HISTORICAL NOTES
	Varenna is built upon a rock at the foot of a mountain which rises almost vertically above it, leaving the skeleton of a ruined ancient castle exposed to the sky. Its community dates back to the Roman age. Its name appears for the first time in 493, mentioned by Corius in his history of Milan, but the first assured reference of its existence, for the moment, is given in a document written by Deacon Grato of Monza, in the year 769. The real history of Varenna begins after the year 1000. In 1126, Varenna was defeated and sacked by the inhabitants of Como, against whom it had fought under the flag of Milan. Varenna became a richer town after the destruction of the island Comacina occurred in 1159 by the inhabitants of Como. Most of the survivors took refuge in Varenna, where they were friendly welcome and contributed to the growth of the population. With their customs they probably brought the so-called "patriarchino" or Aquileian patriarchal religious rite. They added the name of Insula Nova to the one of Varenna,  in order not to forget their glorious island. After being part of the archiepiscopal domain, the ancient village came under the rule of Sforza family. On two occasions, in 1224 and 1228, it went to war with the inhabitants of Como and was razed to the ground. This was one of the last heroic acts of the people of Varenna, because the town was subsequently forced to subject itself, firstly to the Visconti family until 1402, then to the tyrant Franchino Rusca, until finally coming under the power of Giuseppe Valeriano Sfondrati in 1537. In this century Varenna has reached international recognition as tourist center and seat of congresses. VI-V century b.D.: A pre-Roman settlement is attested in the neighborhoods of Varenna, perhaps in community with an older built-up-area dating back to the Iron Age. 769: the place-name Varenna recurs for the first time  in a will. 1143: St. John Baptist Church, that was subordinate by Monza’s archpriest, is quoted in a document for the first time. 1169: People living in the isle Comacina, destroyed by Como’s inhabitants, fled to Varenna and named it also Insula Nova. 1209: St. Mary women’s monastery is quoted in a document for the first time. 1313: St. George Church is quoted in a document for the first time. 1533-1799: Varenna is assigned a feud to Sfondrati, counts of Lecco’s Riviera. 1569: The buildings of St. Mary monastery are sold to Paolo Mornico, as the nuns have been moved to Lecco (1567). 1898: The church of St. Mary monastery is abolished. 1925: Villa Monastero is sold to Marco De Marchi, who will assign it to the creation of the Hydrobiology Institute.