Monluè
Encyclopedia
Monluè is a district of Milan
, Italy
, part of the Zone 4 administrative division, located east of the city centre. It is a small residential district that originated as a rural settlement. As a consequence of its isolation from the city proper, it has maintained wide green areas (the most notable of which is Monluè Park) and the general appearance of a small country town. The prominent landmark of the district is the eponymous Cascina Monluè, an ancient abbey built by the Humiliati
religious order, that has been later adapted as a cascina
(farmhouse) and is now used as the venue for a number of concerts and cultural events, especially in summer. Also of interest is the Church of Saint Lawrence, also built by the Humiliati in the 13th century.
religious order founded an abbey
in Monluè in the 13th century. They reclaimed the land, and a small rural town gradually developed in the surroundings of the abbey.
When the Humiliati religious order was suppressed in 1571, all their belongings were confiscated by the Jesuits, who adapted the abbey as a farmhouse. The church was modified in 1584 and restored in 1877. In the early 20th century, the Monluè complex was ceded to the Pio Albergo Trivulzio
(a humanitarian Milanese institution). The ex abbey (now Cascina Monluè) is now owned by the city of Milan; the church of Saint Lawrence is still consecrated and in use.
As a difference with other border districts of Milan, such as Ponte Lambro
to the south, Monluè has never experienced a true industrialization process; on the other hand, agricoltural activities in the area have been gradually dismissed, so that the population has been decreasing rather than increasing over time, an unusual trend in the Milanese area.
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, part of the Zone 4 administrative division, located east of the city centre. It is a small residential district that originated as a rural settlement. As a consequence of its isolation from the city proper, it has maintained wide green areas (the most notable of which is Monluè Park) and the general appearance of a small country town. The prominent landmark of the district is the eponymous Cascina Monluè, an ancient abbey built by the Humiliati
Humiliati
The Humiliati were an Italian religious order of men formed probably in the 12th century. It was suppressed by a Papal bull in 1571 though an associated order of women continued into the 20th century.-Origin:Its origin is obscure...
religious order, that has been later adapted as a cascina
Cascina
Cascina is a comune in the Province of Pisa in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 60 km west of Florence and about 13 km southeast of Pisa....
(farmhouse) and is now used as the venue for a number of concerts and cultural events, especially in summer. Also of interest is the Church of Saint Lawrence, also built by the Humiliati in the 13th century.
History
A distinct rural settlement in Monluè is reported at least since the middle ages; it was originally called Mons Luparium (in Latin, meaning "mountain - or hill - of the wolves"). This toponymy suggests that, back then, the area was probably more hilly than it is today, and that the forests between Monluè and Milan used to be infested by wolves. Despite the inhospitable environment, friars from the HumiliatiHumiliati
The Humiliati were an Italian religious order of men formed probably in the 12th century. It was suppressed by a Papal bull in 1571 though an associated order of women continued into the 20th century.-Origin:Its origin is obscure...
religious order founded an abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
in Monluè in the 13th century. They reclaimed the land, and a small rural town gradually developed in the surroundings of the abbey.
When the Humiliati religious order was suppressed in 1571, all their belongings were confiscated by the Jesuits, who adapted the abbey as a farmhouse. The church was modified in 1584 and restored in 1877. In the early 20th century, the Monluè complex was ceded to the Pio Albergo Trivulzio
Pio Albergo Trivulzio
The Pio Albergo Trivulzio, formally Azienda di servizi alla persona Istituti Milanesi Martinitt e Stelline e Pio Albergo Trivulzio, commonly referred to as Baggina, is an ancient retirement home and hospital in Milan...
(a humanitarian Milanese institution). The ex abbey (now Cascina Monluè) is now owned by the city of Milan; the church of Saint Lawrence is still consecrated and in use.
As a difference with other border districts of Milan, such as Ponte Lambro
Ponte Lambro
Ponte Lambro is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 40 km north of Milan and about 12 km east of Como....
to the south, Monluè has never experienced a true industrialization process; on the other hand, agricoltural activities in the area have been gradually dismissed, so that the population has been decreasing rather than increasing over time, an unusual trend in the Milanese area.