Serrone of Villa Reale

The second place worthy of a stop on our two-wheeled tour, the Greenhouse or "Serrone" (also known as the Orangery) was originally created in 1790 to house citrus fruits and exotic or rare and precious plants in winter.

It was designed by the architect Giuseppe Piermarini, who was inspired by the Orangery at Schönbrunn Palace, and was commissioned by Ferdinand of Habsburg-Este, who inaugurated it on the occasion of his 20th wedding anniversary with Maria Beatrice Ricciarda d'Este. 

This structure, measuring 100 metres long, 6 metres wide and 7 metres high, stretches along the courtyard of honour in the north wing of Villa Reale, with 26 large arched windows interspersed with pilasters on the outside. It has been restored several times, thanks to a system of sliding modular panels designed to adapt its spaces to different needs, and today the Serrone hosts cultural events and exhibitions of modern and contemporary art.

Still inside the gardens of Villa Reale, next to the Serrone, we absolutely recommend a visit to the Serrone Rose Garden, an unavoidable stop especially if you visit Monza Park during the spring months.

Founded in 1964 on the initiative of Niso Fumagalli, an industrialist and president of the Candy company as well as founder of the Italian Rose Association, it was made possible thanks to the flair of architects Vittorio Faglia and Francesco Clerici and land made available by the city council.

The Monza Park Rose Garden is the venue for the National Rose Competition, which each year rewards the most fragrant rose, the rose of the year and the most beautiful Italian rose. It is home to more than 4,000 rose varieties created by rose growers from all over the world, as well as an astonishing collection of antique cultivars, which border a pergola and a water lily pond. It is a functional and very pleasant environment with paths specially designed for the public that harmonises perfectly with the enchanting surroundings.