Gallarate is a city and comune of Alto Milanese of Lombardy and of Milan metropolitan area, northern Italy, in the Province of Varese. It has a population of some 54,000 people.

It is the junction of railways to Varese, Laveno and Arona (for the Simplon). Some 10 kilometres (6 miles) to the west are the electric works of Vizzola, where 23,000 hp are derived from the river Ticino. Its territory is crossed by the river Arnetta, and belongs to the Ticino River Natural Park.

The city had a strong textile industry in the first part of the 19th century.

In common with other nearby cities, such as Casorate Sempione and Samarate, its name comes from Latin.

Main sights

• San Pietro: Romanesque church built in the 11th to 13th centuries, including some Gothic elements. The interior has a nave without aisles. The façade, the apse and the sides are characterized by arcades supported by small columns forming a fake loggia. It was declared a national monument in 1844.
• Santa Maria Assunta: church located in the city centre and in autumn 2016 the local government started works of restoration
• Baroque church of Sant’Antonio Abate
• Sanctuary of Madonna di Campagna, dating to the early 17th century.
• Church of San Zenone (18th century)
• Church of San Rocco (16th century)
• Historical pharmacy Dahò, where the carbonari used to hide in the 19th century, owned by Dott. Renata Minoli. The pharmacy is located in Piazza Garibaldi, in which there a statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi.
• Museo MAGA (Museo d’Arte Gallarate-Art Museum of Gallarate) museum which holds over 5,000 pieces of modern and contemporary art.

Economy

In the 19th and 20th centuries Gallarate was an important centre for the textile industry. Now it is a local hub for transport and high-tech industries.

Education

The Sistema Bibliotecario Consortile Antonio Panizzi has its main offices in Gallarate. The system operates the Biblioteca Civica ” Luigi Majno “ in Gallarate. Gallarate is also the seat of the Aloysianum, a former Jesuit college, which is now a Jesuit cultural centre with an important library. Carlo Maria Martini spent there the last years of his life.

In 2010 the local government built a modern art museum called Museo MAGA, hosting a Missoni exhibition in honour of the deceased Ottavio Missoni. MAGA is a focal point for local student research and adult education.