Seregno is a town in the province of Mona and Brianza, set in the pre-hill area of Brianza, along the route of the old Valassina road; it is the second town of the province as well as an important craftsmanship and service sector pole.
The lack of reliable sources attesting the Roman origin of the town leads historians to date the foundation in the early Middle Ages. It is mentioned for the first time in a document of 1087 which states that Pietro from Seregno gave part of his property located "in loco et fundo Seregnio" to the rectory of St. Ambrose in Milan. During the XIII century dynastic struggles between the Torrioni family and the Visconti one, Seregno took part to the famous battle of Desio; it was a fief of the Gallarati (1530), Manriquez de Mendoza and Castelli (1713). The XIX century was the period of industrialization of the city, specialized in the mechanical processing of cotton.
Attractions:
- the Barbarossa Tower dominates the medieval historic center. Symbol of the city, it was built in the XII century and used as belltower of the church of San Vittore, demolished in 1781. According to tradition, it was built by Frederick I Barbarosa as watchtower along the Milan-Como route.
- the Basilica of San Giuseppe, opened in 178, has a central plan with dome and peribolo of Ionic columns. During the XIX century, the interior was enriched with frescoes by Sabatelli and Morganti; the façade was designed by Ottavio Cabiati.
- the Oratory of the Saints Rocco and Sebastiano, dating to the second half of the XVI century, has valuable frescoes of the same period;
- the XVII century Oratory of San Carlo, transformed into church in 1898, has a beautiful white marble bas-relief of the XV century depicting the Madonna and Child;
- the Sanctuary of Madonna dei Vignaioli, enlarged in 1859;
- the Sanctuary of Santa Valeria, important XVII century complex set at the entrance of the city and rebuilt in the first half of the XX century, designed by Spirito Maria Chiappetta;
- the Abbey of San Benedetto, built in the last years of the XX century in Lombard Romanesque Revival style and enlarged in 1951 to a design by Ottavio Cabiati. The large windows depicting Benedictine stories are very beautiful.
- Central Brianza Park, city park with pic-nic areas, bike trails and children's playground.