This week it is also home for the AIS/AFL squad of Australia's best junior footballers.
Gavirate is a facility that offers accommodation, sports science and sports medicine capabilities, and access to the best facilities in the region, all within close proximity to the vast competition opportunities available in Europe.
The young AIS/AFL footballers are among the first teams to be able to train at this outstanding facility on the banks of Lake Varese, a huge expanse of pristine water.
Australian rowers and canoeists train on the lake, and our elite cyclists and runners make the journey around it.
The young players arrived in Gavirate after a flight of more than 24 hours straight after their outstanding one-point win over Geelong's VFL team last Friday at the MCG.
That victory provided a great bonding moment for the team, coaches and support staff on the eve of the group's first European tour.
Training took place on Tuesday morning at a soccer field where the team was greeted by the sports minister from the local area.
Following his warm welcome coach Mick O’Loughlin and mentor coaches Matthew Lloyd and Brett Kirk put the boys through a solid 90-minute workout.
It was great to catch up with Brett, who has been on his ambassadorial odyssey coaching, observing, listening and sometimes playing or umpiring football matches in places as diverse as India and Portugal.
He has found the journey to be enlightening and he was amazed at the passion of people who have discovered the game and are now trying to establish it in their countries.
The AIS/AFL Academy philosophy is about developing better players and better people. Travelling and experiencing different cultures helps them learn about the countries they visit and their people, as well as learning more about themselves.
They have been joined on this trip by a large supporter group of parents, siblings and grandparents, as well as AIS/AFL academy, AFL and AFL club staff.
The groups of players and supporters were fortunate to share in the first two days a talk by Australian Olympic cycling champion Michael Rogers, who lives and trains in Italy.
Rogers' message for the squad was multi-faceted, but what was most important for the young footballers was his perspective about being a professional athlete.
He said it was important to control your own destiny - looking at the way you train, maintaining fitness and health, choosing the right people to support you and striking a balance necessary for mental health and well-being.
The squad also visited the Serie A soccer club AC Milan’s training facility, a large expanse of land nestled in the hills close to Gavirate.
The grounds were purchased in 1963 and comprise six manicured playing fields, an indoor soccer pitch and state-of-the-art medical, fitness, rehabilitation and strength training facilities.
It also has accommodation on site to house young AC Milan academy players and first-team players and staff before matches in Milan. About 45 staff are employed to maintain all aspects of the facility.
Following this we ventured into Varese, a beautiful city of wide-open piazzas and narrow cobbled pathways.
Dipper, or Roberto (as he is known over here) DiPierdomenico, is in his parents' country of birth. As the supporter-group leader his personality, love of Italy and his ability to speak Italian has made him a perfect host.
Carlton great Stephen Silvagni has also been with the tour in Italy and was kind enough to share his family’s heritage with the group.
All of us feel fortunate to be in this part of the world and know it is a special experience we have shared together.
