Varykino
From Wookieepedia, the Star Wars wiki.
- "Every Padawan on Coruscant knows where to find you."
- ―Obi-Wan Kenobi to Anakin Skywalker[src]
Varykino was the name of the island in the Lake Country of Naboo that consisted of the Naberrie family's retreat house. Generally, the name "Varykino" was also applied to the villa itself.
Centuries prior to the Naberrie tenancy, it was occupied by the tragic Naboo poet, Omar Berenko. He was kidnapped by unknown assailants from one of the villa's shaded balconies, and was never seen again.
During Padmé Naberrie's third year of schooling, she visited the villa along with other childhood friends. At this time, Paddy Accu was the caretaker, and he took Padmé on thrilling rides in his gondola speeder.
Shortly after two failed assassination attempts on Coruscant in 22 BBY, Padmé Amidala used it as a sanctuary. Teckla and Nandi were the staff at the time, with Paddy still the caretaker. During this retreat, she was accompanied by her Jedi protector, Anakin Skywalker. The two of them fell in love during their stay.
After the Battle of Geonosis, Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker returned to Varykino, where they were secretly married by a Naboo holyman.
Ryoo Thule was staying at the retreat after her granddaughter's funeral in 19 BBY when Inquisitor Malorum stopped by to interrogate Ryoo because she had been the one to oversee Padmé's burial. This led to him deducing that Amidala's offspring had not died.
After refusing to talk she was stabbed with his lightsaber. Ryoo's corpse was found by Ferus Olin and Trever Flume when they came to protect her.
[edit] Behind the scenes
Randy Stradley stated that Luke and Leia were conceived in Varykino in 19 BBY, five months before the Battle of Coruscant, in the Dark Horse message boards. [source?] The creators of Star Wars: Clone Wars, also joked about Luke and Leia being conceived in Chapter 22 of their series, in a scene that takes place on Naboo and what appears to be Varykino. However, Stradley's statement was made when Revenge of the Sith was assumed to take place over a period of weeks rather than days. Luke and Leia may still have been conceived in Varykino, but this must have occurred nearly nine months before the Battle of Coruscant and the beginning of Revenge of the Sith.
It is believed that the name "Varykino" was inspired by the lover's retreat of the same name in Doctor Zhivago.
The real world location for Varykino is Lake Como in Italy and its name is Villa Balbianello.
[edit] Appearances
- Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (First appearance)
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones comic
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones junior novel
- Tag & Bink: Revenge of the Clone Menace (Non-canonical appearance)
- Star Wars: Obsession
- The Last of the Jedi: Death on Naboo
- Star Wars Galaxies
