Vista su Civate, lago di Annone e Monte Barro

Church of San Lorenzo Martire in Lazzate (MB) - Italy

Brianza (, , lmo, label=

Brianzöö dialect Brianzöö (modern orthography), or Brianzoeu (Classical Milanese orthography, historical orthography), or ''dialetto brianzolo''. is a group of variants (Pre-alpine and Western Lombard – ''macromilanese'') of the Western Lombard dialect, West ...

, Briànsa) is a geographical, historical and cultural area of Italy, at the foot of the Alps, in the northwest of Lombardy, between

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...

and Lake Como.

Geography

Brianza extends from the Canzo area, North of Monza (approximately 14 km from

), to the

Seveso River The Seveso (; lmo, label= Lombard, Séves ) is a Italian river that flows through the provinces of Como, Monza e Brianza and Milan. It rises on Sasso di Cavallasca or Monte Sasso of Cavallasca, near San Fermo della Battaglia. From here its ...

on the West and to the

Adda River The Adda (Latin ''Abdua'', or ''Addua''; in Lombard ''Ada'' or, again, ''Adda'' in local dialects where the double consonants are marked) is a river in North Italy, a tributary of the Po. It rises in the Alps near the border with Switzerlan ...

on the East. The southern and western parts are mostly flat, while the northern and eastern parts are mountainous. Brianza encompasses a part of the

administrative Administration may refer to: Management of organizations * Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal ** Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an administrative officer, administ ...

area of the

Province of Monza and Brianza The province of Monza and Brianza ( it, provincia di Monza e della Brianza; lmo, label= Monzese, provincia de Monscia e de la Brianza) is an administrative province of Lombardy region, Italy. Description It was officially created by splitting ...

, a part of the administrative area of the

Province of Lecco The Province of Lecco ( it, provincia di Lecco; Lecchese: ) is a province in the Lombardy region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Lecco. As of 2017, the province had a population of 337,211 on a surface of divided into 85 ''comuni'' (mun ...

, a part of the administrative area of the Province of Como and some municipalities of the administrative area of the province of Milan bordering the Province of Monza and Brianza. The main language spoken in this area is Italian and to a lesser extent a dialect of the

Lombard language Lombard (native name: ,Classical Milanese orthography, and . , Ticinese orthography. Modern Western orthography. or , Eastern unified orthography. depending on the orthography; pronunciation: ) is a language, belonging to the Gallo-Italic famil ...

. Brianza is densely populated, with approximately 1.372 inhabitants/km², yet remains remarkably fertile for farming. Due to its hilly nature, it is a favorite summer resort for the people of

. Its economy includes the production of furniture and tools. The agro-industrial technology and high-tech economies have expanded in recent years.

Geographic boundaries

*To the northeast: hills and valleys from Lake

Garlate Garlate ( Brianzöö: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Lecco in the Italian region Lombardy, located about northeast of Milan and about south of Lecco. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,630 and an area of .All d ...

, up to the beginning the

Lambro The Lambro ( lmo, Lamber or ''Lambar'' ) is a river of Lombardy, northern Italy, a left tributary of the Po. The Lambro rises from the Monte San Primo, elevation , near the Ghisallo, in the province of Como, not far from Lake Como. After Mag ...

River on Monte San Primo. To the northwest: hills surrounding the source of the Lambro back down to

Tavernerio Tavernerio (Comasco: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about north of Milan and about east of Como. Tavernerio borders the following municipalities: Albese con Cassano, Como, Fagg ...

(which is above Lake

Montorfano Montorfano (English: "orphan hill"; Brianzöö: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Como, part of Lombardy, in northern Italy. It is situated about south of Como, which is at the southern tip of Lake Como, c. north of Milan. It ha ...

), continue along the line Lipomo- Capiago Intimiano- Senna Comasco-

Casnate con Bernate Casnate con Bernate ( Brianzöö: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, about north of Milan and about south of Como. As of 1 January 2010, it had a population of 4,908 and an area of .A ...

and end where the Seveso River takes its source on Sasso di Cavallasca. *Southern borders: beginning of

Limbiate Limbiate ( lmo, Limbiaa ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Monza and Brianza in the Italian region Lombardy, located about north of Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lomb ...

, the municipalities along the

Canale Villoresi Canale Villoresi is a canal in Italy; it was the brainchild of Lombardy engineer Eugenio Villoresi. It originates from the River Ticino near the village of Somma Lombardo, and runs eastwards for to the Adda River. Construction began in 1877 ...

to its confluence in the Adda River. *Eastern borders: the Adda, after the lakes of Garlate and Olginate, which receives the waters of the Canale Villoresi. *Western borders: the

from its source on Sasso di Cavallasca to

Paderno Dugnano Paderno Dugnano (Milanese: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Milan, in Lombardy, northern Italy. It is bounded by ''comuni'' of Senago, Limbiate, Varedo, Cusano Milanino, Cormano, Nova Milanese, Bollate, Novate Milanese, Cin ...

where it crosses the Canale Villoresi, and the ''Oltreseveso'' ("beyond the Seveso") consisting of the municipalities of

Cermenate Cermenate ( Brianzöö: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about north of Milan and about south of Como. Cermenate borders the following municipalities: Bregnano, Cantù, Carimate ...

Lazzate Lazzate is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Monza and Brianza in the Italian region Lombardy, located about northwest of Milan. Lazzate borders the following municipalities: Bregnano, Cermenate, Lentate sul Seveso, Rovellasca, Misi ...

Misinto Misinto is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Monza and Brianza in the Italian region Lombardy, located about northwest of Milan. Misinto borders the following municipalities: Lentate sul Seveso, Lazzate, Rovellasca, Rovello Porro, ...

Cogliate Cogliate (; lmo, label= Brianzoeu, San Dalmazzi ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Monza and Brianza in the Italian region Lombardy, located northwest of Milan. Cogliate borders the following municipalities: Lentate sul Seves ...

, Ceriano Laghetto, Solaro and Limbiate.

History

The area of the modern day Brianza was originally settled in the 2nd millennium BC or even earlier. Brianza is in Lombardy, the region named after the

Longobards The Lombards () or Langobards ( la, Langobardi) were a Germanic people who ruled most of the Italian Peninsula from 568 to 774. The medieval Lombard historian Paul the Deacon wrote in the ''History of the Lombards'' (written between 787 and ...

, who arrived around the 570s, after the

Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language * Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Fo ...

and the

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

expansion. The spread of Christianity in Brianza dates back to the 3rd century, owing much to Saint Ambrose. There, St. Augustine of Hippo (as documented by himself in his '' Confessions'') had lived at ''Rus Cassiciacum'' (now Cassago), during the period after his conversion and just before his baptism by Bishop Ambrose. In the Middle Ages the

Cathars Catharism (; from the grc, καθαροί, katharoi, "the pure ones") was a Christian dualist or Gnostic movement between the 12th and 14th centuries which thrived in Southern Europe, particularly in northern Italy and southern France. F ...

, the

Humiliati The Humiliati (Italian ''Umiliati'') were an Italian religious order of men formed probably in the 12th century. It was suppressed by a papal bull in 1571 though an associated order of women continued into the 20th century. Origin The origin of ...

and the Pataria religious movement rose and fell in several towns of Brianza. The Franciscans flourished instead and remain to the present day. Most of the region follows the

Ambrosian Rite The Ambrosian Rite is a Catholic Western liturgical rite, named after Saint Ambrose, a bishop of Milan in the fourth century, which differs from the Roman Rite. It is used by some five million Catholics in the greater part of the Archdiocese ...

of the Catholic Church in communion with the Pope in Rome. Brianza was home to many distinguished figures in poetry, philosophy and history of medicine among them are: *

Cesare Cantù Cesare Cantù (; December 5, 1804 – March 11, 1895) was an Italian historian. Biography Cantù was born December 5, 1804 at Brivio, in Lombardy. He studied in Milan, at the College of St. Alexander Barnabite, and began his career as a teacher. ...

Piero Corti Piero Corti (16 September 1925 – 20 April 2003) was an Italian doctor who chose to work in a hospital in Uganda for most of his life. Childhood between war and illnesses Piero Corti, whose real name was Pietro, was born in Besana in Brianza ...

* Luigi Giussani *

Giuseppe Parini Giuseppe Parini (23 May 1729 – 15 August 1799) was an Italian enlightenment satirist and poet of the neoclassic period. Biography Parini (originally spelled Parino) was born in Bosisio (later renamed Bosisio Parini in his honour) in Brianza ...

Giovanni Battista Scalabrini Giovanni Battista Scalabrini (8 July 1839 – 1 June 1905) was an Italians, Italian Catholic Church, Roman Catholic saint, as of 2022, who served as Roman Catholic Diocese of Piacenza-Bobbio, Bishop of Piacenza from 1876 until his death. He was ...

* Alberto da Giussano *

Aribert, Archbishop of Milan Aribert (or Heribert) (Italian: ''Ariberto da Intimiano'', Lombard: ''Aribert de Intimian'') ( Intimiano, between 970 and 980 - Milan, 16 January 1045) was the archbishop of Milan from 1018, a quarrelsome warrior-bishop in an age in which such ...

* Pope Pius XI *

Filippo Turati Filippo Turati (; 26 November 1857 – 29 March 1932) was an Italian sociologist, criminologist, poet and socialist politician. Early life Born in Canzo, province of Como, he graduated in law at the University of Bologna in 1877, and participa ...

* Andrea Dell'Orto * Simona Brambilla *

Sergio Sala Sergio "Gigi" Sala (born 11 January 1958 in Casatenovo) is an Italian former semi-professional footballer and climber. Football career Sergio started his playing career at San Giorgio, a club based in Casatenovo. He played as a centre back (st ...

Names

In Italian, lower Brianza is referred to as and upper Brianza is . The name ''Brianza'' may be derived from the

word ("hill"), or the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

name which originated from some colonies of the Brigantes, or Brigantii, a Celtic sub-tribe of Alps and Prealps that were Romanized and after the Barbarian invasions emigrated. According to another tradition, when the Celtic leader

Bellovesus Bellovesus (Gaulish: 'Worthy of Power') is a legendary Gallic chief of the Bituriges, said to have lived ca. 600 BC. According to a legend recounted by Livy, the king Ambigatus sent his sister's sons Bellovesus and Segovesus in search of new land ...

founded Milan, his chief lieutenant Brianteo conquered a surrounding geographical area, which was thenceforth named ''Briantia'' or ''Brianza''. ''Brianteo''/''Briantea''/''Briantei''/''Briantee'', ''Briantino''/''Briantina''/''Briantini''/''Briantine'', and ''Brianz(u)olo''/''Brianz(u)ola''/''Brianz(u)oli''/''Brianz(u)ole'' are all terms for the people of the Brianza. ''Briantitudine'' is a name that claims the identity of the Brianza with its population and its culture.

References

Bibliography

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Gallery

File:Duomo Monza.jpg, Monza File:Vimercate Piazza Castellana.jpg,

Vimercate Vimercate (; lmo, label= Brianzöö, Vimercaa ) is a city and ''comune'' in the province of Monza and Brianza, Lombardy, northern Italy. It is from Milan and from Monza. Its name (whose first finding dates back to the year 745) derives fro ...

File:Merate4.JPG,

Merate Merate ( Brianzöö: ) is a municipality of 14,872 inhabitants in the province of Lecco, in the northern Italian region of Lombardy. It is served by Cernusco-Merate railway station. History The name ''Melatum'' appeared for the first time in ...

File:Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Agliate (Italy).JPG, (Agliate,

Carate Brianza Carate Brianza is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Monza and Brianza, Lombardy, northern Italy. The city lies at an elevation ranging from above sea level, on the Lambro river. History The history of Carate Brianza dates back to the St ...

) File:Erba-Chiesa Santa Eufemia.jpg,

Erba, Lombardy Erba (previously Erba-Incino, as it was formed by the union of these two places, together with some smaller districts) is a ''comune'' (municipality) of some 16,000 inhabitants in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy. It is located ...

File:Montorfano.JPG,

File:Piazza garibaldi cantù.jpg,

Cantù Cantù (; Brianzöö: ) is a city and ''comune'' in the Province of Como, located at the center of the Brianza zone in Lombardy. It is the second largest city in Brianza. History The name could stem from that of the Canturigi, a population o ...

{{Coord missing, Italy Geography of Lombardy Geographical, historical and cultural regions of Italy Province of Monza and Brianza Province of Lecco Province of Como Metropolitan City of Milan