For those curious about the area and history, we suggest this variation on the second stage of the Monks' Trail.

It is the Trail of the Giants: in 1515, the Battle of Marignano took place, involving about 30,000 men from the army of Francis I of France against about 20,000 Swiss Confederate soldiers.

Following this event, the Duchy of Milan would pass to the French, while the Swiss decided to assert their war neutrality as a consequence of the severe loss of men recorded in their army. The battle took place in the countryside around present-day Melegnano, San Giuliano M.se and San Donato M.se. Several places commemorate the story and its fallen soldiers.

For those moving on foot or by bicycle, from the San Giuliano M.se stop of the S1 railroad link one enters the built-up area of San Giuliano M.se, particularly the Zivido district, behind the Via Emilia shopping area.

Here is the church dedicated to the Nativity of Mary and the Ossuary, which preserves the remains of soldiers from both armies. Passing through the Cascina Cappuccina, we reach Cascina Santa Brera, another place linked to the Battle: here Francis I placed his headquarters; today it is an organic farm.

Immediately after the farmstead we find Rocca Brivio, a building of military origin, built in a strategic position between the Lambro and the Via Emilia, which became a noble residence when the Brivio family bought it.

From the Rocca we continue to the Cascina Cappuccina farmstead and enter Melegnano to continue toward Pedriano and then Mezzano, where another Ossuary dedicated to the remains of French and Swiss soldiers stands in the countryside that saw the two enemy armies fight each other with great force. From Mezzano, climb back up to Viboldone and then to the stop of the railroad loop.

VARIANT STAGE 2 OF THE MONKS' WALK

Technical information

• Starting point: Stop at Passante ferroviario S1 San Giuliano M.se
• Point of arrival: Stop Passante ferroviario S1 San Giuliano M.se
• Difficulty: easy
• Means of travel: on foot, by bike, by car

Trail map: The Trail of the Giants

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