Historical Walk in Monza: Discover the Royal Villa, Park & Cathedral

Highlights

• Royal Villa
• Monza Park
• Monza Cathedral

What's included

Itinerary

1. 1

   Chiesa di Santa Maria in Strada

   10min

   The building of the church, whose name recalls the important Strata (paved street) connecting Monza to Milan, was promoted by a community of Franciscan Tertiaries between the year 1348 and 1368 following the project of Ambrogiolo da Milano. Transferred in 1393 to the Augustinian friars of the Milanese monastery of San Marco, it was internally transformed using late Baroque style decorations starting from 1756. The façade, with a fake loggia and terracotta ornamentation, is one of the most beautiful in the Lombard Gothic style and was restored in 1870; the original stone statue representing the Madonna and Child, connected with the Augustinian cult of the Virgin Mary’s girdle and sculpted by an anonymous Lombard artist in the 15th century, is actually displayed in the Museum and Treasury of the Duomo and replaced in the niche by a copy.

2. 2

   Duomo di Monza

   15min

   Saint John's church of Monza boasts a long and legendary history, from the Lombard origins to the riot of baroque decorations. Visit inside to admire the main works of art.

3. 3

   Ponte Dei Leoni

   10min

   Built in 1842 on the remains of the roman bridge of Arena (one of its arches is still visible at one end of the present-day bridge) for the opening of Via Ferdinandea, now Via Vittorio Emanuele II, the Lions Bridge is made up of three arches with granite abutments. On its sides four marble lions, work of the sculptor Tantardini, watch over the monumental bridge. Two footpaths follow the river Lambro, leading to the areas that were once occupied by mills for grinding wheat, irrigation ditches and washhouses. The typical and picturesque houses with communal long balconies are a testimony of this ancient area.

4. 4

   Arengario

   10min

   Built towards the end of the 13th century, the ancient town hall called Arengario (from the Latin arengarius, deriving from the Germanic hari-hring, place for gatherings) stands quite contiguous to the Duomo, thus visually representing the opposing religious and civic powers marking even in Monza the Age of the city states.

5. 5

   Chiesa di Santa Maria al Carrobiolo

   10min

   Probably built on a pagan cemeterial area, the church was completed around 1260 to host the Humiliati friars and, after the suppression of the order in 1571, it was assigned to the Barnabites.

6. 6

   Ponte di San Gerardo

   10min

   The complex of St. Gerard-Within-the Walls or St. Gerardino where St. Gerard transformed his house in a hospital

7. 7

   I Giardini della Villa Reale

   30min

   An English style garden, the first in Italy, designed by Piermarini in 1778. We are talking about the Royal Gardens of the city of Monza, with trees and meadows, caves, ponds and small waterfalls. Walking through its paths you can also admire a characteristic Doric temple which reflects in the waters of the pond inhabited by swans, turtles, ducks and frogs! Who knows if amongst them is hiding a prince! From the shores of the lake you can see the cave and the statue of Neptune, or cross the "rock garden" to come down towards the large central lawn, admiring the waterfall and small stream. Continuing left along the telescope in front of the villa, you can admire the Cave of Polyphemus, the neo-Gothic walls and the Torretta. But what makes the Royal Gardens exceptionally special are the Green Giants: ancient centuries-old trees such as oaks, cypresses, horse chestnut trees and cedars of Lebanon.

Before you go

Location