Holiday apartment in Vimercate: History, Nature and Festivals

Discover Vimercate: History, Nature and Festivals

Vimercate combines historic buildings, green spaces and regional traditions. A major cultural highlight is the MUST: its collections include archaeological finds, historical and art-historical works, videos and oral traditions. The museum officially opened to the public on 12 November 2010, offering a concrete introduction to the town’s various facets.

Holiday apartment in Vimercate among buildings and traces of the past

Several buildings take you through different eras. The Chiesa Plebana di Santo Stefano was founded in the 5th century. The present-day building of the Collegiata di Santo Stefano dates from the 10th century; the church has been documented since the 8th century. The Santuario della Beata Vergine del Rosario is a Baroque building that was rebuilt in the 17th century. The Oratorio di Sant'Antonio dates from the time of the Visconti. The Ponte di San Rocco is a Roman bridge with medieval fortifications.

The buildings in Oreno and their art-historical details also shape the character of the area. The Casino di Caccia Borromeo was built in the 14th century and preserves a 15th-century fresco cycle in the International Gothic style, including hunting scenes and scenes of courtly love. The Villa Gallarati Scotti was designed by Simone Cantoni; the building complex in Vimercate dates from 1685. The Ninfeo del Nettuno, a Baroque garden feature, is located in the villa’s park.

The Palazzo Trotti was built in the Barocchetto style between the 17th and 18th centuries and has been the seat of the municipal administration since 1862. Villa Sottocasa is Neoclassical. Its Giardino all'inglese was redesigned in the 19th century in the Romantic style of an English garden. The garden contains valuable botanical species from various parts of the world and provides a habitat for birds and wildlife. The grounds also include an artificial grotto made from large blocks of clastic rock. The Coffee House was intended as a pavilion for rest and refreshments during walks.

The former San Francesco monastery was founded in the 13th century and has a cloister renovated in the 16th century. Together with the churches, villas, bridges and gardens, it creates a varied cultural programme for days when you would like to discover history and architecture to different degrees.

Nature, Exercise and Local Festivals

Vimercate is part of the Parco Locale di interesse sovracomunale del Molgora. The park extends along the Molgora and Molgoretta waterways through remaining woodland and the surrounding agricultural areas. For active pursuits, the Parco di Oreno includes a path for bicycles and roller skates.

Regional customs are also reflected in the festivals. Held in January, the Sagra di Sant'Antonio features traditional tortelli and ends with a large bonfire. In September, the Sagra della Patata includes food stalls and historical reenactments. If you are travelling with children, this allows you to combine cultural sightseeing, outdoor activities and seasonal events across days with varied rhythms.

Getting There and Choosing Your Location

Local buses connect the districts of Oreno, Ruginello and Velasca with Vimercate town centre as well as with local schools and attractions. NET bus routes Z322 and Z323 connect Vimercate with Cologno Nord station on Milan’s MM2 metro line. If you are planning to use a holiday apartment in Vimercate as a base, these connections may play a role in deciding how to organise each day. The historic sites, parkland and festivals offer a range of interests, so not every holiday day has to follow the same pattern.

More destinations for planning your trip

Afterwards, also discover Rozzano, Millepini, Morimondo, Cassinetta di Lugagnano, Ponte Nuovo, Mediglia, Pantigliate and Cuggiono.

For the overarching travel overview: Milan.