Monza is a city subject to speed! Open left menu monza

The city of Monza, located on the Lambro River, began its history around the 6th century. Being previously a small village, Modicia (former name) fell in love with the Lombard people, led by the ruler, Queen Theodolinda, due to its location and climate.

Through the efforts of the latter, the semi-abandoned village turned into a full-fledged city with a highly developed culture, education, and industry.

Now it is the "capital" administrative district Monza e Briara. Particular attention was paid in the Middle Ages to the development of the religious direction, which led to the construction of several picturesque churches and town halls on the territory of the administrative center.

If you are going to the country of Italy and turned on your way to the fashionable capital - the city of Milan, then be sure to visit its northern suburb of Monza. For what?
The most beautiful medieval sights of Monza, Italy seem to be concentrated in a small area of the province:

Cathedral. Located in Piazza del Duomo, 800 meters from the residence of the Theodolinda royal family, the temple, whose facade is finished with noble marble, was built in honor of St. John the Baptist.
Cathedral built in honor of St. John the Baptist

As the legend says, the pious queen prayed to this saint for replenishment in the family, and the dove she saw on a walk signaled that it was time to start building the church. Here the Queen christened her first child. In the 14th century AD, having undergone restoration at the behest of the local rulers of the Visconti, the exterior of the basilica received a luxurious finish of noble stone in several colors.

At the same time, 2 tower-chapels opposite each other appeared on the territory of the temple.

The interior of the cathedral impresses with the richness of the paintings depicting the lives of the saints. The church is open to visitors daily from 7.30 am to 12 pm, after a break from 3 pm to 6.30 pm. The museum at the temple can be visited from 9 am to 1 pm, in the afternoon from 2 pm to 6 pm inclusive;
Royal Villa. It is located relatively close to the Cathedral. The former residence of the royal family of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, who wished to build majestic building in honor of the son of Ferdinand in the 18th century.
Former residence of the royal family of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria

The apartments consist of three combined laconic buildings, and the road from the villa leads straight to the city center. The whole style of the building speaks of wealth, and at the same time, the asceticism and severity of its owners. The royal descendant, having ordered to equip a vast green grove around, went here to hunt.

For the rest of the august persons, a sophisticated rotunda was created surrounded by fragrant roses, and later a greenhouse was also laid out here.

During the reign of Napoleon, the royal villa was supplemented by a theater designed by the eminent architect Luigi Canonica. You can visit the villa at: Viale Brianza, 1, from November to March - daily from 7 to 18-30 hours, from April to October daily from 7 to 20 hours;
Redemption Chapel. The construction was preceded by a tragedy in the royal family - the inconsolable ruler of the Italian empire, Vittorio Emmanuele III, ordered this monument to be erected in honor of his father, King Umberto I, who died at the hands of the rebels. on the back side.
Chapel of Atonement - a monument in honor of the deceased King Umberto I

The height of the structure is about 35 m. At the bottom of the monument is a sad bronze composition created by the famous Michelangelo Buonarotti. Memorial relics are also placed there - the scepter of the deceased ruler, the crown and the Order of the Annunciation. A chapel was erected directly at the site of the murder of the royal person.

From the inside, the room is decorated with multi-colored marble and mosaic patterns, and the view of the dome is the night starry sky.

Every year, on the day of the death of King Umberto on July 29, ritual mourning services are held here. Sightseeing tour can be done daily at: Via Matteo da Champione, Monday to Friday: from 9 am to 2 pm from September to April, and from 9 am to 12 pm, from 2 pm to 5 pm from May to September;
City Hall. Also called the Arengario, this landmark served as the seat of the city's local council in the 13th century. It symbolized the consolidation and isolation of local government. The appearance of the building is quite ascetic, rectangular in shape.
The city hall served as the seat of the city's local council in the 13th century.

The first floor is decorative, made in the form of numerous arches, replaced by low columns, and on the second there are rooms where the city government met.

WITH south side according to the plan of the architects, an elegant balcony with marble trim was added.

Now Arengarium serves as a venue for exhibitions visual arts. Located in Piazzale Roma, opening hours and ticket prices will be provided upon request by phone: +39 039 323222;
Church of the Holy Martyr Peter. Located 300 meters from the Cathedral. The building was created in gothic style late period in the 14th century, dedicated to Peter of Verona, who died for his faith from heretics. With a rather modest façade, predominantly made of red brick, the interior decoration impresses with the art and colorfulness of the tiled images from the life of the saints.
Church of the Holy Martyr Peter is dedicated to Peter of Verona

The relics of St. Prospero brought from Rome are kept here.
Opposite is a memorial sculpture by the famous artist Bianchi.
Address: St. Peter the Martyr Square, 20900; information about the time of reception of visitors and the cost of excursions can be found by calling: +39 039 323222;
Treasury Museum of the Cathedral. Located in the basement of the temple. The Duomo Museum is truly the deepest storehouse of works by master jewelers who lived in the 4th-19th centuries.
Religious vestments predominate here, accessories for holding liturgies, vestments of clergy, parts of the clothes of holy martyrs, ingots of metal that made up the lamps that burned in the cemeteries of the dead Roman martyrs.

There is also a crucifix presented to Theodolinda for the baptism of the firstborn, as well as the crown of the august queen, decorated with stones. Address of the cathedral: Piazza Duomo. On Monday, there is a day off, and on the rest of the week the entrance to the museum (cost 6-8 euros) is open from 9 to 13 hours and from 14 to 18 hours daily;
Autodrom. The local circuit annually hosts world races on cars and motorcycles, including the famous Italian Grand Prix, the Formula 1 championship and the world championship of biker art. The auto club of Milan, which existed at the beginning of the last century, became the founder of the autodrome, equipped 2 km from the Royal Villa, in the 1920s. Initially, it included 2 tracks for duels between racers, but closer to 1928 it was merged into a single canvas due to an accident, which claimed the lives of more than 20 tiffosi (fans).
Subsequently main track Monza saw another series of tragedies resulting in the deaths of the most talented racing drivers Wolfgang von Trips and Karl-Jochen Rindt in 1961 and 1970. Currently, the opening hours of the autodrome are strictly regulated in order to protect the well-being of the residents of the surrounding areas. Entrance to the autodrome is paid, the ticket price is from 5 euros per person.

You can admire the sights of the city of Monza by watching the video:

Mozza hosts a lot of events:

The city's main annual event is Feast of John the Baptist celebrated annually on June 24th.
2 weeks before the celebration, sports tournaments, various cultural events, as well as carnival processions in fancy costumes begin to take place here.

The grandiose salute organized at the Royal Villa, in the shade of green spaces, becomes the crown of the festival;
Various festivals are often held in the Royal Park, for example, in April of this year, an exciting Festival of Flight (aeronautics) was held here, hordes of colorful balloons flew over Monza, and later an exhibition dedicated to the history of human conquest of the air was held in the Royal Villa;
One of Monza's biggest events is the annual Formula 1 World Championship, often held at the famous local circuit. Competitions are held under the auspices of the International Federation of Motorists. Therefore, it is not surprising that one of the main attractions of the province is the Autodrom.
You can plunge into the atmosphere of racing and look at the Autodromo nationale di Monza track by watching the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJOa_WNDb-o

How to get to Monza

Airplane. From Milan Linate Airport (25 km to Monza) you can take a train to take you to your destination. A little further, 50 km, there is another Milan airport - Malpensa, to which you will be taken by the Malpensa Express transfer. And you can get to Monza by train. The Alimonza shuttle can also take you directly to Monza.
Orio al Serio Airport is located 40 km from Monza, 45 from Milan and 5 from. The main thing is to get to the Bergamo railway station, and from there there is a direct train to Monza.

Train.
There are several options for getting there by train:

From Milan - train S11, travels slowly, about an hour on the way;
Tirano FS trains - run frequently, about 4 times per hour, it takes about 15 minutes to Monza;
The train in the Swiss direction runs according to the following schedule: 7:10, 8:10, 14:10, 16:10, 18:10. In time, the road can last up to 12-13 minutes;
The schedule of the train moving towards the city of Zurich is daily at 11:21, 13:21, 15:21, 17:21, 19:21.

And if you need a ticket anywhere from Monza, then you should get on Via Arosio, 14 in Monza, and buy a ticket in the right direction.

Just do not forget that on Sundays the local ticket office is closed!

Bus. Buses 722,723 and 724 run regularly from Milan to Monza.

Automobile.
There are several main roads to the city of Monza:

For example, from the city of Milan to Monza can be reached by following the Milano Strada V.le Zara;
from the famous A4 highway, subsequently changing to the road leading from Milan to Venice, and then follow Cinisello Balsamo-Sesto San Giovanni-Milano Viale Zara;
from the province can be reached directly by moving along the SS 36 road leading directly to Monza;
from Genoa in Italy you need to drive along the A7 motorway, and when you get to Milan, take the western ring road to Venice, turn onto the eastern ring road, which will take you to Monza.

Where to stay?

Here are some of the main Monza hotels:

Weather in Monza

Monza, as seen on the map of Italy, is located on the Lambro River, so local climate is quite humid, moderately warm.

Location of Monza on the map of Italy

The weather in this area does not skimp on precipitation, rain. average temperature in a year - about 13 ° C. It is better to go here in the spring - in April and May, or in the Velvet season– from August to October.

If you want to get cultural pleasure and at the same time explosive emotions of a fan, then you should definitely go to Monza.

Monza is a city full of architectural monuments of the Middle Ages, the main "pearl" of which is the ancient famous race track, where the greatest racers from all over the globe aspire to fight.

On the one hand, Monza is just a suburb of royally magnificent Milan. On the other hand, it is one of the largest cities in the region. If you are even a little fond of motor sports, visiting Milan and not stopping by Monza is nonsense. If you are not fond of it at all, you still should definitely drive here from Milan at least for a day. Since Monza is still Italy, the abundance of objects historical heritage it’s not as surprising here as, for example, in the French Le Mans, but at least the local Duomo is worth getting to know him better.

The most valuable treasure not only of the city, but also of the region and the country in general is the Iron Crown of Lombardy. According to legend, her inner hoop was forged from the nail with which Jesus was nailed to the cross.

How to get to Monza

15 minutes from Milan from Porto Garibaldi Station by train (trains run every half an hour). Or by car. To the northern airport of Milan-Malpensa, Monza is even closer to Milan itself.

Search for flights to Milan (nearest airport to Monza)

A bit of history

Monza was founded in ancient times, and now no one will remember exactly when. In the 6th century, under the Lombards, a royal palace with a monastery was built here, and from that moment Monza began to turn from a village into real city. The transformation went so successfully that during the Middle Ages the city no-no, and even tried to separate from Milan and live an independent life.

Popular hotels in Monza

Entertainment and attractions of Monza

The two main historical sights of the city are the cathedral and the royal residence with a park. The Duomo of Monza, named after John the Baptist, began to be built at the end of the 6th century, but the current building is much newer. Construction latest version The cathedral began in 1300, and it was fully completed only by the middle of the 18th century. The main façade of the basilica, finished with white and green marble, now looks quite characteristic, reminiscent of the Duomo in Siena. Romanesque in its type and completely Gothic in its decoration, it is airy, graceful and richly decorated. Next to it, a severe rectangular tower made of red stone, built at the beginning of the 17th century, looks especially contrasting.

An unusual ancient privilege of the Duomo Giovanni Battista in Monza was and remains the right to hire its own armed guards to conduct ceremonies, like the Vatican Swiss. The guards are called "Alabardieri" because of the type of weaponry they carry, and they wear a distinctive 18th-century style uniform of blue wool with gold embroidery and an iron crown.

In the right transept of the cathedral is the entrance to the Serpero Museum, where the treasury is located. The most valuable treasure of not only the city, but also the region and the country in general is stored there - the Iron Crown of Lombardy. According to legend, her inner hoop was forged from the nail with which Jesus was nailed to the cross. The outer hoop of the crown is pure gold and large gems. The diptych of late antiquity, depicting the Poet and the Muse, is also noteworthy - it is already more than 1,500 years old. Also in the cathedral you can see a significant collection of antique objects and works by artists of the early Middle Ages, a fair amount of which was collected by Queen Theodolinda herself, the founder of the Duomo. Particularly noteworthy is the collection of amulets - metal bottles in which pilgrims brought consecrated myrrh from the Holy Land. Such a collection of incense is only in Bobbio. The Theodolinda Chapel is notable for its frescoes from the 15th century and the figures of saints and apostles from the 14th century.

At the self-coronation of Napoleon I as Emperor of Italy in 1805, Bonaparte did not want anyone other than himself to place the crown on his head. Having personally put on the crown, the emperor declared that the Lord himself gave it to him, and potential assassins should beware.

3 things to do in Monza:

#Try the traditional dessert of Monza - firun, made from chestnuts baked in the oven.

For a relatively small fee of about 50 EUR, ride along the famous F1 track in your own car.
Having had enough of cars, go to the bosom of nature - to Como.

The residence in Monza was built in the 18th century and bears a clear imprint of the classical style. It was erected for the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand, who was also the Duke of Milan. Later, Viceroy Eugene Rose (Eugene Beauharnais, adopted son of Bonaparte) lived in the residence, and it was after this that the palace began to be called royal. Today, Villa Reale is open to the public: entry inside is possible only by appointment, but inspect the adjacent beautiful park can be completely free. The interior of the palace still has ancient frescoes and art objects. The villa is located Art Museum Monza. And on the first day of summer, fireworks are launched at Villa Reale, amazingly spectacular.

The city park of Monza, designed by Beauharnais, with its villas, ponds, groves and meadows, is considered one of the largest and most beautiful in Europe. It is twice the size of a large central park in New York, and on a day off the people here are apparently invisible. When the weather is nice, the park becomes a giant picnic area.

Another significant medieval building in Monza is the Arenarium, formerly the Palacio Communale; In other words, Town Hall. The Arenarium in Piazzale Roma was built in the 13th century in the likeness of the Roman Palazzo della Ragione, although the imposing crenellated tower was added a century later. On the south side, a small stone loggia was added to the building, “la Parlera”, that is, a place to make a speech. Now a library is open in the Town Hall, and various exhibitions and cultural events are held here.

Every year on June 6, the Cherry Festival takes place in Monza. Its central arena is the small old bridge of St. Gerardino across the Lambro River.

In addition to the cathedral, there are many more ancient and beautiful churches in the city, of which the "terracotta" church of Santa Maria in Strada stands out. Presumably, it was built in the middle of the 14th century with a bell tower added a century later. Of course, later the building was improved more than once, and from the middle of the 19th century the convention served as a kindergarten. The facade of the red stone church is decorated with many geometric elements, and the portal is formed by a stone arch and a marble architrave; in false niches on top of it, traces of medieval frescoes can still be seen. Similar paintings, only much better preserved, can be seen in the interior of the church.

Other interesting churches in Monza are, for example, the old Dominican church of San Pietro Martire, built in the middle of the 14th century. Its current appearance, however, belongs to the 19th century, at the beginning of which a bell tower was attached to the church. But the frescoes of the early 14th century are still preserved in the interior. Even older is the church of Santa Maria del Carrobio, founded in the first half of the 13th century. From the construction of that time, the church bell tower has remained to this day.

It is impossible to ignore the memorable chapel of the Espiatoria Chapel, built after the assassination of King Umberto I by his son, Victor Emmanuel II. The construction took 10 years, but now the chapel on Matteo da Campione Street is a unique structure with a stele in the form of a stone cross more than 30 meters high. A sculptural allegory of compassion is erected on the top of the stele.

It is believed that on the track in Monza - the most severe braking. At the finish line at the end of the route, pilots need to drop the speed from 350 km / h to less than a hundred. This results in a fivefold overload.

Of course, speaking of Monza, it is impossible to limit ourselves to listing architectural beauties. The national circuit of this city is very old and full of legends. It is here that the Italian Grand Prix is held as part of the F1 races: this road is quite straight, and therefore they drive along it, as they say, without brakes - there are simply no faster tracks in F1 today. It was built right on top of royal park, based on the paths existing there, cutting down part of the trees, and opened in 1922. True, it soon became clear that the route did not fit the realities of the time; they undertook to reconstruct it, but the Second World War, and the races had to be temporarily forgotten. In the post-war period, the track was restored and used for its intended purpose: it was on it that records of maximum speed and the fastest lap were set.

Surroundings of Monza

You can drive to Oreno or Vimercate in 10 minutes from the city. Oreno is famous for its courtyards and country houses, which are interspersed with luxurious villas - for example, Villa Gallarati Scotti, in historical center, or Villa Borromeo with frescoes of the second half of the 15th century. In Vimercat, it is worth visiting the neoclassical villa of Sottokas, the historic residence of Barbarossa and Bernabò Visconti.

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We went north, and the first city of the program was Monza. This is actually a suburb of Milan - already in 2015, the red line of the Milan metro should pass here. Well, in Russia, Monza is mostly familiar to fans of motorsport, because. The Italian Grand Prix "Formula 1" is held here...

Station in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

The population of Monza is 120 thousand inhabitants. It is the 4th city of Lombardy.

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Monza was of great political importance in the 7th century, when it was the capital of the Lombard kingdom.

Italy Street (Via Italia) in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

There are a lot of churches in the city. One of them is dedicated to Saints Mary Magdalene and Teresa (1620).

Church of St. Mary Magdalene and St. Teresa (Chiesa di Santa Maria Maddalena e Santa Teresa) in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

The Church of Santa Maria in Strada has a noble brick façade. According to the manuscripts, the construction of the church began in 1357.

Church of St. Mary of Strada (Chiesa di Santa Maria in Strada) in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

In 1932, a monument to the fallen of Monza was unveiled (sculptor - Enrico Panchera). It was originally dedicated to the 667 inhabitants of Monza who died in the First World War. But then he began to personify the memory of the Second World War.

Monument to the Fallen of Monza (Monumento ai caduti di Monza) in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

In 2011, the studio "Helidon Xixa" decorated Monza with a number of compositions with common name"Flashes of Light in the City".

"Light" (Luce) in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

Helidon Xixa himself (970) is an Albanian by origin. And in the 90s he moved to Italy, like many of his compatriots.

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Monza is known for the fact that here on July 29, 1900, the second king of Italy, Umberto I, was killed by revolver shots. The killer turned out to be anarchist Gaetano Bresci, who received a life sentence, but committed suicide (according to official version) in prison less than a year later.

Piazza San Paolo in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

The Church of Santa Maria dell'Angeli was originally built in the Baroque style at the beginning of the 17th century. And already at the end of the XIX century. rebuilt in neo-Gothic.

Church of St. Mary Angeli (Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angeli) in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

In front of the facade is a statue of St. Carlo Borromeo (1538-84).

Carlo Borromeo in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

Another example of brick architecture is the church of St. Peter the Martyr of the 14th century. It is dedicated to Peter of Verona, who was killed in 1252 on his way from Como to Milan.

Church of St. Peter the Martyr (Chiesa di San Pietro martire) in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

In 1927, a monument to the local artist Mose Bianchi (1840-1904) was erected in front of the church. The work was done by the artist's friend, the sculptor Luigi Secchi, but he died in 1921, and the monument was completed by his student.

Monument to Mosè Bianchi in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

The main cultural attraction of Monza is the Duomo. The cathedral is dedicated to John the Baptist.

Monza Cathedral (Duomo di Monza) in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

The Duomo was built in 1300-1681. on the spot old church, which was erected by order of the Lombard queen Theodelinda in 595.

Monza Cathedral (Duomo di Monza), Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

On the left is a 79-meter bell tower, which was built in 1592-1606.

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The Iron Crown, the crown of the Lombard Kingdom, is kept in the cathedral. According to legend, it contains a nail from the crucifixion of Christ. Both Charlemagne (800) and Napoleon (1805) were crowned with this crown.

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Arengario - the building of the old town hall of Monza, dating back to the 13th century. In 1330, a balcony was completed on the south side, from which city decrees were read.

Arengario in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

Nearby stands, perhaps, the most famous fountain of Monza - the Frog Fountain (1932). The sculptor Aurelio Mistruzzi carved a naked girl crushing a toad in her hand.

The Frog Fountain (Fontana delle rane) in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

The city stands on the Lambro River - this is the left tributary of the Po.

Lambro River in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

One of the most famous bridges across the Lambro is the Lions Bridge (1838-40). It is decorated with 4 Carrara marble lions, which were made by the sculptor Antonio Tantardini.

Bridge of Lions (Ponte dei Leoni) in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

Next, we found tourist office to find out how to get to the circuit. The worker suggested the bus to us and was so touched by the fact that people came to see not the races, but an empty track, that she gave each of us a thick book about the history of the Italian Grand Prix. For Alex it was, of course, the best souvenir for the whole trip.

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According to the good Italian tradition, the driver did not have tickets - so we went for free. The name of the street already indicates the proximity of the autodrome ...

Enzo Ferrari Street (Via Enzo Ferrari) in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

The track is located inside a huge park to the north of the city center. Monza's park is one of the largest in all of Europe, its area is 688 hectares.

We, as specialists of empty autodromes, were surprised by the fact that the entrance to the territory of the track costs 5 euros.

Monza National Circuit (Autodromo Nazionale di Monza), Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

The length of the modern track is 5,793 km. But the old 4.25 km oval has also been preserved (albeit in an abandoned state).

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Part old track can be seen around the turn of the "Parabolic".

Turn "Parabolic" (Curva Parabolica) in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

The oval was last used at the 1961 Italian Grand Prix, which was overshadowed by the worst accident in Formula 1. The car of the German racer Wolfgang von Trips flew off the track - the pilot himself and 14 other spectators died. Since then, “F-1” has not ridden ovals, but personally I would be interested to see at least one such race on the calendar. There was a chance when Indianapolis entered the championship, but for some reason they built an ordinary track inside the track. By the way, Indianapolis is Monza's sister city.

High speed ring (Anello alta velocita) in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

The circuit of Monza was built in 1922 and immediately began hosting Grand Prix races. Since 1950, the Italian Grand Prix has been included in the official Formula 1 championship and has been held every year since then. In 1980, Imola replaced Monza for the only time on the calendar.

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Michael Schumacher won the most wins here - 5.

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On May 14, 1945, the Allied military parade took place in Monza. The tanks drove straight along the starting line.

Direct "Start-Finish" at the National Circuit in Monza, Italy // andreimos.livejournal.com

If in Imola Lyokha could not take a picture on pole position, then in Monza he managed to get another pole position.

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Monza is the fastest Formula 1 track. And she saw a lot of death. In 1955, 2-time world champion Alberto Ascari died. In 1970 - Jochen Rindt. At the time of his death, the Austrian was leading the championship and became the only posthumous champion. In 1978, there was a blockage at the start, in which the Swedish racer Ronnie Peterson received broken legs. Nothing seemed to threaten his life, but at night he died due to a fat embolism.

Known in literary circles, thanks to the story told around the world by the brilliant Italian writer Alessandro Manzoni in the novel "The Betrothed", and among sports fans, thanks to the National Circuit, one of the fastest in the world, where the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix takes place every year, Monza, first of all, is a city with rich history, artistic heritage, literally immersed in greenery. This city, a real "treasury" of architecture, however, was not lucky with its neighbors, because, often, tourists do not drop in here, preferring to stay longer in a glorious business and fashionable city.

Today we will try to dispel stereotypes and save all of you from a frequently repeated mistake: so, let's go to Monza!

Monza (Italian Monza, local dialect Monscia)- the administrative center of the province of Monza e Brianza, considered a northern suburb - a city full of life, history and splendor. Just think, in the city, located just 15 minutes drive from the capital of Lombardy, a completely non-Milanese, so to speak, atmosphere reigns: the atmosphere of a "slow city", where there is no place for the eternal rush and chaos of the metropolis.

Ancient Modia, which existed during the heyday of the Roman Empire, received its greatest flowering during the seventh century, when the city was chosen as the summer capital of the Kingdom of the Lombards. It is with the period of the Lombards that the most interesting and exciting historical evidence is associated, which it is still possible to admire and admire while walking along the streets of Monza.

We invite you to go to virtual tour That's why glorious city with a rich history!

Evening Monza. Photo pinterest.com

How to get to Monza?

By plane

Linate airport

Linate Airport is located on the eastern outskirts of the city, about ten kilometers from the center of Milan and 25 km from Monza. It is connected by frequent shuttles to the Central railway station Milan, from where trains run to Monza.

Malpensa airport

Milan Malpensa Airport is located 50 km from Monza. You can get to the Milan railway station from Malpensa by the Malpensa Express bus, from there you need to transfer to the train to Monza.

Or from Malpensa to Monza you can take the direct Alimonza shuttle.

Orio al Serio airport

Orio al Serio International Airport is about 5 km from Bergamo, 45 from Milan and 40 from Monza. From there you need to get to the railway station by taxi or ATB line bus, and then take the direct Bergamo-Monza train.

By train

The railway station of Monza is located on Via Arosio, 14

Ticket offices are open from Monday to Saturday.

Villa Reale. Monza. thinkstock photo

By car

From Milan: Milano Strada V.le Zara to Monza

From Turin(A4): A4 Turin-Milan and then change to the Milan-Venice branch and exit at Cinisello Balsamo-Sesto San Giovanni-Milano Viale Zara, continue as above

From Bergamo and Brescia: A4 Milan-Venice, Northern Ring Road (Tangenziale Nord) to Svincolo Monza Centro.

From Lecco: Highway SS 36 to Monza.

From Genoa (A7): motorway A7 to Milan, then the Western ring road towards Venice, after the Eastern ring road and exit to Monza.

Where to stay in Monza?

Arengario or City Hall

Arengario di Monza or City Hall is one of the most important historical buildings, a symbol of the autonomy of the political power of the city. The town hall was erected in 1293 to become main residence City Council, about 100 meters from the Cathedral of Monza. The unusual name, Arengarium, comes from the German expression "hari-hriggs", "circle of warriors": indeed, the hall where the city rulers gathered was in the form of a ring.

The Arengariya building is made in the Gothic style, with a balcony for broadcasting speeches to the people. The bell tower adjoins the palazzo, which was added to the Arengaria plan in the 14th century. The building has a gallery under the arched vaults, where shopping arcades were located in ancient times.

Currently, significant art exhibitions are held in the town hall building.

Arengarii. Photo pinterest.com

Royal Villa in Monza

Built by order of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria for her son Ferdinand between 1776 and 1780. in the immediate vicinity of the medieval city, the Royal Villa served for many years as the summer residence of the Habsburgs.

Between 1806 and 1808 Ferdinand ordered the arrangement of the park around the villa: a green area of 750 hectares was intended for royal hunting. A few decades later, a magnificent rotunda and a theater were added to the villa, built under Napoleon by the architect Luigi Canonica. In 1790, greenhouses and a huge rose garden appeared near the residence.

Park of the Royal Villa. Photo pinterest.com

After the overthrow of the Habsburgs, until 1859. The royal villa belonged to the Savoy dynasty. The residence was especially loved by the son of King Vittorio Emmanuele II, Umberto I, who was killed by anarchists in Monza in 1900 during the closing ceremony of sports games. After the incident, the new king ordered the villa closed and most of its treasures moved to the Palazzo Quirinale, in Rome. In 1934 the king donated the villa to the city.

The project of the Royal Villa was developed by the famous architect Piermarini according to the canons Royal Palace in Caserta and therefore the French Versailles.

The decoration of the facade of the villa is quite strict: rationalism permeates the entire project of the villa and is also manifested in the organization of the interior.

Royal Villa. Thinkstock Photos

In the interiors of the villa you can admire the representative rooms, apartments of Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Savoy. Opposite the Royal Villa is english garden, also designed by Giuseppe Piermarini.

Redemption Chapel (Cappella Espiatoria)

The Chapel of Atonement, located near the Royal Villa, was built by King Vittorio Emmanuele III of Italy to commemorate the murder of his father Umberto I by anarchists by the architects Giuseppe Sacconi and Guido Cirilli. The erection of the monument was completed in 1910, on the tenth anniversary of the death of Umberto I. The chapel was placed on the very spot where the king was killed.

The chapel is a 35-meter stone stele on a high pedestal, which is decorated with two transparent crosses made of alabaster, mined in the caves of Algeria. At the foot of the chapel there is a bronze sculptural group reproducing the Pieta sculpture by Michelangelo, and on its top lies an urn with a cushion on which there is a scepter, the Supreme Order of the Holy Annunciation and the crown of the Savoy rulers.

Redemption Chapel. Photo pinterest.com

Inside the pedestal of the monument is a crypt, the walls of which are covered with multi-colored marble and Byzantine-type mosaics.

Every year on July 29, the deceased ruler is commemorated in the chapel: on this night, the alabaster crosses seem to glow from within.

Monza Park

The luxurious green park of Monza surrounds the no less beautiful Royal Villa. The area of the park is about 688 hectares, which makes it the largest walled park in the world.

Monza Park was founded at the beginning of the 19th century at the will of Napoleon's stepson, Eugene Beauharnais, who at that time was the first Viceroy of Italy. The development of the green zone project was entrusted to the famous architect Luigi Canonica.

Monza park. Thinkstock Photos

After the expulsion of Napoleon from Italy, the villa and the park passed to the Austrians, and then to the Savoys. King Umberto I loved the villa and the park more than all the rulers, here the monarch liked to relax and hunt. After the death of his father, King Vittorio Emmanuele III abandoned the residence in Monza, transferring the property and the park to the state.

Over the next decade, the communes of Milan and Monza ordered the construction of various sports facilities in the park - golf courses, an autodrome and a hippodrome (later it was abolished).

Historic buildings in the park include watermills and a bridge across the Lambro River, built by Canonica in 1820. In addition to the Royal Villa, the Mirabello and Mirabellino villas, the estates of the noble Milanese family of Durini, adjoin the park, which we also recommend not to ignore.

Church of Santa Maria in Strada

Just 150 meters from the Duomo of Monza, there is another beautiful church from the 14th century with a striking terracotta facade, the architecture of which harmoniously combines Gothic and Romanesque styles. The Church of Our Lady on the Road was built on the site of an ancient Franciscan monastery and was an austere, single-nave religious building until 1756, when the famous Italian architect Giovanni Batista altered the church, rebuilding the altar in marble and gilded bronze, adding decorative columns, richly decorated with stucco, and several intratemple chapels.

Thinkstock Photos

Church of St. Peter the Martyr (Chiesa di San Pietro Martire)

To the north of the Cathedral of Monza rises the majestic Cathedral of St. Peter the Martyr, built in the late Gothic style at the end of the 14th century.

This church is especially interesting for its interior, where you can admire the beautiful frescoes of the 14th century and, under the altar, see the urn with the remains of the holy martyr Prospero, which were transported to the temple of Monza from the Roman catacombs by St. Agnes of Rome.

Thinkstock Photos

Monza National Circuit

The largest and oldest circuit in Italy is located about 2 kilometers from the Royal Villa of Monza. Several major auto and motorcycle races are regularly held here, including the Italian Grand Prix and the Superbike World Championship.

The circuit of Monza was built in 1922 in the park of the Royal Villa of Monza for the Milan Automobile Club. Initially, the circuit had two permanent tracks for racing at high speed, however, after an incident in 1928, when a pilot crashed into the grandstand, which led to the death of 20 spectators, the two tracks were merged into one to reduce speed.

The Monza circuit “remembers” several more terrible accidents that have gone down in history: in 1961, the legendary racer from the Ferrari team, Wolfgang von Trips, crashed here: the incident claimed the lives of twelve more spectators. 9 years later, in 1970, the race car driver Karl-Jochen Rindt died here, who at the time of his death was the leader in points. This case was a unique event for Formula 1: Rindt was posthumously awarded the championship title.

Thinkstock Photos

Of course, all of the above sights of Monza are just a small part of the treasures that you will discover while walking slowly through the streets of the city. lovers religious architecture In addition to the aforementioned cathedrals, we advise you to visit other beautiful temples of Monza, such as the church of Santa Maria al Carrobiolo and, especially, the monastery church of San Maurizio, where Marianna de Leyva, known to admirers of Manzoni's work as the Nun of Monza, hid.

What to try in Monza?

You can taste the traditional dishes of the province of Monza e Brianza in any restaurant and any tavern: here they hold sacred and keep their own customs, always offering visitors delicious specialties of Lombardy, made from typical products of the region.

Among the first courses, I would like to highlight the soup in Brianza (minestrone alla brianzola), which is cooked for long hours, resulting in a very appetizing and aromatic brew, as well as risotto with luganega pork sausage (risotto con la luganega).

Meat lovers will probably love "cassoeula", a roast based on pork legs, ribs and "verzitt" sausages. All this must be served with hot polenta. Gourmets are invited to appreciate the local rabbit roast, pork ribs with sausage and grilled trout caught on Lake Como. The best wines to be served with your order will probably come from the fertile slopes of Montevecchia.

Photo flickr.com

Those with a sweet tooth should definitely try the sweet "firun", a typical Monza biscuit made from chestnuts.

Events in Monza

Feast of the patron saint - Sagra di San Giovanni

Every year on June 24, the people of Monza celebrate the feast of the city's patron saint, John the Baptist. The city praises its patron saint with a series of cultural and sporting events (Regatta on the Lambro River, Monza-Resegon marathon), which begin 2 weeks before the holiday. On the day of the patron, a procession in historical costumes passes through the streets of Monza, and the Medieval Market spreads tents in the main square. The celebrations culminate in grandiose fireworks in the gardens of the Royal Villa.

On Friday we went north, and the first city of the program was Monza. This is actually a suburb of Milan - already in 2015, the red line of the Milan metro should pass here. Well, in Russia, Monza is mostly familiar to fans of motorsport, because. The Italian Grand Prix "Formula 1" is held here...

Railway station

The population of Monza is 120 thousand inhabitants. It is the 4th city of Lombardy.

Fountain

Monza was of great political importance in the 7th century, when it was the capital of the Kingdom of the Lombards.

Street Italy (Via Italia)

There are a lot of churches in the city. One of them is dedicated to Saints Mary Magdalene and Teresa (1620).

Church of St. Mary Magdalene and St. Teresa (Chiesa di Santa Maria Maddalena e Santa Teresa)

The Church of Santa Maria in Strada has a noble brick façade. According to the manuscripts, the construction of the church began in 1357.

Church of St. Mary Strada ( Chiesa di Santa Maria in Strada

Monument to the Fallen of Monza (Monumento ai Caduti di Monza)

In 2011, the studio "Helidon Xixa" decorated Monza with a number of compositions with the general title "Flashes of Light in the City".

"Light" (Luce)

Helidon Xiksa himself (b. 1970) is an Albanian by origin. And in the 90s he moved to Italy, like many of his compatriots.

"Light" (Luce)

Monza is known for the fact that here on July 29, 1900, the second king of Italy, Umberto I, was killed by revolver shots. The killer turned out to be the anarchist Gaetano Bresci, who received a life sentence, but committed suicide (according to the official version) in prison less than a year later.

Piazza San Paolo

The Church of Santa Maria dell'Angeli was originally built in the Baroque style at the beginning of the 17th century. And already at the end of the XIX century. rebuilt in neo-Gothic.

Church of St. Mary Angeli (Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angeli)

In front of the facade is a statue of St. Carlo Borromeo (1538-84).

Carlo Borromeo

Another example of brick architecture is the church of St. Peter the Martyr of the XIV century. It is dedicated to Peter of Verona, who was killed in 1252 on his way from Como to Milan.

Church of St. Peter the Martyr (Chiesa di San Pietro martire)

Mose Bianchi

The main cultural attraction of Monza is the Duomo. The cathedral is dedicated to John the Baptist.

The Duomo was built in 1300-1681. on the site of the old church, which was erected by order of the Lombard queen Theodelinda in 595.

Monza Cathedral (Duomo di Monza)

On the left is a 79-meter bell tower, which was built in 1592-1606.

Monza Cathedral (Duomo di Monza)

Arengario - the building of the old town hall of Monza, dating back to the 13th century. In 1330, a balcony was completed on the south side, from which city decrees were read.

Arengario (Arengario)

Nearby stands, perhaps, the most famous fountain of Monza - the frog fountain (1932). The sculptor Aurelio Mistruzzi carved a naked girl crushing a toad in her hand.

Frog fountain (Fontana delle rane)

The city stands on the Lambro River - this is the left tributary of the Po.

r. Lambro (Lambro)

One of the most famous bridges across the Lambro is the Lions Bridge (1838-40). It is decorated with 4 Carrara marble lions, which were made by the sculptor Antonio Tantardini.

Bridge of Lions (Ponte dei Leoni)

Next, we found a tourist office to find out how to get to the circuit. The worker suggested the bus to us and was so touched by the fact that people came to see not the races, but the empty track, that she gave each of us a thick book about the history of the Italian Grand Prix. For Alex, it was, of course, the best souvenir of the whole trip.

"Monza" (Monza)

According to the good Italian tradition, the driver did not have tickets - so we went for free. The name of the street already indicates the proximity of the autodrome ...

Via Enzo Ferrari

The track is located inside a huge park to the north of the city center. Monza's park is one of the largest in all of Europe, its area is 688 hectares.

Monza National Circuit (

We, as specialists of empty autodromes, were surprised by the fact that the entrance to the territory of the track costs 5 euros.

Monza National Circuit (Autodromo Nazionale di Monza

The length of the modern track is 5,793 km. But the old 4.25 km oval has also been preserved (albeit in an abandoned state).

Monza National Circuit (Autodromo Nazionale di Monza

Part of the old track can be seen around the corner "Parabolica".

Rotate Parabolic (Curva Parabolica)

The oval was last used at the 1961 Italian Grand Prix, which was overshadowed by the worst accident in Formula One. The car of the German racer Wolfgang von Trips flew off the track - the pilot himself and 14 other spectators died. Since then, “F-1” has not ridden ovals, but personally I would be interested to see at least one such race on the calendar. There was a chance when Indianapolis entered the championship, but for some reason they built an ordinary track inside the track. By the way, Indianapolis is Monza's sister city.

High speed ring (Anello alta velocita)

Monza National Circuit (Autodromo Nazionale di Monza

Michael Schumacher won the most wins here - 5.

stands

On May 14, 1945, the Allied military parade took place in Monza. The tanks drove straight along the starting line.

Direct Start-Finish

If in Imola Lyokha could not take a picture on pole position, then in Monza he managed to get another pole position.

pole position

Direct Start-Finish

Well, someone here is very lucky. So on the last lap in 1993, Christian Fittipaldi touched the wheel of another car, made a dead loop in the air and calmly crossed the finish line.

Direct Start-Finish

The starting line of Monza is unrealistically long - 1320 m! In 2005, J.P. Montoya set a speed of 372.6 km/h here on tests!

Direct Start-Finish

The straight ends at the Rettifilho chicane, with the hardest braking of the season, from 350 to 80 km/h.

For the first time I saw curbs up close.

Chicane Rettifilho (Variante del Rettifilo)

And this is the pit lane - here everything should be accurate to the millimeter.

pit lane

Well, I'll tell you about my history as an F-1 fan. In my school years, I was an ardent fan of racing (supporting the McLaren), from 1992 to 96. did not miss a single stage on TV! If I had been told then that in 15 years the Formula would become practically indifferent to me - I would not have believed it! But that is what happened gradually. Probably the first thing that changed was my interests. For example, there was a passion for travel. It is interesting that until the age of 23 I was nowhere except Moscow (only I was taken to St. Petersburg once in my childhood).

pit lane

Well, Formula 1 itself has become objectively less interesting. In Sport-Express, instead of 1.5 lanes, she is given a small piece. An article on Wikipedia was also written by my colleague - he calls the period 1980-2000 the "Golden Age" of the Formula. Even my companion Aleksey, although he watches the races, agrees that the current F-1 with kersey and other artificiality is vulgarity. He even went further - he calls the 50-70s real races, when there was no such commerce, and people risked their lives for an idea.

pit lane