Luino is a small town near the border with Switzerland on the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore, in the Province of Varese (Lombardy, northern Italy). Its population in 2004 was 14,179.

[edit] History

Luino is well known for its weekly market, currently held on Wednesdays, which is purportedly the largest of its kind in Europe. It is also surrounded by impressive scenery, and this combination makes the town a popular destination for tourists, especially from Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands.

The town's railway station is also of historic importance, being on what was once the sole route to the Gotthard Rail Tunnel. It is still served both by Italian and Swiss state railway companies.

[edit] Economy

By the end of the 19th Century, Luino was a heavily industrialised town. The textiles industry was particularly strong here due to the many water courses which could be used to power the machinery. Many textile factories were set up in the local area by Swiss industrialists. Although some shadows of this past trade do remain in the names of local streets and villas (Villa Hussy, via Stehli in the neighbouring Germignaga), the activity in this sector has now diminished considerably.

One phenomenon which is extremely widespread is the practice of local residents who travel every day to work in Switzerland. These so called frontalieri make Luino and neighbouring towns and villages dormitory towns to some extent.

[edit] Famous residents

Two famous figures of 20th Century Italian literature, Piero Chiara and Vittorio Sereni were born in Luino.

The Nobel Prize for Literature-winning playwright Dario Fo also spent part of his youth here and in the nearby Porto Valtravaglia.

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