From a Celtic settlement to a Roman vicus, Abbiategrasso was transformed into a walled village in the Middle Ages.

Mentioned in 1034 for the first time with the full name of "Habiate qui dicitur Grassus" in the will of the archbishop of Milan Ariberto d'Intimiano, to whom these lands belonged. Habiate's fortunes coincided with the possibility of making the Naviglio Grande navigable at the end of the 13th century, as the Naviglio once fed the external moat protecting the village, reaching as far as the Visconti Castle.

It was for centuries a holiday destination of the dukes of Milan, the Visconti family first and the Sforza family later, precisely because of the ease of reaching it along and the tranquility of the place, rich in greenery and well protected, features that are still relevant today. Today, strolling through the squares and streets of the historic center, you can breathe in that authentic village atmosphere, where you can admire valuable monuments such as churches and ancient noble palaces set in the context of a small town on a human scale.

Of particular interest are the 15th-century Basilica di S.Maria nuova, renovated in the 18th century, and the former Convento dell'Annunciata with an entire cycle of frescoes signed and dated 1519 by Nicola Mangone da Caravaggio, an artist from Leonardo da Vinci. Abbiategrasso is part of the CittàSlowInternational circuit , an international network of cities of good living.