Monza, a city with a double aspect

Monza is a recent Lombard provincial capital; rises 162 meters above sea level and has 122,000 inhabitants. A city rich in history and charm, Monza is both the city of the Grand Prix and the roar of engines and the city of silence and greenery, immersed in its park. Monza park is one of the largest enclosed parks in all of Europe; this huge green lung is perfectly enjoyable on foot, by bike, with rollerblades or by rickshaw. Inside is the very famous racetrack, one of the oldest permanent circuits in the world. Absolutely worthy of a careful visit is the royal villa, a splendid palace in neoclassical style that houses sumptuous rooms, which can now be visited and sometimes used as locations for events and exhibitions. The villa complex also includes the spectacular royal chapel built on a design by Piermarini in 1777. The beating heart of Monza is Piazza Roma, once the market place, today full of modern shops and a center for exchanges and aggregation. The remarkable Palazzo dell'Arengario insists on the square. Crossing the bridge of the lions you reach the banks of the Lambro river and the ancient mill; even today it is possible to admire its functioning through the old gears and ancient stone wheels.