A short stop in Monza on the way to Bolzano. Not here for Forumla 1 racing, but the scream of Formula 1 cars was audible even a mile from the famed racetrack. Monza is located in the Lombardy region; it has a rich cultural history, along with obvious prosperity. (You may recall from history that Lombardy = Germanic). The medieval and other architecture of the city is well preserved. But my stop here was just trinal: the call of nature, lunch and to see Monza Duomo, and specifically the Iron Crown and frescos in Theodelinda Chapel. All three were accomplished in this short stop in same order.
Theodelinda (b. 670 ad) was a beloved Lombardy Queen for a period of two husbands. The masterpiece murals in the chapel document her remarkable life, and influence on Catholicism in the Lombardy region.
The Iron Crown was allegedly made for Roman emperor Constantine and crafted from the iron of one of the nails in the Cross used in the Crucifixion of Jesus. Thus came the term of “Iron Crown”. The Iron Crown was subsequently used in the coronation of Italian Kings, and wound up in Monza. The Iron Crown has an intriguing history. Professor Silver, one of my traveling companions, and a noted scholar, self-led a discussion about the Iron Crown. Unable to see the holy nail during his visual inspection, Silver, inna self-led discussion, theorized that the it was most likely removed and discarded due the potentiality of facial lacerations to privileged crown wearers, who were to be protected against bodily injury at all costs.
Monza is a worthwhile stop.
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