The best traffic-free bike rides around Ronco Briantino

I learned here that it's not the elevation gain that truly tires you, but the gradient

The high-speed ring of Monza, also known as the Sopraelevata, is a historic part of the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza built in reinforced concrete in the 1950s. Characterized by two banked curves up to 80%, the 4.25 km oval allowed for extreme speeds (over 280-300 km/h) and was used for F1 GPs and records until the early 1960s, remaining today an iconic symbol of the temple of speed.

The Park of Monza is one of the largest historic parks in Europe and the largest walled enclosure, with over 700 hectares of extension. Established in 1805 by Napoleon, it hosts the famous Villa Reale, the Royal Gardens, and the National Autodrome, offering nature, sport, and culture. It is freely accessible every day.

The Monza park is always a spectacle in spring

A valuable 17th-century monument of Lombard Baroque, but also a bulwark that rises in a panoramic position overlooking the Adda Valley in Imbersago, in the province of Lecco. A perfect blend of religious devotion, commemoration of a mystical past, and immersion in lush nature, a symbol of vitality and timeless beauty. The history of the Sanctuary of Imbersago is rooted in a past of apparitions and miraculous events. It all began on May 9, 1617, when three shepherds who were grazing their flock in the woods saw a celestial figure among dazzling lights and harmonious melodies on the three large chestnut trees that stood around the Sorgente del Lupo (so named for the animals that roamed there). At that point, Pietro, one of the children, with great wonder, spotted and picked up a ripe hedgehog, an unlikely event in the middle of spring. And for all the people, this represented the prodigious sign that the Blessed Virgin wished to be honored in that very place. From here, from this miraculous vision, began the devotion to the Madonna del Bosco, also known as Madonna del Riccio, referring precisely to the miracle just narrated, or Madonna dei Miracoli di Imbersago.

It is a complex of buildings enclosed by a wall, the historic block of which extends in a U-shape along the east-west axis. Despite neglect and numerous changes in use, which have led to extensive renovations, the interior still retains highly valuable spaces, with stuccoed and frescoed rooms depicting architectural motifs and mythological episodes, vaulted ceilings, generally pavilion-shaped masonry, or false reed vaults, or wooden coffered ceilings.

Villa Mirabello, a wonderful example of 17th-century architecture and residence, was built in the mid-17th century by the Durini family, who had purchased the fiefdom of Monza in 1648. The Durinis built a beautiful villa, with large halls for parties and receptions, named "Mirabello." Its U-shaped structure, open to the river landscape and featuring a courtyard, is of great structural significance, as it marks the transition from the typology of the walled country palace, typical of the 15th and 16th centuries, to the new concept of the palace-villa opening onto a scenic garden or park.

spectacular view, it's one of my favorite places