Saronno – A Quick Getaway from Milan
Forced to stay here after a cancelled flight, I quickly grew to enjoy this tiny town with a rail connection into Milan. Sometime the best days are the ones you can least control, and in this case I came to accept my delay.
Table of Contents
Geography and Transportation
This Lombard town in the Varese region is located just north west of Milan where the metropolitan is accessible via a quick train ride from the local train station. The city is also located near the Milan Airport.
A Brief History
Please see post on the history in Milan
What to do in Saronno
Although it only sports a small downtown, with a single main street, Saronno is well worth taking the time to walk around.
The Birthplace of Ammaretto and Nightlife
Something I did not know about the city was that it is the home of Amaretto di Saronno (Amaretto from Saronno) but for younger readers, including myself, it was rebranded as “Disaronno Originale” in 2001. The sweet amber liquor is the perfect cocktail mix, especially with lemon. The band likes to promote this legend as its origin story.
“In 1525, a Saronno church commissioned artist Bernardino Luini, one of Leonardo da Vinci’s pupils, to paint its sanctuary with frescoes. As the church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Luini needed to depict the Madonna, but was in need of a model. He found his inspiration in a young widowed innkeeper. As a gift for him, the woman steeped apricot kernels in brandy, producing the first amaretto liquor.”
For those looking to quench their first after reading this, there are quote a few patios in town but I recommend stopping at TUMBLER Speakeasy Mixology Bar & Restaurant. This modern cocktail spot took me by surprise and I quite enjoyed the atmosphere.
Pilgrimage Church Madonna dei Miracoli
One of the few attractions on the west side of the train tracks, the 16th century church has been home to a pilgrimage started by Vincenzo Dell’Orto in 1498.
Church of St. Francis of Assisi and Corso Italia Street
The main street in town is Corso Italia Street, a pedestrian way that contains many of the town’s commerce’s. It stretches’ from the railway station to the west to the church of Sts. Peter and Paul to the east.
One of the prettiest stretches of it is the one with elegant stone arcades and trees, albeit some modern monstrosities have snuck their way into the streetscape.
On this street you will find the oldest church in the, dating from the medieval era (12th century). This is plainly obvious where you see the decaying masonry rotunda from the side. Of course over the years a baroque façade was added to the Franciscan church as well as a bell tower. The inside contains painted frescos.
Church of Sts. Peter and Paul and the Pizza Liberta
At the end of the main street is a pretty cobblestone square revolving around the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul.
Easily the prettiest building in the city it is defined by its size and details. It was originally dedicated to Santa Maria but in the 16th century the church was rededicated to San Pietro (Peter) and later to San Paolo (Paul), at the behest of the archbishop of Milan, Carlo Borromeo. It was rebuilt in the 18th century and expanded in the 19th.
The inside has a series of superb frescos but the neo-classical façade and tower on the outside where really built to impress.
Museo Giuseppe Gianetti
Housed in an decaying old mansion on the east side of town is a collection of 18th ceramics gathered by Giuseppe Gianetti in the 1930’s. It is also home to some artwork. If hats your thing cool, but I was not feeling it the day I was visiting.
Conclusion
Although I was forced into staying in this town due to my flight delays I quickly grew to like it and not just because of its quick connection into Milan, although that certainly helped, but because it was a pleasant place full of life and joyful people.
