Monza

Monza - a changing city

The city of Monza (Munscia in Lombard) is located in the province of Milan. It is well connected with the city of Milan with frequent transport facilities. It takes only 15 minutes by train from Milan. This convenience in a way makes Monza a glittering adjunct to Milan.

But the splendour of Monza should not be overshadowed by Milan. Monza has long been an important city in Lombardy. The famous resident Queen Theodelinda and the treasures she left behind (now part of the collection of the museum in Monza’s cathedral), proved its status in history. The Duomo and Palazzo Reale in the city centre reflect the glory of past.

For those looking for modernity, Monza is famous worldwide for its Autodromo Nazionale Monza, home to the Italian Grand Prix. The racetrack was first built in 1922 and then improved in 1955 according to the requirements of high speed racing. It is located in the enormous park of Monza which covers an area of 685 hectares. The Park is celebrating its second centenary in 2005. Many events and performances are held at the Villa Reale – highlight of the park – and nearby during the year.

In recent times, the Brianza area, including Monza, has become an important industrial area, with product specialities including machinery, wool, wood and furniture. But if this description gives you an image of a grey city, then you can’t be farther from the truth. Monza is surrounded by green, and it is a peaceful and affluent location. Today, the city of Monza is full of top fashion stores that rub shoulder with all sorts of beautiful villas.

Geography

Monza is the center of the Brianza area. Recently separated from the province of Milan, the city serves as the official capital of the new Monza and Brianza province. This transition will not be complete until 2009.  It is a small city along the river “Lambro” in the Lombardy region of Itlay, and it has a population of 121,000. The efficient transport links have made it an important industrial area.  

History
 
Monza, a city deeply rooted in political and religious history, was begun in the Celtic times about 700 B.C. Its cultural spark during the 6^th century came with the Lombard invasion of Italy. It was during this pivotal period that the Lombard king Autari married the daughter of the Bavarian ruler Garibald I. This woman was Queen Theodelinda who converted the city to Christianity and provided the economic foundation for the building of Monza’s Duomo. Legend says that a dove came to her in a dream and told her to build the cathedral “here” and she responded with “yes”. The two words in Latin are “modo” and “etia” which together form “modoetia”. Modoetia is the medieval name for Monza.Today we can admire her story as narrated by a remarkable fresco cycle in the Duomo. A ten minute walk north of Duomo will take you to the royal villa. Originally built by Piermarini in 1777, Empress Mary Theresa of Austria gave it as a gift to her nephew the archduke Ferdinand. The surrounding gate enclosed park is the brain child of Napoleon and is the largest of its kind in Europe.                                                

JoAnna Guzon