Cologno Monzese
Cologno Monzese: a city with a millenary history
Cologno Monzese is a municipality located in the metropolitan city of Milan, with a population of approximately 46,790 inhabitants. The city is located northeast of the regional capital and borders Milan, Vimodrone, Cernusco sul Naviglio, Brugherio, and Sesto San Giovanni.
Physical geography
The city is situated on an area of approximately 8.4 km² at an altitude of 131 meters above sea level, and is bordered by the Lambro River to the west and crossed by the Martesana Canal to the south. The climate classification of Cologno Monzese is zone E, 2404 degree days, while the seismic classification of Italy is zone 3.
Human geography
Cologno Monzese has expanded its borders several times throughout history through the absorption of neighboring inhabited centers, such as San Giuliano, Cavarossa, Metallino, and Bettolino Freddo, which have become city districts. Malnido instead became a hamlet.
The history of Cologno Monzese: from Roman colonization to the Middle Ages
The origin of Cologno Monzese dates back to the 4th century during the period of Roman colonization. It was initially called "Colonia super Lambrum" and housed few inhabitants. The rule of the Lombards greatly influenced the organization of the territory. The ancient church of San Giuliano, built in honor of Theodolinda, Lombard queen, dates back to 599. Later on, Cologno became part of the Court of Monza, under the archdiocese of Milan.
Before 1862, the municipality was called only Cologno, but with the aggregation of the inhabited centers of Malnido (now San Maurizio al Lambro) and Bettolino Freddo, until then belonging to the municipality of Moncucco (Brugherio), it obtained the adjective "Monzese".
The significant increase in the resident population and the welcoming of migrants
Due to internal migration from Southern Italy, Cologno Monzese has registered significant demographic growth after the Middle Ages. Today, migration flows have changed, but continue, particularly through the welcoming of migrants from outside the European Union.
Cologno Monzese is an ancient city with a millenary history, which has seen the rule of Romans, Lombards, and its development as the center of the Court of Monza. Today, the city continues to grow and change with the arrival of new migrants, as it has done for centuries.
