The city of Monza, now capital of the province with a population of almost 123,000, which makes it the third largest in Lombardy, has its roots in the far-off Bronze Age, as can be seen from relics uncovered there in the late 19th century. The settlement, next inhabited by the Gallic tribes of Insubria, stood along the banks of the River Lambro. With the Roman conquest of the area, the village became more and more important as a road junction and trading post. The completion of a brick bridge that made it possible to cross the River Lambro – much larger then than it is today – was essential to the development of the vicus; Monza, which was known as Mondicia, was thus situated along the important directrix routes from Mediolanum [Milan] to the north and the lakes and crossings in the Alps. With the fall of the Roman Empire and the arrival of the barbarians, Monza enjoyed a period of great splendour. This was thanks to the presence of the Lombard court of legendary queen Theodolinda, who promoted the conversion to Christianity, fought Arian heresy, and founded the basilica dedicated to St John the Baptist.
The Middle Ages were a flourishing period for the city, whose name evolved to Modoetia. It was an important centre for trade and markets, enjoyed the favour of the rulers of the Holy Roman Empire – thanks also to the presence of the famous Iron Crown – and it also underwent large-scale urban development, with the building of churches and the municipal palace, known as Arengario. Monza then came under the rule first of the Visconti family and then of the Sforza family. It was protected by city walls and a castle, located in the northern sector of the city. Spanish rule led to the enfeoffment of the city: Emperor Charles V assigned it to the De Leyva family, one of whose members, Marianna (b. 1575), was forced to take religious vows and who would become famous as the Mother Superior and Nun of Monza. The fiefdom was purchased by the Durini family in 1648. The period of Austrian rule left Monza with the heritage of the Royal Villa, designed by Piermarini for the son of Maria Theresa, governor of Lombardy. Napoleon is responsible for the creation of the Park, a model farm and hunting estate. The Savoy family used the Monza palace as a holiday home; it was particularly loved by Umberto and Margherita, until the tragic events of 29th July 1900, when anarchist Gaetano Bresci killed the king. The 20th century saw Monza as protagonist of great innovations. It was the capital of the hat-making industry, with dozens of hat factories. The city was also propelled into the modern era with the building, in 1922, of the Autodromo, a cutting-edge racetrack in the growing world of the automobile.

Insights

• The Humiliati: a Lombard history
• Monza and its millennial history