Monza Cathedral

Duomo di Monza

A Gothic cathedral that houses the Iron Crown of Lombardy. The 15th-century frescoes in the Chapel of Queen Theodelinda are equally impressive.

Monza Cathedral (Cathedral of St. John the Baptist) was first founded by Queen Theodelinda of the Lombards at the end of the 6th century. Most of the surviving structure dates from rebuilding in the 13th and 14th centuries, and its black-and-white striped marble façade is the work of Matteo da Campione. The cathedral's greatest treasure is the Iron Crown of Lombardy. According to legend, its inner ring is set with a nail from the Crucifixion. Charlemagne and Napoleon are among those who were crowned with it. The crown is kept on the altar of the Chapel of Queen Theodelinda, whose walls are covered with 15th-century Gothic frescoes by the Zavattari family depicting the queen's life. Entry to the cathedral is free. To see the Iron Crown and the frescoes, you need a combined ticket for the chapel and the Treasury Museum, which costs about 8 to 12 euros. From Milan Centrale, the train to Monza takes about 15 minutes, and it is about a 10-minute walk from the station to the cathedral.

Monza Cathedral

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