Napoleonic Itinerary

Walk through the places that testify to the deep connection between Napoleon and Monza

Arts & Culture

Route category: On Foot

The image of Napoleon Bonaparte is closely linked to the city of Monza: the iron crown with which he was crowned King of Italy on May 26, 1805 in Milan Cathedral is today preserved in the altar of the Theodolinda's Chapelin the Duomo of the city, a copy of which was installed on Napoleon's sarcophagus when his body was brought back to Paris from the island of St. Helena.

Since 2023, Monza has joined the European Federation of Napoleonic Cities, consolidating its historical link with the Napoleonic era through an important international collaboration.

Details of the tour

Properties

Typology: On Foot

The Iron Crown

La Corona Ferrea

The Theodolinda's Chapel holds the precious Iron Crown. An ancient tradition has it that the ring inside the Crown was made from one of the nails from the Cross of Christ. With the Iron Crown were crowned kings and emperors, among them Charlemagne.

It is the symbol of the consecration of Napoleonic power in the Kingdom of Italy and Bonaparte's desire to legitimize his own power in the satellite state through the implicit reference to Charlemagne.

The coronation of Napoleon as King of Italy, initially scheduled for May 23, was held on May 26 in Milan Cathedral. The Iron Crown was transferred from Monza on the 22nd of the same month. As stipulated, Napoleon crowned himself, adding the famous phrase, "God gave it to me, woe to anyone who touches it."

Royal Villa

Villa Reale

Built by Giuseppe Piermarini starting in 1777 at the behest of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria as a summer residence for her son Ferdinand, the Villa Realeis an architectural jewel rich in history that echoes the model of Lombard villas.

With the expansion of the Park that took place starting in 1806, it became the summer home of Eugene de Beauharnais, son of Empress Joséphine and representative of the sovereign in the satellite state of the French Empire, assuming a key role in the life of the new court and benefiting from the embellishment and enhancement works planned by Royal Architect Luigi Canonica with a gradual but systematic adaptation of the apartments to the new Empire taste.

Court Theatre

Teatrino di Corte

A little theater for Amalia.
A real Court theater, small in size, with a wooden stage and a stage backdrop with mythological subject matter. On the side opposite the stage is the royal box and balcony. The walls and the royal box are entirely frescoed in the neoclassical style.
The Court Theatreis the result of Eugene de Beauharnais' gift to his young bride, Augusta Amalia of Bavaria (born June 21, 1788), on the occasion of her 20th birthday.
The little theater was inaugurated on June 26, 1808.

Royal Gardens

Giardini Reali

Constructed to a design by Giuseppe Piermarini between 1777 and 1791 with a large formal area that ran along the constructive axis of the layout, accompanied by one of the earliest examples of a landscape garden,the Gardens, called Royal precisely in the Napoleonic era, undergo a profound and radical transformation at the time of the Park's construction. Indeed, it was then that Eugene de Beauharnais, at the suggestion of the architect of the project, Royal Architect Luigi Canonica, decided to demolish the late 18th-century formal layout in order to adapt the area to the new taste, making the gardens and park become that whole still enjoyed to this day.

Monza Park

Parco di Monza

The Parco Reale di Monza is one of the largest gated parks in Europe. Commissioned by Eugene de Beauharnais, Napoleon's stepson and viceroy of the Kingdom of Italy, Monza Park was created as a complement to the Villa Reale, built several decades earlier at the behest of the Austrian government.

It was established by the Third Constitutional Statute of June 5, 1805 for the purpose of making it a model agricultural estate and hunting reserve. The 720 hectares of the park are home to ancient and modern architectural gems, villas, farmsteads, mills; bicycle paths, an equestrian center, the famous National Formula 1 Racetrack, as well as an incredible variety of flora and fauna.

Where

Start point: Museo e Tesoro del Duomo
Via Lambro 2, 20900 Monza MB
Get me there

Destination: Parco di Monza
Viale Cavriga 1, 20900 Monza MB

Find nearby

Arts & Culture 05 km

DUOMO DI MONZA

Piazza Duomo, 20900 Monza MB

Not to be missed

MUSEO E TESORO DEL DUOMO DI MONZA

VILLA REALE DI MONZA

AUTODROMO NAZIONALE MONZA

Not to be missed

Monza in a weekend

Visit Villa Reale di Monza

MONZA CIRCUIT EXPERIENCE

Not to be missed

ART EXHIBITION: UNSEEN – THE NEVER SEEN PHOTOS OF VIVIAN MAIER

SAUL LEITER - A WINDOW DOTTED WITH RAINDROPS

MONZA VISIONARIA 2025

Not to be missed

Monza, an open-air exhibition

The History Route

Monza and its Park

Highlights

Napoleonic Itinerary

Walk through the places that testify to the deep connection between Napoleon and Monza

Details of the tour

Properties

Steps of the tour

The Iron Crown

La Corona Ferrea

Royal Villa

Villa Reale

Court Theatre

Teatrino di Corte

Royal Gardens

Giardini Reali

Monza Park

Parco di Monza

Where

Find nearby

DUOMO DI MONZA

MUSEI CIVICI DI MONZA

CASA ORIANI

MUSEO E TESORO DEL DUOMO DI MONZA

CAPPELLA DI TEODOLINDA E CORONA FERREA

CASA CANTÙ

CHIESA DI SANTA MARIA IN STRADA

Piazza Trento e Trieste e Monumento ai Caduti

ARENGARIO

Torre Medievale di via Lambro

VIA ITALIA E VIA CARLO ALBERTO

Chiesa di Santa Maria Maddalena

Palazzo degli Studi e Chiesa di San Francesco

INFOPOINT MONZA - PIAZZA TRENTO E TRIESTE

Oratorio di Santa Marta

TEATRO MANZONI

CASA RANZINI

Resti archeologici

GALLERIA CIVICA

PALAZZO DI GIUSTIZIA

L'ARTE E LA SUA STORIA

IMMAGINI DI DONNA

Vivian Maier Unseen: collateral events

ART EXHIBITION: UNSEEN – THE NEVER SEEN PHOTOS OF VIVIAN MAIER

UNSEEN LE FOTO MAI VISTE DI VIVIAN MAIER

IL BARONE RAMPANTE

25 APRIL - LIBERATION DAY

STRONG NOTES - MODENA CITY RAMBLERS

IL SILENZIO DEL VUOTO

L'8 PER VIVERE

SPECIAL OPENINGS FOR MUSEUMS AND EXHIBITIONS

UNA FAVOLA DI ROSETO

PARCO DI MONZA. PIC NIC D'ITALIA

GRANDI AMORI

BINARIO STORIE

VILLE APERTE IN BRIANZA 2025

MONZA VISIONARIA 2025

TEATRO MANZONI - STAGIONE 2024-2025

ESSERE O NON ESSERE

MONZA GREEN EXPERIENCE

Monza, an open-air exhibition

The History Route

AROUND MONZA IN 60 DAYS

THE SPIRIT ROUTE

The Water Route

THE WAY OF ST. AUGUSTINE