Day tripping from Milan: Monza
Villa Reale / @nicolafittibaldi
A 15-20 minute train from Milan will drop you at the center of its little sister: Monza.
One of the biggest advantages of living in Milan is the accessibility to major transit hubs. Composed of major railway and bus stations, as well as 3 international airports, it’s easy to travel to other parts of Italy and even other parts of the world from Milan. In fact, some common escapades are simple day trips out of the city.
For this simple reason, we have decided to bring this new thread to the party in which we introduce the towns and sights that surround the Milanese metropolis!
One easy day trip that cannot be missed is just steps away from the city- Monza! Monza is a vibrant city full of culture and many attractions. Just to name a few:
Santa Maria in Strada: a medieval church with a rich terra-cotta façade (1393)
Broletto or Arengario: the 14th-century palace of the civic commune, raised on an arcade of pointed arches, with a tall square machiolated tower terminating in a sharp central cone.
Villa Reale: Villa built during the period of Austrian rule in the Duchy of Milan.
Parco di Monza and the gardens of Villa Reale are among the largest in Europe to be enclosed by walls. The park has an area of approximately 685 hectares (1,690 acres) and is located in the northern part of the city, between the towns of Lesmo, Villasanta, Vedano al Lambro and Biassono.
Duomo di Monza, (The Basilica of St John the Baptist) - the main religious building in Monza built between the 14th and 17th centuries.
On top of all this, Monza is best known for the Grand Prix motor racing circuit, and the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, which hosts the Formula One Italian Grand Prix. For all the Formula One fans, be sure not to miss out!
Autodromo Nazionale di Monza / @cristiannegraia
For all the food lovers out there, the Monzese cuisine is typical of the province with many traditions linked to the Milanese cuisine. Some dishes include Cassoeula, and Risotto alla Monzese which differs from its Milanese cousin, because it includes luganega sausage.
Risotto Monseze / @ricettasprint
If you find yourself a bit crunched for time, there are a few “easy” places to stop by for a drink or a bite to eat!
Dori - pastries, bread, focaccia, aperitifs, salads and simple lunch dishes
Speedy - wine, beer, specialty sandwiches (make sure to reserve, as its the place to be even for the locals)
Vineria dei Tintori - Italian and French wines, charcuterie and cheese boards
Dive Cocktail House - sophisticated, evening lounge bar with a constantly chaning menu of fresh signature drinks
How to get there:
Getting to Monza is simple coming from Milan! By car, departing from Milan Central station, it takes roughly 30 minutes.
By train, it takes approximately 10-15 minutes departing from either Milan Central Station or Milan Porta Garibaldi Station using the suburban railway network and costs less than €5! Book your tickets now using the Trenord, Trenitalia or Trainline apps!
Milano Centrale / @jianxiangwu
