The place name derives from Agradate, and its origin is disputed: some trace it to the Latin personal name Acrius, some to the Lombard agher, the maple, some to the names Acratus or Gratus with the suffix -ate. The village was first called Gradi, then Gratis, Grà, Grate, Gratum and finally Agrate; the Brianza tag is later, and until 1862 the name was simply Agrate. From April 745 comes the will of one Rottoperto, described as de vico Agrate, founding a hospital here for the poor and for pilgrims.
Roman foundations found in the nineteenth century, and a granite altar block now holding up the arch of a farm doorway, point to a vicus here. By 1202 the consuls of Agrate were dealing with the chapter of Vimercate for their own commune. From here came Marco d'Agrate, who carved the flayed Saint Bartholomew in Milan Cathedral, and Gian Matteo Ferrario, physician to Duchess Bianca Maria Sforza and lecturer at Pavia. The arms show a red lion on silver holding a staff: colours and figure most likely come from the blazon of the Secchi, an old Milanese family.
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📅 Every year, on 2 August; the first Sunday of October also holds the patronal feast of the Madonna del Rosario
Agrate Brianza celebrates Saint Eusebius on 2 August, in the church dedicated to him; the first Sunday of October also holds the patronal feast of the Madonna del Rosario, while the first Sunday of June, in the hamlet of Omate, hosts the much-loved Palio degli asini donkey race.
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