MONZA (locally Monscia), city, Lombardy, Italy, in the province of Milan, by rail, 8 m. N.N.E. of Milan, with which it is also connected by both steam and electric trams. It lies on the Lambro, a tributary of the Po, 532 ft. above sea-level. Pop. (1931), 51,811 (town); 60,938 (commune). Near the Porta d'Agrate is the nunnery in which the nun of Monza (see Man zoni's Promessi sposi) was enclosed. The cathedral (59o) was enlarged at the close of the 13th century, and the black-and-white marble façade was erected in the 14th by Matteo da Campione. On the left is the brick tower, 278 ft. high (1592-1606). Within the church are the iron crown of Lombardy, supposed to have been beaten out of one of the nails used at the Crucifixion, and the treasury containing the relics of Theodelinda (see LOMBARDS), comprising her crown, fan and comb of gold, and the golden hen and seven chickens, representing Lombardy and her seven provinces, and crosses, reliquaries, etc., of the Lombard and
Gothic periods. The church of Santa Maria in Istrada (1357) has a rich terra-cotta façade of 1393. The communal palace has pointed arches and a square tower. The royal palace of Monza (1777) lies not far from the town, on the banks of the Lambro, and is used for art exhibitions. A motor-racing track has been constructed in the park.
Monza (anc. Modicia) was a village until the time of Theo doric. During the period of the republics Monza was sometimes independent, sometimes subject to Milan. The Visconti built a castle in 1325. Monza has stood 32 sieges, and was repeatedly plundered—notably by the forces of Charles V. At Monza King Humbert I. was assassinated on July 20, 1900; an expiatory chapel was dedicated in 1910.