A PROVINCE TO BE EXPLORED - Visita Milano

Caponago
Municipal website: www.comune.caponago.mi.it
Distance from Monza: 9.5 km. Distance from Milan: 21,4 km
Map reference: E 5
Caponago is located on the left bank of the Molgora
River, 7 km from V imercate. It was probably
founded by the Romans and is mentioned for
the first time in the will of the Milan Bishop
Anspert da Biassono (8 74). In 14 32, the Crivelli
family became the landowners, maintaining possession
until the 18th century. In 1896, Senator Luigi
Simonetta opened a building for isolating cases of
infectious diseases that was later named Ospedaletto.
It was amongst the first buildings entirely made
of concrete.
The parish church of S. Giuliana is worth a visit.
It was first altered in 1581-1584 and was then rebuilt
between 1738 and 1742 using a project by the
architect Carlo Giuseppe Merlo. He used an unusual
elliptical shape, drawing inspiration from contemporary
examples in Austria and Bavaria. T he frescoes,
from 1895, are by Antonio De Grada. P artial
alterations a nd e nlargements w ere u ndertaken i n
1939/40. The organ (1768) by Antonio F ontana is
very valuable and was restored in 1896. The church
of S. Giorgio is another interesting religious building,
probably dating from the 9th century. It has
some 14th century traces. The chapel of S. Vigilio
has ancient origins and was turned into a leper
colony during plague outbreak of 15 76. In the old
centre, Palazzo Prata Galbiati has been home to the
Town Hall since 1962. It is a beautiful building with
precious 18th-century decorations. Palazzo Caglio
is an interesting holiday residence that eventually
passed into the hands of the Counts Volta. The original
core of Villa Simonetta-Arcidini is 16th century,
but its current appearance is 19th century . It is
said that Cardinal Charles Borromeo stayed here
during his pastoral visit in 15 84.
The first balloon
On 13 March 1784, Count
Paolo Andreasi, with two
technicians, Gaetano Rossi
and Giuseppe Barzago, undertook
the first trip in Italy
in a balloon. He left from
Villa Moncucco and landed
safely in the countryside
between Carugate and
Caponago. Cardinal Angelo
Durini even drafted a
leaflet to celebrate this
achievement.
Tomaso
da Caponago
He lived in the 15th century
and was a famous jurist.
He is famous for ordering,
in 1448, the following inscription
to be placed on
the stairs of the then Court
of Milan (Broletto Nuovo in
piazza dei Mercanti): "litigations
are the ruin for
both litigants".
Monza and its province
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