Visit Romano'Brianza, Tourism and travel tips

The Toy Horse Museum, Grandate, Como

Toy Horse Museum

The history of this private museum is somewhat original.
Here, in the breeding Il Portichetto was born in July 1952 a very special colt, Tornese.

A beautiful sauro with a blonde mane and tail, a trotter who won almost all the prizes possible in the 1950s and that was comparable only to the famous Varenne of our time. The

stable buildings were sold to the owner of a baby product company that made it an industrial plant. After years of work, Catelli came with some sense of guilt and decided to dedicate the place to horses.

So the project for the toy horse museum started. The result we can visit and touch today. A beautiful place where adults and children can admire more than five hundred rocking horses, toys, carousel horses.

Everyone comes back a little children there but only real children can get on the old steeds and dream of races in the prairie and jump over ditches and bushes.
A beautiful collection with unique pieces, collected from all over the world. Handmade pieces, crumpled by time and the use of the little knights.

The materials used were mainly wood as for Edward, the symbol horse of the museum, made by skilled craftsmen from Val Gardena. Also metal and papier-mache were materials used to produce children's friends.

Every horse has its own name, and there are all kinds of horses. From the horse of the Hermete carousel, who came to Grandate from Hungary to the delicate Jacqueline, to the Fortunato horse in iron and to Tatzuo who comes from China and has traveled half the world.

Every horse has its own story and it's great to imagine the children of the past who ride their steeds.

In front of the museum the huge Roberto rocking horse welcomes you. It is the horse that was built for Roberto Benigni's film Pinocchio and it is so big that it must always stay out in the open air.

scritto da wUmrLVWz wUmrLVWz - ultima modifica il 22/09/2019

Monza, the city of Queen Theodolinda

Monza, Villa Reale

Queen Theodolinda, of German origin, was very important for the city of Monza.
Theodolinda was given his wife to the Lombard king Autari for political reasons as usual then.
The Queen was very beautiful as evidenced by the paintings in the Chapel and won the trust of the people. It was very much loved by the people of Monza that gifts chose as a summer residence. The pagan king converted to Christianity thanks to the influence of his believing wife and his son was baptized in Monza.
Also in Monza he had a church built, the current Cathedral. The place was chosen in a particular way: the Queen had promised to dedicate a church for St. John the Baptist but she did not know where. One day, riding with his escort along the Lambro River, he stopped to rest. She fell asleep and in the dream she saw a pigeon standing near her talking to her, saying, 'Way', here. She answered 'Etiam', yes, and so was defined the place to build the church. The two words together formed the first name of the city, namely Modoetia.
The Duomo is beautiful, but there is nothing left of the original construction. During the 13th and 14th centuries it was completely redone. The marble façade with white and green bands is very beautiful and richly decorated. The bell tower was built in the 16th century.
Inside is the Chapel of Theodolinda full of colorful frescoes that in 45 scenes tell the story and life of the famous queen.
In the altar of the chapel there is a display case containing the Iron Crown, a crown with a very special story that was brought by the queen but also by Napoleon.
Protected in its case, the ancient, precious crown sparkles in the light of lighting. It's really pretty and studded with precious stones. It was used for the coronation of the kings of Italy until the 19th century. It is said that the crown contains one of the nails of the crucifix of Christ. Therefore, the crown is also revered as a relic.

scritto da wUmrLVWz wUmrLVWz - ultima modifica il 10/09/2021

Excursion to Monte Linzone from Roncola S. Bernardo

Mount Linzone

Excursion as easy as profitable, especially from a panoramic aspect. The coastal of Monte Linzone is in fact the first significant elevation of the Orobic prealps, with its sweet and verdant summit dome overlooking the underlying Bergamo plain, a thousand meters lower. The trip is feasible almost all year round, except in the case of heavy snowfalls, however rare now.

From the town of Roncola San Bernardo, one of the most famous tourist resorts in the province (20 kilometers from Bergamo, altitude 858 meters), you start to follow the steep paved road that leads to the cemetery. Continue straight, until beyond the end of the road, entering a comfortable signposted path. Having come out of the woods, and passed a wavy lawn with a large cabin, the most strenuous stretch of the trip begins: a wide but steep rocky and gravel channel, which requires a minimum of caution. At its end, you reach the spectacular ridge of the mountain, where the view opens onto the Imagna Valley below and the entire Orobie chain in the background.

Now bending to the left, continue along the easy and undulating summit ridge, until you reach the wide grassy dome of the summit, on which is placed a large iron cross: Monte Linzone, altitude 1392 meters, 1.30 hours from the start. The return takes place along the route followed uphill, and takes about an hour.

The panorama is of those who are not easily forgotten, and it is rightly famous: the Val San Martino, which sinks for a thousand meters below us, the entire Po Valley, closed by the nuanced chain of the Apennines; on the opposite side the Imagna Valley lying at our feet, with the Orobie chain in the background, in a succession as far as the eye can see valleys and peaks.
By completing the excursion in the months of May and June, it will also be possible to admire in all its beauty the flowering of daffodils: a bloom so extraordinary to the point that, until the 1960s, on these meadows took place the traditional as indispensable “narcisata”, a sort of race for those who collected the biggest and most beautiful decks. According to chronicles of the time, on May 1, 1960, something like twenty thousand people counted on the meadows of Roncola San Bernardo! If we think that, at the time, the access road was not yet paved — it would have been only three years later, in 1963 — we can understand how popular this real “party of spring.”

Data sheet
Travel time: 2.30 hours Starting altitude: m. 858 Difference

in height: m. 534
Difficulty: T — Tourist
Recommended period: All year round, in the absence of snow
Region: Lombardy
Province: < /strong > Bergamo
Valle/area: hill

Discover all other mountain excursions in Lombardy

scritto da wUmrLVWz wUmrLVWz - ultima modifica il 29/10/2019

Milan seen with the eyes of Alessandro Manzoni, the famous writer

Portrait of Alessandro Manzoni

On March 7, falls the anniversary of the birth of Alessandro Manzoni. And speaking of falling: it was in 1873 when our Manzoni, already a successful writer known throughout Europe, falls like an ordinary mortal in front of the Church of San Fedele. From this church, before which now stands the bronze statue of the writer, we begin to travel the romantic places in Milan lived by Manzoni, in the years of the Italian Risorgimento and today. Via Morone is the place where one can still visit the house where Manzoni spent much of his life and where he received Verdi, Garibaldi, Balzac. The house-museum occasionally hosts readings of the pages of The Manzoni. The lounge is a true nineteenth century meeting place where the fate of nascent Italy was decided; walking here in Milan today we find ourselves in a place full of atmosphere, but also extremely elegant, at the margins of neighbourhoods of museums such as the Poldi Pezzoli and of the Fashion District. A mixture of art and new not to miss! Looking up to the sky we can see the white spire of the Gothic Cathedral with its golden Madonna, impossible not to visit. Don Lisander, as the Milanese call Manzoni, loved to walk the streets of Milan and perhaps his wandering gave birth to some creative ideas for “I promessi sposi”, his most famous novel. Manzoni describes a Milan in the grip of famine and plague: the first case of plague was recorded in San Babila and spread the plague spreaders on the benches of the Cathedral. The Lazzaretto is one of the most sad places remembered in the novel. The only remnants are visible today in Via San Gregorio between Buenos Aires and Via Tadino, today a shopping and cosmopolite area of Milan, where to shop and live a multicultural atmosphere, for an experience similar to European capitals. Finally, Don Lisander is remembered among the great of Italy at the Cemetery (Cimitero Monumentale), located in the northern part of the town. The atmosphere of Milan's literary elite can still be found walking in the avenues, contemplating the important and majestic buildings that portray a Milan bearer of great culture.

scritto da wUmrLVWz wUmrLVWz - ultima modifica il 19/01/2020

Christmas fairs and markets in Milan

Christmas Fair in Piazza Duomo, Milan

Milan is one of the more popular and best destinations where you can spend Christmas vacations. Thanks to the number of events hosted daily, like cultural initiatives, fairs, free concerts, typical markets and much more. All this has made Milan one of the best and most attractive towns in Europe for both the young and old people. Especially during Christmas festive, the city assumes a new face; all starts on the 7th of December with a marvelous feasting celebration for the city’s patron, Saint’Ambrose. The day also coincides with the famous and an ancient Christmas market day full of typical products and sweet: the "Oh Bej! Oh Bej!" fair featuring: wine, craft vendors from Piazza Sant'Ambrogio and food. Special churches services during this occasion are held in Duomo. During this festive season, you will have the chance to visit the famous Christmas Craft Fair of Milan L’Artigiano in Fiera, which is largest crafts exhibition in Italy, attracting thousands of foreign exhibitors and visitors to Fiera Milano. With food, clothes, jewelers, antiques, furniture etc. on offer, this places the best alternative for shoppers during Christmas festive. For the running second year, Milan own Christmas Theme Park, the Villaggio delle Meraviglie will be operationalized in the lovely serene Giardini Pubblici Montanelli’s surrounding, one of the best and nicest parks in Milan’s centre. You will also have the opportunity to be entertained by the fairytale village, which is inspired by Christmas. If you have children, the house of Santa will be there, where they can hand Santa Claus their Christmas letters. Adjacent to Santa’s apartment, a toy factory where kids can draw their preferred character will there enabling them to see the animations of their drawings. There will also be rollercoaster in Santa sleigh’s shape; ridding along the mountains snow for the children to see. There will be a rink of ice-skating also where alongside free skating, lessons, and sessions many shows and exhibitions will take place. During Christmas season, Milan’s shopping is unlike other shopping experiences you may have experienced in the past. Most expensive prestigious boutiques and showrooms globally can be seen lining the pedestrian walkways and boulevards in Milan. For instance, Via Montenapoleone the famous crosses Via Della Spiga which in turn is crossed by Via Sant'Andrea forms a part of real estate’s commercials including outlets for Gucci, Cavalli, Versace, Valentino, Louis Vuitton, and Prada among others. This shopping section is just for the high-end goods. When you go shopping for the middle range accessories and fashion the alternatives are even more thrilling. Milan, like any other Italian cities in general, observe Christmas quietly. Here you will see families re-uniting, friends reconciling and the poor fed. During this festive season shop for gifts but also of most important, think of what to cook for Christmas dinner. Here you will see families cooking their traditional favourite foods like: Risotto alla Milanese- which is prepared with onion, saffron, butter, beef bouillon and wine. Cotoletta alla Milanese-a meat typical dish prepared from breaded and Veal cutlets and then fried in butter. Polenta-made with cornmeal, which is ground and then it is served with tomato sauce and some type of meat. Panettone-a popular Christmas cake made with flour, water, dried candied fruits, eggs, and butter. There are a couple of markets during the Christmas festive season throughout Milan. One is the Smart Market which is based on the theme recycling and reusing at the Piazza Sant' Ambrogio; a Christmas edition based on the regular market. This market ends on the 23rd of December of that year. In this market, you can find the famous holiday Panettone, the symbol of Milan. Another shopping trip worth visiting is the market of Lazzate Christmas a small village in the outskirts of Milan. This market has a firm favourite atmosphere for shopping as well as events to keep children happy and an array of mouth-watering goods, many hand-made. You should also note that between Mid-December and 6 January is when Christmas Markets in Milan open and you can buy Italian-made children's toys, local crafts, and seasonal treats. Tips: On 25th of December, Christmas day, you can anticipate all shops, stalls, and markets to be closed. While in Milan, you can also celebrate Christmas by attending midnight masses at Duomo or visiting Christmas crèches within the city. On 26th of December, it is Saint Stephen's Day, is an extension day of Christmas, when families go camping out visiting Christmas markets and viewing nativity sites in churches. On 31st of December it is New Year's Eve or San Silvestro di Festa. This day is marked with much more fanfare in Milan.

scritto da wUmrLVWz wUmrLVWz - ultima modifica il 17/11/2021

Crespi d'Adda Village, Bergamo

View of the village with the working houses

In the province of Bergamo, near Trezzo d'Adda, a bit hidden between the Brembo and Adda rivers lies this extraordinary village. The result of the commitment of the Crespi family, cotton industrialists, more than a century ago. In 1878 Cristoforo B. Crespi decided to build in that green corner, near the water and a bit isolated, a modern factory. Unlike other industrialists, Crespi believed that a comfortable and quiet life was of vital importance for the workers and for the proper functioning of the factory. He had three buildings built together with the plant for the workers who worked in the cotton mill. His son Silvio, returning from his studies in Great Britain, proposed the construction of a real workers' village. Houses complete with external services and garden were built. The families were large and they found enough space in the beautiful, comfortable homes. The gardens were charged for a vegetable garden, so people became almost self-sufficient and had something to do beyond work. The village was slowly completed completely. Nothing was missing. The church full of frescoes and the house of the parish priest not far away, near the doctor's house. Public toilets, a laundry room, a grocery store, a hospital and even a school.
The Crespi especially cared for the education of young people. The school days were long and in addition to normal subjects, the children were also taught the techniques of working in the factory. The management also lived in the village but in beautiful villas, one different from the other. The Crespi family built the Castle, a large medieval villa next to the factory. Nothing was missing, a short distance from the village, there was the cemetery with the mausoleum for the master family. This beautiful place remained as it was then, with so many houses still inhabited by descendants of the old workers. Ordered and clean remains a unique country, to be visited without a doubt.

scritto da wUmrLVWz wUmrLVWz - ultima modifica il 05/09/2019

Konrad Adenauer Academy

One of the most beautiful lakes of Europe, scenic landscapes of Lago di Como - Cadenabbia, Italy

Villa La Collina is the former summer residence of the first German chancellor Konrad Adenauers at Lake Como. The historic Villa and the modern Accademia Konrad Adenauer are located in one of his most beautiful and spectacular position overlooking the lake and the picturesque Bellagio. From 1959 to 1966 Konrad Adenauer spent his holidays in Villa La Collina 15 times in a row up to 8 weeks.

During these years Adenauer welcomed numerous important politicians and personalities of his time. Adenauer came to Lake Como by recommendation of his Foreign Minister Heinrich von Brentano, whose family had its roots here. In the spring of 1957 Adenauer visited for the first time Cadenabbia, where he also learned boccia. Since then, he came almost every spring and late summer there. First years he was in the Villa Rosa, then in the Villa Arminio. Already during his first stay Adenauer discovered the Villa La Collina, which - as the name says - on a hill above the village sits. Villa La Collina is located away from the transit traffic, protected from curious eyes, and offers a fantastic view over the lake. In 1958 Adenauer asked the mayor of Griante for mediation to rent the villa for his next holidays. The mayor took up the matter, and the owner of the Villa La Collina, a French noble family, agreed - the Villa was their summer home which was used only rarely. Two months before the arrival of Adenauer work began in the fall of 1959, around the Villa to make it habitable again. Inside the Villa was more or less no interior.

Local hotels helped with furniture and even the town hall provided a desk. The temporary atmosphere inside was in contrast to the noble position of the villa. However, visitors described the interior of the villa as pretty uncomfortable. But this didn’t bother Adenauer and the villa became his second homefor several years. The mere presence of Adenauer in Cadenabbia was a media event.

Dozens of journalists, German and Italian were waiting outside the villa to get pictures of a relaxed, vacationing Chancellor and pick up crisp quotes. Adenauer loved the landscape, the mild climate, the easy friendliness of the locals and the rich flora.

scritto da wUmrLVWz wUmrLVWz - ultima modifica il 16/11/2021

Visit Romano'Brianza - Tourism and travel tips for your vacation or weekend.

Travel guides and videos

Grandate (13,6Km)The Toy Horse Museum, Grandate, Como

Como (13,9Km)Como — the postcard city

Como (13,9Km)Como, a city full of charm

Monza (16,5Km)Monza, the city of Queen Theodolinda

Palazzolo Milanese (16,9Km)Fisogni Museum of the Petrol Station

Roncola (27Km)Excursion to Monte Linzone from Roncola S. Bernardo

Milan (27,8Km)Shopping spree in Milan

Milan (27,8Km)Milan By Night

Milan (27,8Km)Food tasting in Milan

Milan (27,8Km)A green Milan

Milan (27,8Km)Navigli, Brera and Arch of Peace: a trip into Milan’s nightilfe

Milan (27,8Km)Triennale, Milan design’s home

Milan (27,8Km)An Inter - Milan match in san siro

Milan (27,8Km)Milan seen with the eyes of Alessandro Manzoni, the famous writer

Milan (27,8Km)Christmas fairs and markets in Milan

Crespi d'Adda (27,9Km)Crespi d'Adda Village, Bergamo

Tremezzo (28,7Km)Villa Carlotta Gardens, between Cadenabbia and Tremezzo

Cadenabbia (29,4Km)Konrad Adenauer Academy

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