Historical Sites of Interest
| Duomo | Iron Crown | Villa_Reale | Autodromo | Other Sights |
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Built around 595 AD, the Greek-cross chapels honors St. John the Baptist. In the mid 14th century, Matteo da Campione added a Romanesque-Gothic fine black and white marble arcaded façade. The ancient foundations and meeting grounds are still visible through the Plexiglas sections of the Duomo floor. Besides the Corona Ferrea (Iron Crown) and the astounding frescoes that adorn the ceiling and walls, the Duomo’s museum has a wonderful collection of relics and artifacts including:
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The Duomo's most famous treasure. Six gold and enamel segments of beaten gold form the outer ring. They are joined together by hinges and distinguished with inlaid jewels that form crosses and flowers. Perhaps originally a large armlet or votive crown, it is rather small. Alternatively, unromantic documents claim that two segments were lost and the crown was readjusted accordingly. The famous piece of regalia gains its prestige from a narrow band of iron. This centimeter wide metal is said to be beaten from one of the nails used to crucify Jesus Christ. Legend has it that Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine I discovered the ancient cross and gave the nail to her son. The path leading to Lombardic ownership is questionable, but some believe that Theodelinda procured the item for her people. In any case, the crown became one of the symbols not only for the Lombard Kingdom but also of Italy. Many Holy Roman Emperors were crowned with this crown including Charlemagne, Otto I, Henry IV, and Frederick I Barbarossa. On May 26, 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte was coronized with the Iron Crown at the Duomo of Milan. This was the infamous day when Napoleon was the first to crown himself Holy Roman Emperor while exclaiming the notorious phrase, “God gives it to me, beware those who touch it”. Afterwards, Napoleon formed the Order of the Iron Crown which was re-instituted by the Austrian Emperor Francis I in 1816. In 1838, Emperor Ferdinand I joined the order and was crowned King of Lombardy and Venice. From 1859 to 1866, the Iron Crown lived in Vienna. In 1866, it was given back after the Third Italian War of Independence. This action reflected the great victory. Nowadays, one can view the crown at Monza’s Duomo for five euros. |
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In 1805, Napoleon dreamed of a park with
a large estate and a game reserve. The Italian viceroy
Eugenio Beutharnais realized this dream with the help of
Luigi Canonica’s designs and Tazzini’s engineer work.
Extending over 685 hectares, the park covers areas of Monza,
Vedano and Biassono. The surrounding wall is 14km long.
Thanks to Villoresi’s gracious botanical donations the park
displays incredible plant diversity. |
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Villa Reale
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Royal Gardens
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Farmhouse- “Cascina del Forno”-
Because of the oven inside, it is also known as Cascina
Fornasetta. For years it housed guinea pig nursery, but after
much restoration, it is now used as residential accommodation.
- Cascina Bastia- Near the main entrance to the park, it has a direct connection to the villa’s gardens. Restored by Canonica from 1805-1825 and renovated in 1847 by Tazzini, it is now the site of Italia Nostra Information Office, the ranger station and a bike-hire business.
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Cascina Santo Fedele- The symmetry of the door and the two gothic double lancet windows of the front (along the small suspended arches once part of the church of Brera) characterize this cascina built by Canova. Well preserved, during a long series of restorations the jutting parts were lost and two new buildings were added in order to be used as a recreation center and summer camps.
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Villa Mirabello- Commissioned by Cardinal Durini, who received the Feud of Monza from the De Leyva Family in 1648, the villa was built by Gerolamo Quadrio between 1656 and 1685. It is the oldest structure within the park and marks the transition from castles to 17th century villas. Two symmetrical belvedere turrets are the only elements left from earlier castle traditions. In mid 16th century, Durini converted the villa into a small palace and introduced the late Baroque ornamentations of the windows and the frescoes by Cucchi in the great Hall on the ground floor. Here great classic poets and some of the major contemporary poets are featured. The villa was further enriched with valuable furniture and a fine collection of books later donated to Brera. When the French occupied it, they used the villa as a warehouse and quarters for the French troops, but returned to its former purpose during the Austrian occupation. Once entrusted to the War Veteran Association in 1919, the Councils of Monza and Milan own the park. It is the seat of administration offices of the park, C.R.E.D.A., and houses the library in the column hall.
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Porta di Vedano- The gate was designed by Canonica in 1815 and later completed by his successor, Tazzini. It consists of a pointed arch and an adjoining octagonal booth covered with a rotunda roof.
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Fagianaia Reale- Built in 1838 by Tazzini it is the only pheasantry left out of a series, and today, it houses a well-known restaurant.
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Mulini Asciutti (The Dry Mills) - Guided tours expose the beautiful work of Tazzini. Built in 1834, a stream flows between the two covered conjoined blocks. Upon thorough inspection, one can observe the original gears.
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Mulino del Cantone (The Cantone Mill)- It was built by Canonica in the early nineteenth century. The turret, belonging to the earlier building, was preserved by Canonica and intentionally not restored to indicate its decay. Tazzini restored it in 1840 and now seats a labor co-operative.
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Il Mirabellino- Commissioned by Cardinal Durini to Giulio Galliori in 1776, the new villa, on the hill facing the Mirabello Villa, served as the summer residence for the Cardinal’s guests and a place for the entertainment of the court. Similar to the Mirabello, the Mirabellino repeats the U-shaped plan but with a different distribution of the volumes. In the 19th century, a massive restoration plan was attacked but it was severely damage in the years of the French and Austrian occupations. Now it houses a recreation center.
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Cascina Cattabrega- Tazzini also created this farmhouse to the south of Mirabello. It is a two-storey farmstead where the upper floor was once used as a dwelling place. Today it is a stud-farm.
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Cascina Isolina- A lantern surmounts this small hexagonal building. While one can appreciate the ground floor arch and the four large windows of the upper storey from outside, a more intimate viewing is impossible since it now is a private residence.
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Ponte delle Catene- Canonica’s 1820 work owes its name to the granite posts and the iron chains of the parapet. In the middle on four columns rests the double-arched bridge.
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Racecourse- In the central area a Polo playing field and the track for equestrian sports was built in 1922. Because of a recent fire, only part of the original Liberty style stands survives today.
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Cascina Casalta- This building has undergone significant restructuring. Built from 1805-1825, it maintained its original function and hosts an agricultural company that rears cows and cares for horses.
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Ponte dei Bertoli- Designed by Cantalupi, engineer in 1853, the bridge links the St. George Mill with the Asciutti Mills. It overpasses the Lambro River after the Bertoli Lock.
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St. George Mill- Built in 1820, it has two frescoes inside the small portico depict the Ascension and St. Stephen.
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Portico del Serraglio- Originally the entrance gate to an estate from the race course, the structure is a pointed arch. Topping the apex stands a deer’s head flanked by two towers with the Visconti coat of arms. The red brick arch, bordered by a white brickwork braid is of special interest.
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Cascina Costa Alta- This beautiful farmhouse has a pointed facade at the center with a small balcony and oval window. With an old stone well on the premises, six stone columns support the white-beamed ceiling and entire structure.
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Cascina Costa Bassa- Known as the Horse Hospital for it provided horses a place to rest and refresh, the neo-classical building has a colonnade topped by a gable.
Autodromo Nazionale Monza
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Via Vedano, 5- Parco di Monza- 20052 Monza Info: tel. 039.24821 fax. 039.320324 www.monzanet.it
The National Autodrome of Monza represents the larger motor sport complex of Italy and one of the most famous in the world. A place where the Grand Prize of Italy of F.1 imaginary collection is disputed, and the “Tempio della Velocita”.
In reality, the Autdrome of Monza is unlike any other.
With the structures of vanguard, the autodrome is used for the one Spazio event, the prestigious and innovative through organizing conventions, seminars, shows and entertainment displays.
The spaces are disposed only, in degree of to support the traditional services of the central
· Restaurant/bar/ catering service · Shops All the necessary services for the event
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Arengario. This ancient palace was established in 1293. A square tower was added in the 14th century.
| Oratory of Saint Marta. The small oratory is all that remains of what used to be two adjacent hospitals for the poor. |
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Church of Our Lady of the Way. Part of a convent, it was founded around 1300. Distinguished for the wealth of its decorations, it is known as a "facade to wind". It is a fine example of Lombardic gothic architecture from the end 300 AD.
Church of Santa Maria Maddalena. Flanking the Visiconti castle, the church was erected in the 14th century and housed the friars. In 1859, it was expanded and partially reconstructed.
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Justice Palace. Erected on the site of the ancient Saint Gerald Hospital, the Justice Palace marks the end of the Garibaldi public square. Constructed by the architect Bartesaghi in 1931, it is strongly representative of time’s style. With its U-shaped plan and inner courtyard center, it serves as a present day meeting place while recalling the foundations of the preexisting building. |
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