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Meaning Historic and art value 1777 - Building of the Villa in French style and design of the Park, spreading north, in English style. Architects Giuseppe Piermarini, Ludwig Engel and Friedrich Schiller work for Archduke Ferdinand of Austria. "the Palace was started in 1779, based on Piermarini design as monument country residence for Archduke Ferdinand of Austria. It followed the great and majestic ideals of the main European prince's residences of Settecento. The wide Villa first opened on to a rather small French garden, set on a symmetric axis connected to it and regularly organizing its design. The garden was then widened eastward, up to the Lambro river, supplied with water basins and fountains, expanded to the surrounding landscape through wide views and enriched with a small English park, thus limiting the natural landscape beauty, in according with the age fashion. " (Mrs. Annalisa Maniglio Calcagno, architect managing the Landscape Architecture School at Genoa University, Architecture Faculty, 1991). 1805 - Napoleon decree to establish the Main Park as delights place, farming and hunting estate. Hundreds of ground hectares of Monza, Biassono, San Fiorano, Vedano cities are added in four stages, along with private estates with Mirabello and Mirabellino villas.
Between 1805 and 1808 - Architect Luigi Canonica designs its overall order.
1808 - Building of the wall: 14 Kilometers of walls to enclose of 732 hectares using the material from the mediaeval walls of Monza. 1814/1848 - The Austrian restoration. This is a privileged period for the completed Park. It is managed by experts and passionate botanists who enrich its natural resources. During this period the Park is also opened to the Public. "The design of farm and
ample woodland areas, joining the Palace, were completed to Canonica’s
landscape design. In fact, the principal architecture of farms and villas
within the Park area was adapted and transformed. Wide tree-lined
boulevards were introduced or reorganized. The ground was shaped and the
water system was adapted to the new needs. Extraordinary views were opened
onto the most charming external and internal areas and the "bosco
bello" (beautiful wood), the Lambro river,
farms, mills,
farming and hunting grounds." (Ms. Annalisa Maniglio Calcagno) 1848/1920 - This is an ill-fated period, not for the direct damages, but because it lays the foundations for the forthcoming destruction of the Park. At first, the Park becomes Crown property and is closed to the Public. Umberto I, King of Italy, is assissinated and the Royal Family leaves the Park. After World War I, it is yielded to the Italian State which later cedes it to the Soldiers’ National Association; the Association then passes the full Complex to a consortium formed by cities of Monza and Milan and the Società Umanitaria. "A royal yet abandoned
monument, one of the main monuments of our art and historic estate, Monza
Royal Villa is a superb Settecento country residence and has been
dispute for too many years now. Starting from the assassination of
Umberto I the Park is closed, progressively spoiled and for decades used
for unsuitable purposes." (Ms Lucia Gremmo, Superintendent to Milan
Monuments, 1994) 1922 onwards – this kicks off the unluckiest period for Park, Villa and Royal Gardens. It is abandoned and invaded by Sport and Free Time type of occupations: 1922 - motor car racing track; 1923 - horse racing track; 1928 - golf course; 1930 - tennis courses. From 1950 the Complex changes and alterations spread all over: hockey course, polo club, RAI (the Italian Broadcast) building, bar, stables, camping, swimming pool, kennel, and extension of the golf course. "The people of
Milan and the Brianza area were left alone to decide; to them the
Royal Park of Monza with its extensive green grounds seemed a waste. As a
consequence they started filling it in." (Mr. Marco
Di Fidio, engineer at Lombardia Region Park Service, 1973) "Extensive and valuable areas were deforested. The Park’s structure was deeply changed to build the racing track; its water, woods and farming wealth were steadily weakened; its overall view was lost. There has been a lack of care for this historic monument full of Memory and scenery, scientific and environmental values." (Ms. Annalisa Maniglio Calcagno) Present
situation and jurisdiction
At
present 55% of the Monza Park is leased to private concerns and/or
citizens; only 45% left to Public use. Since
1934 Milan and Monza own the
Park and since 1996 they own half
of the Royal Villa as well. The Park is part of the "Associazione
Parco Valle del Lambro" (Association for he Lambro River Valley). This
decision had originally been welcome, since it might have lead to
territorial planning aimed at "identifying
the objectives for the whole area, besides examining the possible
compatibility of the ongoing uses and the time and way to stop the non
compatible uses." (Mr. M. Di Fidio) This
plan has been opposed by the encroachment of private interests on the
Park, Villa and Garden Complex. Along
with Royal Villa and Gardens, the Monza Park is a complex of magnificent
scenery, historic, monumental and architectural values. It is a jewel
playing a basic role from a naturalistic and ecological viewpoint within a
highly crowded area, where per
capita green is 9 square meters only versus the 15 square meters provided
for by Regional Law. It
is a unique breathing space for hundreds of thousand residents. It is
visited and enjoyed by over one million people a year besides representing
the only safehaven for a good number of animal and plant species. This
type of wealth is also linked
to its diversified structure and habitat.
Its naturalistic assets make this spot an extraordinary research
milieu for scholars of natural studies.
A
number of surveys concerning the naturalistic aspects have been performed
and are underway. The surveys provide evidence of over 400 mushroom
species, some of them being particularly important, approx. 90 species of
birds, some ten micro-mammals and a number of highly valuable grass
species. Among the bird species, the little red woodpecker is worth
mentioning for its particular value. Besides this, it is interesting to
note that the Tawny Owl population of the Park is one of the densest in
Italy and Europe.
The
campaign of Associations for the environment The
1964 Monza City Plan states: "no
additional building is allowed inside the Park". It is classified
as an "A area" by the Leonardo Benevolo City Plan, namely as an
historic center. Associations for the environment are implementing
national and international opinions against all threats
to the remains of this monumental site in Monza.
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