At 336 meters (1,102 feet) above sea level, it is the highest town in the province.
The town has a railway station on the Monza-Molteno-Lecco line.
In the hamlet of Valle Guidino there is the so-called Sasso del Guidino a huge erratic boulder of the utmost geological importance, as it shows the lowest latitude reached by glaciers during the last glaciation.
In the hamlet of Vergo Zoccorino, near the border with the comune of Briosco there is the renowned Magico Ciliegio, a wild cherry tree of Besana, now a national monument. In the spring, its colorful flowering is a popular excursion.
The first historical information related to Besana Brianza date back to year 69 A.D., with the discovery of gravestones with Roman inscriptions found in the hamlet of Valle Guidino, found at the end of the 19th century, which testify to the existence of a place of worship and a pasture, belonging to Virginius Rufus, a Roman general conqueror of Gaul.
During the barbarian invasions, the territory of Besana fell into neglect due to the domination of the invaders; with the advent of feudalism, inhabited centers grew around the castles built by the feudal families from the Brianza hills.
The Da Besana, a noble Milanese family, were enfeoffed in Besana, and for at least three centuries they were the feudal lords of the Agliate parish, on the opposite bank of river Lambro. Gariberto, who became archbishop of Milan in the year 919, descended from this family. When the Da Besana family returned to Milan in the communal era, on the ruins of their castle the Riboldi family, who had settled here in the meantime, built their mansion.
On 20 October 1863, the comune of Besana added “in Brianza” to its name, with a resolution of the city council validated by a specific royal decree. The autonomous communities of Besana, Montesiro, Valle Guidino, Cazzano, Villa Raverio, Vergo Zoccorino and Calò were formed around the churches, which remained independent until 1869. They were unified into a single comune with decree of King Victor Emmanuel II, they were unified into one Municipality. The constituent communities have however maintained their cultural identity to the present day.
It is the third largest comune in the region by population (preceded by Milan and Brescia).
The city rises in the high Lombard plain at the southern edge of Brianza, at an altitude of 162 meters (531 feet) above sea level. It is about 20 kilometers from Milan and 40 kilometers from Lecco and Como.
River Lambro flows throw the city from north to south.
The Monza Cathedral overlooks the homonymous square in the historic center. Tradition has it that queen Theodelinda ordered its building. The bell tower was built in the 17th century and restored between 1999 and 2006. The cathedral houses a history museum.
Villa Reale (‘royal palace’) is one of the most important monuments of the city. The palace was built during Austrian domination of the Duchy of Milan, as a symbol of the prestige and magnificence of the Habsburg court. It consists of a central body and two wings that depart at right angles. From the gardens of Villa Reale, you can have excursions to the Monza Park.
The Arengario is located in the historic center, in Piazza Roma, where the main streets of the pedestrian area branch off. It is the ancient government palace of the communal age Monza, built in the 13th century. Initially it was devoid of the tower and balcony from which the rulers appeared to speak to the population.
The Monza Park is one of the major European historical parks, and the largest among those surrounded by walls. It has an area of approximately 685 hectares (1693 acres) and is located north of the city. With the gardens of Villa Reale, the Monza Park is a complex of inestimable landscape, historical, monumental and architectural value. Large areas of the Monza park were given under concession for the construction of sports facilities: in the Monza national racetrack in 1922, and the golf course in 1928. River Lambro flows inside the park.
Historical Background
In Roman times, Monza was located on the Via Aurea or Via Speluca, a consular road leading to Como and the Splügen Pass.
The city experienced a period of particular political relevance and intense artistic development during the 7th century, when it was the summer capital of the Lombard Kingdom, later the city entered the domains of the Holy Roman Empire and finally, from the 11th century, entered the sphere of influence of Milan. A free Municipality in the 13th century, in the 14th century Monza entered the domains of the Visconti family of Milan, following their fate since then, passing under the rule of the powerful Durini family of Milan, and then enduring the Spanish occupation. The Durini’s were decisive as well as for the relations they held with the Habsburgs and for the prestige of their court. They build the archducal villa, which later became Villa Reale. The Durini’s dominated the city and its territory until the end of the feudal age. Monza then remained under Austrian rule, until, in 1859, it became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which became Kingdom of Italy in 1861.
On 29 July 1900, the king of Italy Umberto I was assassinated in Monza by an anarchist assailant.
In 1910, Cappella Espiatoria was built to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the killing of King Umberto I.
In the town are a kindergarten, a primary school and a first grade secondary school.
The Renate-Veduggio railway station, located on the Monza-Molteno-Lecco on the S7 line, is operated by Trenord’s trains.
The town is also served by bus services operated by the Brianza Trasporti consortium.
The comune hosts a part of La Valletta Agricultural Park. The territory of La Valletta park lies between two large protected areas, the Lambro Valley Park" and the Montevecchia and Curone Valley Natural Park.
The origin of the name of the town probably derives from arenate, because of the sandy soil.
The territory was inhabited first by the Celts and later by the Romans.
On the municipal territory were found burials and coins of Roman times.
On 10 May 1607, Renate hosted the encampment of the lansknecht troupers at the command of captain Alberto Baldovino.
In 1630, it hosted the landsknechts of captain Rainoldo, part of the army of colonel Ciamburgo.
The 18th century saw the Austrian domination.
In 1843 Emilia Redaelli married in the parish church the nobleman Enrico Manzoni, the son of the writer Alessandro Manzoni and Enrichetta Blondel. The couple spent their life in Renate.
On 8 November 1928, by force of the Royal Decree 1556 the comune of Renate was merged with the comune of Veduggio; the two comuni were split again only in 1956.
