mountains.