Varese is called "city garden" for its natural beauties. It boasts a civilization and a history - "the water civilization" - that sank its roots in ancient times beginning in 5th millennium before Christ. This is witnessed by the ruins of pile works in the surroundings of the homonymous Lake. Under the colonization of the republic of Rome, the historical centre was created; before it was used as military defence and then, as living place. Varese - suffered all historical events related to a very busy territory - after being a feud of the duke Francesco III d'Este became a free local government. The most important evidences (of this millenary history) are related to Christianity and the places of worship (S. Maria del Monte and the Via Sacra; Basilica of S. Vittore, that is near the baptistery of the 16th century, situated in the city centre with the tower of the 17th century, is considered one of the most beautiful of Lombardy; S. Stefano in Bizzozero; S. Imerio in Bosto; S. Antonio at Motta; S. Giorgio in Biumo and other more recent churches).