On the first Sunday of September, since 1922, the world looks at Monza: the racetrack inside the park is one of the oldest and fastest circuits on the planet, Formula One's «temple of speed». But the city has a treasure older than petrol: in the cathedral, the chapel of Theodelinda, frescoed by the Zavattari, keeps the Iron Crown, with which kings and emperors were crowned — Napoleon included.
The Royal Villa by Piermarini, of 1777, and its walled park, among the largest in Europe, complete an elegant city that lives happily in Milan's shadow — fifteen minutes away by train, but at a different pace. The Lambro crosses it from north to south, and in the fourteenth century a fork dug for defence gave it a twin inside the walls, the Lambretto. All around lies Brianza: one of the most productive areas in Europe, and this is its capital.
Cappella di villa Mirabello · Chiesa di San Pietro Martire · Chiesa di Santa Maria al Carrobiolo and 3 more
Risotto alla Milanese
24 places to stay · top rated: Elitis House - Suite & Spa 9.8 · Curt di Sciàtt 9.6
Next up: Saint John the Baptist and Saint Gerard the Dyer, patrons of the city of the Iron Crown, Thursday 24 June
Nearest airport: Milano Linate, 15 km away
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📅 Every year, on 24 June; the Feast of the Holy Nail is held on the third Sunday of September
Monza celebrates Saint John the Baptist and Saint Gerard the Dyer on 24 June; the cathedral, founded by Queen Theodolinda in 595, still holds the Iron Crown today, while the hospital the co-patron founded in 1174 has been active for eight centuries.
Cappella di villa Mirabello Chapel of villa Mirabello in the Parco di Monza: the Durini villa of 1656-1675, oldest in the park. Chiesa di San Pietro Martire San Pietro Martire in Monza, 14th-century church for the Dominican killed in 1252, with a 15th-century cloiste Chiesa di Santa Maria al Carrobiolo Church of Santa Maria al Carrobiolo in Monza, with works by Peterzano and Moncalvo, vault frescoed 1707-1709. Chiesa di Santa Maria in Strada Church of Santa Maria in Strada in Monza, with a Lombard Gothic terracotta façade, enlarged in 1421. Duomo di Monza Monza Cathedral, founded by Queen Theodelinda around 595, home of the Iron Crown. Villa Reale Villa Reale of Monza, Piermarini's neoclassical palace begun in 1777, home to Habsburgs, Napoleon and Savoy. Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
Outside Monza, but an easy day trip away.
