Luino

Until 1889 the town was called Luvino, a name said to come from Luvinum, a personal name; a royal decree then made the form Luino official. The first mention in a document dates from 1169, but the place was settled long before: a Roman necropolis was found where the railway station now stands, and before the Como-Chiasso route opened, travellers bound for the Gotthard came through here.

In 1541 Charles V granted Luino the right to hold a market, alternating with Maccagno, which had held it alone until then; the concession was later reconfirmed, with Luino prevailing over Laveno, and the market still fills the centre every Wednesday. In 1867 the town gave Garibaldi, who had fought the Austrians at the Luina, the first monument raised to him in Italy, while he was still alive. The valleys around make formaggella del Luinese, a raw goat's milk cheese.