Gallarate

The origins of Gallarate can be traced back to the pre-Roman period and the town owes its name to the tribe of Gauls who were its first settlers. It was on the route linked Milano to Angera and the Lake Maggiore and many finds testify the importance of the ancient village.

In the Middle Ages it was the capital of the southern Seprio Count and more than once it was razed to the ground and submitted to feudal rule. In 1344 arrived the Humiliates and the wool manufacture rapidly developed. Several feudal lords governed the town during the XV-XVI century, including the Marliani, the Caracciolo, the Pallavicino, the Altemps and the Visconti.

In 1786, the Austrian emperor made it the Provincial Capital and in 1796 became the Capital of the IV District of the Olona Department. At last, in 1860 it was awarded the title of city.

The industrial activities range in several branches from the textile industry to the mechanics, from the shoes to the goldsmith's art. The first factory of the aircraft Italian industry stood up in the surrounding moorland thanks to Gianni Caproni.

To see::

- the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, built in XIX century as the previous one was pull down, was designed by Giacomo Moraglia and Camillo Boito in neoclassic style and frescoed by Luigi Cavenaghi from Caravaggio. In the Museum of the Basilica have been preserved some valuable paintings and ornaments.

- the Church of San Pietro, XII century, was used as fortress by Gian Galeazzo Visconti and later as carpenter and butcher shop. Close to the church there is the Crocetta, laid by Cesare Visconti in 1694 in place of that erected by Marino Caracciolo in 1530.

- the Sanctuary of Madonna in Campagna, built in XVII century by the survivors of the plague

- the Palazzo Broletto, until 1929 the Town Hall

- the Civica Galleria d'Arte Moderna (Modern Art Galery) with paintings of the most important contemporary artists

- the Museo di Storia ed Arte, preserves the archeological finds of the area and the Civic Art Galery.