Varenna

Varenna is a comune (municipality) on Lake Como in the Province of Lecco in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 60km north of Milan and about 20km 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 Lariosaurus (a Middle Triassic sea reptile related to turtles), as well as the beautiful gardens at Villa Monastero. Across the lake in the province of Como are: Bellagio, Griante and Menaggio.