Sesto San Giovanni
Welcome to Sesto San Giovanni, the industrial municipality near Milan
Sesto San Giovanni is a municipality located in the metropolitan city of Milan in Lombardy, which has a population of around 84,000. The name of the municipality derives from its geographical position, particularly the distance in miles from Milan along an ancient Roman road that connected Milan and Monza. In this summary, we will explore the history and geography of Sesto San Giovanni, as well as the climate and economy.
Physical Geography
Territory
The municipality of Sesto San Giovanni extends over a territory of about 12 square kilometers, with an altitude that varies from 126 meters above sea level (s.a.s.l.) in the southeast, where the Lambro river intersects with the Martesana Canal, to 147 meters s.a.s.l. in the north, at the A4 Milan-Bergamo highway. It borders the municipalities of Monza to the north, Cologno Monzese and Brugherio to the east, Milan to the south, and Cinisello Balsamo and Bresso to the west. The territory is intersected by the railway in the north-south direction and is characterized by large former industrial areas east of the railway and the Lambro river which flows along much of the eastern border of the municipality.
Climate
Sesto San Giovanni has a humid temperate climate, with an altitude of about 136 meters s.a.s.l. The degree days are 2404, which corresponds to the climatic classification E. The atmospheric diffusivity is rather high, and a monitoring station for air quality is installed in the city.
History
Origins and development
The origins of Sesto San Giovanni date back to the Roman civilization, when the village was located along the Regina road, which connected the port of Cremona with Clavenna, passing through Mediolanum (Milan). However, Sesto remained a small agricultural village until the nineteenth century. In 1100, the municipality assumed its current name to indicate its dependence on the Duomo di Monza and its territory, the Court of Monza.
Industrialization and growth
In the twentieth century, Sesto San Giovanni transformed into one of the largest and most important industrial areas in Italy. The metallurgical, electronic, and electrical plants represented the economic heart of the municipality, but also prospered were the textile industry and the production of books and paper. Thanks to its proximity to the capital, urban development expanded rapidly, also through a regulatory plan approved in 1953.
With the arrival of the 1980s, the economic situation of the municipality changed drastically. Most factories and plants closed, leading to a high unemployment rate. In the following years, the municipality tried to reverse this trend, starting to attract investments from foreign companies and exploiting its strategic position near Milan.
Economy
Sesto San Giovanni is now the second most populous municipality in the metropolitan city of Milan, after the capital. The economy has gradually evolved towards sectors such as technology, research, and innovation. The city is home to many multinational companies, including Philips, Electrolux, Saes Getters, Pfizer, Nestlé, and Datalogic. Tourism and culture are other important sectors on which the municipality has invested in recent years, thanks to the presence of several museums and historical sites.
Conclusions
Sesto San Giovanni is a municipality with an important industrial history near Milan that has been able to adapt to the transformations of the global market. Today, the municipality focuses on technological development and the promotion of tourism and culture, trying to maintain a welcoming lifestyle for its inhabitants.
