Besnate is a town and comune in the province of Varese in Lombardy in Northern Italy.
The Commune of Besnate has a land area of 7.68 square kilometres (2.97 sq mi) and an average elevation of 300 metres (980 ft) above sea level. Its highest point, in the hills of Ravellino, reaches 330 metres (1,080 ft). It includes the following locations: Besnate, Buzzano, Centenate, and Villaggio Veneto.
It is bordered to the north by the municipality of Sumirago, north-east to Jerago with Orago, south-east to Cavaria with Premezzo, south to Gallarate, in the south-west to north-and Arsago Seprio west with that of Mornago. Besnate is about 17 kilometres (11 mi) from Varese, 7 kilometres (4 mi) from Gallarate, 13 kilometres (8 mi) from Busto Arsizio and 7 kilometres (4 mi) from Somma Lombardo.
The Commune of Besnate has always been independent until 1869, when, by Royal Decree No. 4919, was suppressed and aggregated with that of Casorate Sempione, the municipality of Arsago Seprio. Just a few years later, however, from 1 August 1872, Besnate broke away from Arsago Seprio to join Jerago: thus was born the town of Jerago with Besnate, which from 1 July 1892, was also the location of aggregate Orago.
Finally with the law n ° 48 of 28 February 1907, the municipality of Jerago with Besnate and Orago was dissolved and from 1 July 1907 Besnate finally became an independent municipality. In 2007 the municipality of Besnate, on the occasion of the centenary of the establishment of the town had it printed by the Italian postal souvenir postcards and stamps.