Novate Milanese: Culture, Landscape and Rail

Novate Milanese brings together religious buildings, historic villas, contemporary culture and agricultural landscapes. It also has a railway station with connections on the Milan–Saronno line.

Cultural history between church, villa and art

The Chiesa dei SS. Gervaso e Protaso was first mentioned in documentary records in 1042. Its cruciform layout comprises three naves, separated by pairs of columns made of Giaveno marble. The church also houses the canvas “Natività della Vergine”, painted by Camillo Procaccini in 1618.

Gesiö also reaches far back into the town’s history. The complex was built in the first half of the 16th century in accordance with the testamentary wish of the ducal senator Bernardino Busti. In 1529, Busti had ordered the construction of a church dedicated to Saint Celsus, together with an adjoining priest’s residence. Gesiö houses a painting from the 17th century, created in 1603 by Paolo Camillo Landriani, depicting the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, as well as Saints Nazarius and Celsus. The extensive restoration was completed in September 2023, revealing original frescoes and notable architectural details.

Villa Venino, also known as Villa Fassi Venino, is a historic aristocratic residence in the centre of Novate Milanese in Lombardy. At its centre is a portico with three round-arched openings; smaller side wings enclose two courtyards, a main courtyard and a secondary courtyard. The historic garden of Villa Venino is named Lidia Conca; it was restored and opened to the public in 2010.

Casa Testori for Art and Literature

Casa Testori is located in the birthplace of Giovanni Testori, a villa from the early 20th century with two storeys and an inner courtyard garden. As a cultural centre at the gates of Milan, Casa Testori specialises in the production and promotion of contemporary art. The Biblioteca Testori comprises 17,800 titles. For pupils of various age groups, there are museum trails as well as artistic and literary workshops that combine guided tours with artistic experimentation. The garden and outdoor areas are accessible to people with disabilities; access to Casa Testori depends on the event in question.

Holiday apartment in Novate Milanese with rail and landscape connections

Novate Milanese railway station is located on the Milan–Saronno line and is served by the S1 and S3 suburban lines. It was opened on this line on 5 October 1879. The Novate Milanese maintenance facility was established in 1928 as a locomotive depot.

Parco della Balossa is an agricultural area covering approximately 146 hectares. It was established in 2006 as a Parco Locale di Interesse Sovracomunale, or PLIS for short, and incorporated into Parco Nord Milano in December 2015. About fifty years ago, Cascina Balossa in Novate Milanese was historically associated with changing crops such as basil, barley, maize and courgettes.

Further places for orientation: Arluno, Legnano, Cesano Maderno, Cassinetta di Lugagnano, Castellazzo, Terrazzano, Opera, San Colombano Al Lambro.

For the overarching travel overview: Milan.