You say “Monza” and it feels like hearing the roar of Formula 1 car engines. You don't need to be a sports enthusiast to know it: the name Monza is known worldwide for its racetrack, one of the oldest, most iconic, and fastest on the planet.
But Monza is much more than the National Autodrome! This beautiful city, just a few kilometers north of Milan, offers surprises and many stories to tell its visitors: two queens, a cathedral, a treasure made of ancient gold and gem-studded objects, a hen with seven chicks, a sumptuous palace, and a giant park are just some of the highlights of a journey to Monza.
The first unexpected discovery for those visiting Monza for the Grand Prix or other car races is precisely the fact that the circuit is located within a vast green area. Monza’s park is actually one of the largest urban parks in Europe, covering over 700 hectares and featuring a wide variety of plant species, making it a popular and beloved destination for both locals and tourists.
The Monza Park is part of the historical and cultural heritage of our region: it was Napoleon who ordered its creation in 1805 as an agricultural estate. For this reason, alongside nature, you’ll find farmhouses, mills, and various buildings. First among them is the Royal Villa, our little Lombard “Versailles”, which isn’t so little after all, boasting more than 700 rooms, a chapel, a theater, and an English-style garden.
The neoclassical-style villa was built in 1777 at the request of the Habsburgs, who lived there until it became the summer residence of Eugène de Beauharnais during the Napoleonic era. The last owners were the kings of Italy, who transformed some rooms according to the fashion and taste of the late 19th century, particularly thanks to the influence of Queen Margherita of Savoy, who, for her charisma and elegance, can be considered a true influencer of her time.
But, as previously mentioned, there are two famous queens in Monza, and Theodelinda of the Lombards holds the role of the city's founder, according to the legend that tells of a prophetic dream in which a white dove shows her the place to settle with her people.
This episode is narrated along with 44 others from her life in the chapel dedicated to her in the Monza Cathedral, an extraordinary space covered with gold-sparkling paintings created in the mid-1400s by the Zavattari brothers. Like a comic strip, they depict everything in minute detail (we can even see what was served during a wedding banquet of the time!).
And golden are also the jewels and sacred objects that Teodolinda donated to the cathedral, among which the mysterious Chioccia coi Pulcini, whose interpretation is controversial, but above all the mythical Corona Ferrea.
This is a unique object that, in addition to gold, stones, and enamels, contains a famous relic: a nail from Christ's cross. We do not know whether this crown was worn by Queen Teodolinda or if, instead, it was used as an ornament on an altar. Certainly, it has adorned several famous heads throughout history, not least that of Napoleon.
Here is Monza. And the best part is that you can see and experience it all: the Park, the Royal Villa, the Autodrome, the Cathedral, and the Treasure are open to visitors. All that's left is to choose when..
Reaching Monza is extremely easy by any means of transport and from anywhere!
