Gallarate is a city of Lombardy, Italy, in the Province of Varese. It has a population of 48,927. The city is of medieval origin. It is remarkable mainly for its textile factories. It is the junction of railways to Varese, Laveno and Arona (for the Simplon). Six miles to the west are the electric works of Vizzola, where 23,000 hp are derived from the river Ticino. The city in the first part of 19th century had a strong textile industry. Introduction Gallarate is a City of Lombardy, Italy, in the Province of Varese. Its name suggests a Celtic origin, since there is a similarity that exists between the first part of the name with “Galla,” and with the term “Gaul” (Rooster) from the modern Italian “Gallo.” The city has a population of 48,927 and is of pre-Roman origin. It is remarkable mainly for its textile factories. It also serves as the railway junctions to Varese, Laveno and Arona (for the Simplon). Six miles to the west are the electric works of Vizzola, where 23,000 hp are derived from the Ticino. In the first part of nineteenth century, the city had a strong textile industry. Prince Eugene of Savoy-Carignano granted the City of Gallarate its merchant privileges on 19 December 1860 by signing the granting document himself. Geography.