Knowing 's province: History, art, nature and new architecture

Today, Milan's province includes 189 cities. This area is so rich and diverse that it deserves several itineraries: hence, the publication "Knowing Milan and its province". Cultura, arte, paesaggi, tradizioni fan- Milano, la grande capitale della laborio- Dopo aver avviato, ormai nel lontano Conoscere Milano e la sua provincia. Un This project aims at promoting and enhancing the Milan no parte del patrimonio turistico, spes- sità italiana, ha una lunga storia da rac- 2002, i primi itinerari alla scoperta di invito che AIM rivolge a tutti i cittadini area; it was conceived by the Department for Tourism so sottovalutato, della provincia di contare e da leggere nei segni che dal una Milano in profonda trasformazio- della città centrale a diventare "viandan- of the Provincial Administration, together with the Milano. Eppure il nostro territorio è al passato ad oggi e nelle prospettive del ne,e in particolare dei nuovi quartieri ti nella loro terra", ad uscire dalle mura Urban Center of the City of Milan and the Chamber of sesto posto nella graduatoria italiana futuro segnalano gli interventi dell'uomo con nuovi parchi sorti su aree industria- urbane e a ritrovare nei segni del passa- Commerce of Milan. per le presenze turistiche e, anche se sul territorio, con le diversificate forme li dismesse, Urban Center promuove to e nelle realtà della vita odierna il per- gran parte di queste vengono generate di agricoltura e di produzione e nelle questo nuovo Conoscere Milano esteso corso che l'uomo ha condotto occupan- AIM designed and dal flusso di visite per affari, vi è un infrastrutture. E poi la rete dei centri a tutto il territorio della provincia. do e facendo fruttare un territorio fra i co-ordinated sempre crescente numero di cittadini urbani divenuti centri dell'industria Gli itinerari, disegnati a corolla attorno più fertili e ricchi dell'Europa. the itineraries. Ten interessati a scoprire inaspettati luoghi lungo le linee del trasporto viario, d'ac- a Milano, con tappe molto diverse tra Il percorso di conoscenza del moderno guided tours, di interesse a poca distanza da casa. qua e ferroviario, e accanto alle fonti di loro, toccheranno il ricco patrimonio viandante incontrerà poi, pur nella ricor- diverse and Per questo motivo presentiamo con energia. E ancora gli snodi del commer- storico e artistico insieme a trasforma- rente congestione di un territorio fitto interesting, soddisfazione, insieme alla Camera di cio, dell'incontro e della residenza dalle zioni e recuperi contemporanei, parten- di presenze abitative, produttive e infra- to unveil an area that Commercio e con il patrocinio di più lontane forme di insediamento ai do spesso da luoghi storici, nuovi quar- strutturali, i segni evidenti di nuove has a rich heritage Urban Center, questo programma di iti- nuovi quartieri. Negli itinerari per "cono- tieri o progetti di recupero realizzati a politiche di recupero e riassesto dei and a strong nerari attraverso la storia e l'arte nei scere Milano e la Provincia" si leggono Milano, a sottolineare il ruolo baricen- centri storici, di restauro di beni monu- drive towards the dintorni della città senza tralasciare le stratificati tutti questi interventi e si vede trico che il capoluogo detiene. mentali pubblici, privati ed ecclesiasti- aree dedicate all'agricoltura, all’indu- anche quanto lavoro ancora si possa e Urban Center si dimostra ancora una ci, nuove tipologie di parchi tutelati e future. stria e quelle degli ambienti naturali. si debba promuovere per migliorare la volta il luogo dedicato alla comunica- aperti ad utilizzi vari per il tempo libero Brevi visite per scoprire che, per "fare qualità della vita e dell'ambiente e per zione e all'informazione sul territorio, in e lo sport. Segnali concreti di un diffu- ITINERARY 3 turismo", non sempre è necessario dare nuovi impulsi economici e sociali questo caso con l'obiettivo rivolto alle so rinascimento e rinnovamento am- affrontare lunghi viaggi in terre lontane. allo sviluppo. tante mete ricche di storia e di tesori bientale promosso e gestito dagli enti disseminati nella provincia milanese locali che sono anch'essi una ricchezza Direttore centrale Hanno collaborato CASTLES AND FORTRESSES BETWEEN Filippo Penati Carlo Sangalli del nostro territorio. Cultura e Turismo Roberto Barelli INDUSTRY AND NATURE AT THE Presidente Presidente Pia Benci Alessandra Costarpa Provincia di Milano Camera di Commercio di Milano Silvia Iantorno Rho Responsabile Servizio Loretta Sangalli Along the Simplon road, an unexpected Turismo Luisa Zanardi historic centre with large churches and villas Monica Giudici Anna Zetti CASTLES AND FORTRESSES BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND NATURE AT THE TICINO The city of Carroccio around Bramantesque Basilica di San Magno and the Castello Visconteo Area Programmazione Renato Mattioni Comunicazione Federica Villa As we leave Milan going North-West, we see one of the symbols e Relazioni Istituzionali Laura Colombo of Milan's industrial heritage: the Portello. This used to be the Next to the Villoresi canal, a historic centre Alfa Romeo factory; now, a residential neighbourhood is being dominated by a huge 18th-century villa built, with a new, large urban park. Out of Milan, historic Research and copy General co-ordination Simplon Route 33 to Lake Maggiore leads to Rho. Today, it is Luisa Toeschi best known as the location of the new Fair, however it is also an Monica Torri A town dominated by the fortress looking on the Mara Martello Carlo Berizzi Naviglio Grande, all the way to the Power Station old town that still has an atmospheric centre. Further along the Claudia Galassi Massimo Tiano Simplon route, we cross the thick urban area of the valley, Milly Di Bello Castelletto di comprising the towns of Legnano, Busto Arsizio and Gallarate. Graphic and photos Itinerary guides A stretch of Naviglio marked by one of This area was urbanised starting in the first half of the 19th 's most impressive villas century, when textile and cotton manufacturers settled here, and Roberto Redaelli Società CIVITA boomed with the introduction of steam engines and electrical power. Legnano was home to the Franco Tosi turbines and steam INFORMATION boilers manufacturer, established in 1876. www.provincia.milano.it Much of the power used by local factories was produced at the www.conosceremilano.it Turbigo power station, still visible from the bridge over the Naviglio together with villas and old factories. This area is a Tourist Office Province of Milan part of the Parco del Ticino.The area is between the new Fair in Piazza Castello 1 ang. Via Luca Beltrami Rho and the Malpensa international airport: it will experience Tel 02 805.80.614/15/16 major transformation in the next few years, also thanks to Monday to friday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m enhanced infrastructures that will connect Milan to the airport. Mail: [email protected] Copyright: Province of Milan-AIM 2006 1. PORTELLO 2. RHO 3. LEGNANO As we leave Milan going We reach Legnano, on the Olona river, travelling along roads lined with North-West towards the industrial and retail facilities. The "city of the Carroccio" (the period war Lakes, we pass the Portello chariot used in battle by the city-states) is famous for the battle fought exhibition facility, the city here in 1176, in which the Lombard League city-states defeated Emperor location of Fiera Milano. Frederick Barbarossa of Germany. This event is depicted in Palazzo Then, the beautiful Iper Malinverni (1905-1909), now the Town Hall, and in three paintings by Portello shopping mall, Gaetano Previati now kept in a 1928 hall built on the remains of the 15th -century Lampugnani mansion. designed by Gino Valle; Rho is one of the oldest towns in Lombardy. Today, it is Another highlight in Legnano is the Basilica di San Magno. it is the first project built mainly known for the new Fair, however the centre is still Like many other 16th-century buildings in the Milan area, the Basilica is in the area's renovation reminiscent of an old-town atmosphere. The first inspired to Bramante's work. Its inside is extremely rich and glamorous, plan, which will include monument we find is the grand Sanctuary of the Madonna even though the original brick and terra cotta decorations were hidden by residential and office dei Miracoli, designed by Pellegrino Tibaldi in the 16th restoration in the 17th century. The shape is octagonal, and it keeps a buildings and a large park. century. Then, we get to Piazza Visconti, with the Town lovely polyptych made by Bernardino Luini in 1523, depicting the Hall, Palazzo Visconti and the Parish of San Vittore. The Virgin with Baby Jesus and the Saints. piazza is completed by a lovely Baroque fountain. From Just outside the town centre, the Castle of Legnano and its moat appear, here, historic streets lead to noble mansions including surrounded by a park. Visconti first had it built in the early 13th century, Palazzo alla Torre (17th century) and and Oldrado II Lampugnani had it extended in the 15th century. This Villa Burba and its park. fortress has a rectangular shape with a central tower, which is typical of Lombardy's fortified architecture, but also shows an unusual arrangement: six cylindrical towers at each corner and at the centre of the longer façades.

5. TURBIGO Down the Naviglio Grande, we stop in Turbigo, a strategic ford over the Ticino river on the road connecting Como to Novara. Together with the Castle of Legnano, the 13th- century local castle 6. CASTELLETTO was a part of the Visconti defensive line along the Western border. The remains of the castle 4. CASTANO PRIMO DI CUGGIONO are extremely impressive. It stands majestically We go on through the towns of , with its Castelletto di Cuggiono is on the other side of the waterway. over a hill above the river and is surrounded by modern mural paintings, and , that has a Here, the view over the Naviglio is marked by 18th-century a park. Not far from it are the Church of the long tradition in the textile industry. Castano Villa Clerici, one of the most beautiful and original villas in Assunta (Giovanni Maggi 1935), the Sacrarium Primo is on the shores of the Villoresi canal; 18th Lombardy. In all likelihood, it was built on the remains of of War Casualties (1950-1963) and the Museum -century Villa Nuño de Portugal is in the centre, an old fortress, probably designed by Gerolamo Quadrio. dedicated to Carlo Bonomi, a local painter, named after the Spanish Earl who received this The scenic main façade is especially interesting: it has sculptor and architect who followed the Castle's land as his feud from Emperor Charles VI. Today, it porches and two sightseeing towers, and stands at the end restoration in the 1920s. Lower in town, we find is the Town Hall and is called Villa Rusconi. The of a long boulevard flanked by lower buildings. All around, Palazzo de Cristoforis, now the Town Hall, and Lazzaretto church has a Via Crucis painted by the countryside, new buildings and the thick web of roads a bridge that affords an unexpected view over Gaetano Previati: it comprises 14 large masterly along the Milan-Turin motorway. villas, old factories and the Turbigo power plant. frescoes.