About us
The Insieme Groane Cultural Pole

What is going on in your city today?
The Cultural Pole Insieme Groane's website, in operation since May 1st 2004, provides you with a complete updated service of information regarding the events taking place in the cities of Arese, Baranzate, Bollate, Cesate, Garbagnate Milanese, Lainate, Novate Milanese, Senago, Solaro and the Parco delle Groane.
All the information about cultural and educative manifestations and shows are listed on this website by themes and date.

You will find on this website:
• EVENTS CALENDAR: everything that is happening now, subscription to the newsletter.
• THE MAP: enables you to look for villas, churches and palaces by theme.
• ACTIVITIES AND MEETINGS: entertainment and distractions, lessons, readings, trips.
• CINEMA: a weekly program of cinemas and a Cineforum calendar
• THE TOWNS: information about the local authority, the territory, the history and a photo gallery of each city.

This website has been granted a special mention for its internet project by the Province of Milan on the occasion of the Premio Comunicami 2005.
It reached an average of 17,000 visitors throughout 2009 and became a reference for the whole metropolitan area (Google Analitics’ figures).
All the cultural, socio humanitarian and recreational associations that officiate on the territory can benefit from a free on line communication service, with “live” updates.

The Insieme Groane Cultural Pole
The Cultural Pole Insieme Groane was launched by the cultural association of the cities of Bollate, Arese and Garbagnate. This association has enabled the Villa Arconati Festival to be created and developed, and has provided a deeper reflexion on the role of culture in the requalification of the milanese hinterland.
Insieme Groane is part of the five cultural poles that have inspired and launched the MetroPòli project in 1996. Its objective was to enhance the cultural and environmental goods of each city of the Province of Milan. In order to do so, it promotes associations that are willing to support the creation of new events and cultural projects that fit in the territory and make them be known across the regional borders.

The origin of Insieme Groane is the association of the cities of Arese, Baranzate, Bollate, Garbagnate Milanese, Lainate and Novate Milanese, all very close to the Park. 3,400 hectares protect woods and heaths, and constitute a great setting to host gorgeous historical mansions in which cultural events can be planned. Since 2007, the towns of Cesate, Senago and Solaro have joined the Pole.

Insieme Groane aims at the following objectives:
• Create a cultural and leisure pole, that would promote the artistic, architectural and environmental places of the cities and of the Park;
• Reinforce and develop cooperation and institutional solidarity between the local authorities;
• Plan a new relationship policy with the private supporters of the cultural manifestations that have to be represented by management and entrepreneurship;
• Suggest a list of cultural projects with a high artistic level to attract people from the metropolitan area.

The cities next to the Park and the Park itself constitute the Pole, which owns a vast green space at the South of the Province of Milan delineated by two main streets which are highly urbanized: the Varesina national road and Comasina road enable an easy reach to the city centers of Arese, Baranzate, Bollate, Cesate, Garbagnate Milanese, Lainate, Novate Milanese, Senago and Solaro. The Ferrovie Nord Milano company manages their link.

Environmental characteristics
The territory is full of gardens, woods, parks and gets even greener thanks to the numerous canals that come across it. The Villoresi Canal is the largest. It originates from the River Ticino and runs right across the Province from Est to West passing through some 25 cities of the North of Milan. The dense vegetation rich of fountains and water courses has also charmed Petrarch when describing the land of Bollate in 1356.

Yesterday
The land's history originates in the Antiquity. Ligurians and Celts had already chosen to settle there because of the fertile land and the numerous water sources. Then, the villages of this area were connected to the parish of Bollate, a particularly important Christian agricultural community. They fought next to Milan for their Independence against Barbarossa during the Middle Ages and were active during the next period, marked by the reigns of the Visconti and the Sforza. Between the 16th and 17th centuries many important noble families became famous. The Arconati at the Castellazzo in Bollate; the Borromeo Litta in Lainate; The Settala in Arese; the Borromeo in Senago and the Borromeo d'Adda in Solaro, as their gorgeous mansions still testify today, real pearls of the lombardian architecture.
During the 18th century, the Austrian administration undertook the construction of great streets of communication among which the Varesina Street, which is still one of the main road arteries of the area today. The first railway connections with Novate, Bollate, Garbagnate and Cesate were accomplished by the end of the 19th century by the Ferrovie Nord Milano Company.
In the last century, the area determined its two main vocations which are still effective today:
There is the productive work helped by the numerous factories and furnaces, and the residential work which uses these factories and benefits from the fact that it is located next to Milan. It is an area in which you can live that constitutes as a quiet green alternative closer to the city center. Then, the productive vocation led to different kinds of research in the industrial archeology field, enriching the area with new values.

Today
The last 50 years have significantly changed the face of this part of the milanese province which went from being an agricultural area to becoming one of the most urbanized and industrialised sector of the hinterland. Indeed, the land has lived through the economical boom after World War II witnessing the development of the textile and chemical industry, the rubber and mecanics sectors.
Along with this process however came the definitive reduction of agriculture in the 60's and a major migratory flow that significantly increased the towns' population density.

Take a look around the area
The Parco delle Groane
Whoever loves nature can't miss a nice walk in the green lung of the Province. Many manifestations make it more lively, especially during summer, the walks are made even more pleasant and the old furnace more attractive. In a part of the park located in Bollate stands a natural oasis, “Il Caloggio”: from there, a path will get you to the antique burg of Castellazzo, known for its gorgeous Villa Arconati and its small agricultural centre in which it seems time stands still. The area is provided with many famous villas that have become places of “Delizia” at the doorway to Milan. They were noble families' cottage houses and were also used as an agricultural production centre.

Villa Ricotti, La Valera, Arese
A prestigeous 18th century architectural complex in the Valera area which was made by the Lattuala Settala family. Today, classical music concerts are given in the noble house.

The Glass Church, Baranzate
The great symbolism of the glass walls makes it special. It was inaugurated by Cardinal Montini in 1958.

Villa Arconati, Castellazzo, Bollate
This villa has been built between the 16th and the 18th centuries by the Arconati family. It was considered at the time one of the main cottage houses of Lombardia.
Known for its garden and also a place rich of works of art, it is being renovated and hosts the nowadays famous Festival of Villa Arconati in July, gathering spectators from all around Italy.

Town library, Cesate
The new library which stands at the old 19th century convent's place represents one of Cesate's jewels, a green land at the heart of the Park.

Court Valenti, Garbagnate Milanese
Garbagnate’s rustic courts, as Court Valenti, and factories that have sometimes been turned into residences constitute the historical center. It is today the town's property, hosting the library and cultural events.

Villa Borromeo Visconti Litta, Lainate
This precious jewel of the lombardian architecture, used to be celebrated by many prestigious visitors. The villa is most especialy known for its Ninfeo, with its water works designed by Martino Bassi and decorated by Camillo Procaccini.

Villa Venino, Novate Milanese
The native village of the writer, journalist and art critic Giovanni Testori, Novate, allows you to take a look at the beautiful painting of the Natività della Madonna nella Parrocchiale, by Camillo Procaccini and the nice Villa where sits the library and where cultural activities are planned.

Villa San Carlo Borromeo, Senago
This villa hosts many rooms, entirely decorated, huge lampposts from Murano, the Library, the Art Gallery which hosts many works and the Museum which constantly receives art exhibitions coming from all around the world.

Villa Borromeo d'Adda, Solaro
An elegant Rococco construction with an Italian garden which used to be a benedictine monastery. It is today a local headquarter.