Varenna is a village of about 850 inhabitants and is situated in the middle of the eastern
branch of Lake Como. It’s built on a rocky promontory and is dominated by a mountain called Fopp on whose top we find the tower of the famous castle of Vezio.
The history of Varenna dates back to 729, when it was classified as a fishing village. At the time of communes it was allied to Milan and, for this reason it was destroyed by the
inhabitants of Com in 1226.
The village welcomed the fugitives from the Comacina Island after it was devastated along with its castle and its churches in 1169. The neighbourhood where they found refuge was called “Insula nova”, and the name was then extended to the entire village, which quickly became one of the richest of the lake. The inhabitants of the island were responsible for the introduction of the patriarchal rite that was celebrated in the churches of Varenna until the conversion to the Roman rite on demand from the bishop of Como.
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Today the exodus of the Comacini and the reception of the Varennesi is still celebrated, on Saturday and Sunday in the week closest to June 24, “feast of Saint John”. The lake is illuminated all day long with thousands of “ lumaghitt”, floating lights abandoned on the water, as to remember the derelict souls who sailed from shore to shore, escaping from their burning homes.
This celebration has a substantial impact on tourism.