With temperatures ranging from 14–24°C and pleasantly cool weather, exploring this city, home to one of the oldest F1 circuits in the world, will be an enjoyable holiday experience. If you're planning to watch the Italian GP in Monza on September 7th, check out these free attractions around the city that you won't want to miss!
The first destination on our list is Monza Park. This 720-hectare park is one of the largest walled parks as well as the oldest in Europe. Besides relaxing, jogging, or enjoying a family picnic, you can also spot wildlife here, including deer, foxes, and over 100 bird species that roam freely throughout the park.
Entrance to Monza Park is completely free of charge. However, if you want to explore the park by bike, you can rent one at rental shops near the park entrance for around €8–12 per day. Psst… Monza Park is just next to the Italian GP F1 circuit, Autodromo Nazionale Monza!
About 4 kilometers south of Monza Park, there’s a landmark every tourist must visit: the Lion Bridge or Ponte dei Leoni. The bridge's architecture, with its lion statues, looks quite simple and not very grand, but that's exactly what makes it charming.
Ponte dei Leoni stretches over the Lambro River, which flows past the city’s classic buildings. The bridge offers very captivating views, especially during sunrise and sunset. It’s no surprise that this bridge is one of Monza’s landmarks, always bustling and a favorite photo spot for tourists!
After capturing your moments on this bridge, you can walk along the Lambro River to enjoy the beauty of the small city of Monza or find culinary treats at one of the local cafes by the riverbank.
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The next stop is the Monza City Museum or Musei Civici di Monza. Only 350 meters or a 5-minute walk from Lion Bridge, stands an art and history museum that showcases stories about Monza from its founding to the present.
Monza City Museum offers an interesting blend of medieval charm and modern museology. Historically, the building was linked to the Humiliati, a religious order that emerged as a reaction against the luxurious lifestyle of local priests. Though the Humiliati order was abolished in the 16th century, its architectural legacy still stands and is now used as a city museum.
This museum houses a variety of historic collections from Monza's figures, including archaeological artifacts from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages, paintings by famous Monza artists like Mosè Bianchi, Pompeo Mariani, and Emilio Borsa, and, of course, the Segrè Collection
The last free destination on this list is Monza Cathedral, only 150 meters or 2 minutes' walking distance from Monza City Museum. Monza Cathedral, or Duomo di Monza, is one of Italy's most important religious buildings.
The grandeur of Monza Cathedral is visible not only from its height but also from its facade, which is adorned with white and blue stripes and gives it a fresh and contemporary appearance.
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According to the Autodromo Nazionale Monza website, Monza Cathedral symbolises the city and the preservation of history. This church houses several valuable historical, artistic, and cultural masterpieces. Some highlights include the wall paintings in the Theodolinda Chapel, the Tree of Life, the Museum and Treasury, the Iron Crown, and the bell tower.
Although entering this diocesan church is free, tickets are required for access to the Theodolinda Chapel, the Museum and Treasury of Monza, and several other spots within the church complex.
So, that’s a roundup of the most interesting and free tourist spots in Monza, Italy. Before buying your plane ticket and making your itinerary, get Schengen Visa Travel Insurance from MSIG Indonesia to ensure your trip to Monza, Italy, goes smoothly and safely!