A PROVINCE TO BE EXPLORED - Visita Milano

Bellusco
Feasts and events
Inside the Oratory of Camuzzago and, right, the
parish church of Bellusco
(you can still see the coat-of-arms). It has a square
layout, with an entrance marked by a ravelin and
towers.
Around the main piazza, you can see a number
of 17th-century courtyards. To note: “Stalle
di Mantova” (Mantua stables), the Lazzaretto (or
leper colony) courtyard, the Tegole (or tile) courtyard,
the V ismara courtyard, the Mis ani courtyard,
Dosso, the Lattaio (or dairy) courtyard, the
Pozzo (or well) courtyard, the Sangalli courtyard
and the Frati (or friars’) courtyard, which is home
to the “Mario Rigoni Stern” library.
The eclectic parish church of S. Martino ,
built in 1864, has frescoes ab out St. Martin’s life
by Luigi Tagliaferri, the much venerated shrine of
St. Justina and a mechanic pipe organ built by the
brothers Pietro and L orenzo Bernasconi (1875).
There are also numerous old farmhouses, including
the Cascina S. Nazaro, with a church that has
18th-century paintings. In the Cascina Camuzzago
district, you can see the Oratory of S. Maria
Maddalena (being restored). Once an abb ey for
the monks of St. Sepulchre (the original structure
is from 1152), it has a vast cycle of frescoes with
stories of the saint by an artist, known as the Master
of Camuzzago, in the style of Bernardino Butinone
(ca. 1510). The altarpiece of the Descent from
the Cross is now in the Brera Gallery in Milan.
Feast of San Nazaro : on the
last weekend in July , it is
held in the barn of Cascina
S. Nazaro; singing, dancing
and tasting of local
dishes.
Feast of the Patron Saint and
the S. Giustina palio, second
Sunday in September , for
the feast of the patron
saint: the S. Giustina palio
is organised by a specific
committee with the backing
of the municipality. The
feast was originally organised
b y a yo ung g roup o f
parishioners (1955) and climaxes
with a parade of
floats inspired by biblical
themes. The parade is led
by the S. Giustina float and
by the standard bearers
from each district. The
route takes in most of the
main town streets. A jury ,
elected annually, chooses
the best float, awarding it
the Palio di S. Giustina. The
actual prize is a standard
created by a local artist and
a small, gilded urn that
holds a miniature copy of
the saint. This ‘trophy’ is
looked after by families
from the winning district.
Feast of St. Martin: held during
the week of 11 November:
it includes a variety of
events and shows centred
on the themes of solidarity
and volunteer work.
Monza and its province
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