Varese Ligure, Italian comune
Varese Ligure is a commune in the Province of La Spezia in Liguria. The settlement developed at a strategic location where the Crovana stream meets the Vara river, and for centuries housed a central castle built in the 1400s that served as the seat of local rulers.
The area was inhabited since Byzantine times and first appears in medieval records when the Counts of Lavagna expanded their authority. In the 1400s a castle was built and then demolished decades later to prevent enemy invasions.
The place takes its name from the Vara river that flows nearby. The village layout still shows medieval features with narrow lanes and covered passages that once provided shelter under the fortification walls.
The place is easy to explore on foot since most areas cluster around the village center. Keep in mind that narrow lanes and stairs on sloped terrain mean wearing comfortable shoes is important.
Near the village stands Borgo Rotondo, a district with elliptically arranged houses that preserves an unusual medieval planning form. This circular layout was a defensive design principle meant to protect residents.
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