Magenta, Lombardy

Magenta
Comune
Città di Magenta
Saint Martin Church
Coat of arms
Magenta Location of Magenta in Italy
Coordinates:
Country	Italy
Region	Lombardy
Province / Metropolitan city	Milan (MI)
Frazioni	Ponte Vecchio, Ponte Nuovo
Government
• Mayor	Marco Invernizzi (PD)
Area
• Total	21 km2 (8 sq mi)
Elevation	138 m (453 ft)
Population (31 December 2005)
• Total	23,354
• Density	1,100/km2 (2,900/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Magentini
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	20013
Dialing code	02
Patron saint	St. Martin of Tours, St. Roch, St. Blaise
Saint day	November 11
Website	Official website

Magenta is a town and comune in the province of Milan in Lombardy, northern Italy. It is notable as the site of the Battle of Magenta. The colour magenta is named after the battle, most likely referring to the uniforms used by Zouave French troops. Magenta is the birthplace of St. Gianna Beretta Molla.

History

Magenta was probably a settlement of the Insubres, a Celtic tribe, who founded it around the 5th century BC. The area was conquered by the Romans in 222 BC. The name is traditionally connected to castrum Maxentiae, meaning "castle of Maxentius". After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it was ruled by the Lombards. The Celtic origins of Magenta are proved by some important archeological finds, especially in the area where now the Institute of Canossian Mothers stands; there was a Celtic necropolis in ancient times. Objects, jewelry and weapons were found here.

In the Middle Ages, it was destroyed twice, in 1162 by Frederick Barbarossa and in 1356 by the troops opposing the Visconti rule of Milan. In 1310, according to a legend, the emperor Henry VII was stopped here by a snowstorm during his march to Milan. In 1398 Gian Galeazzo Visconti donated the town territories to the monks of the Certosa di Pavia.

On June 4, 1859, it was the site of an important battle of the Second War of Italian Independence. The Franco-Piedmontese victory in the fight gave them the chance to conquer Austrian Lombardy.

Magenta received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree on May 25, 1947.

Main sights

• Church of San Martino, built to commemorate the dead of the 1859 battle.
• Monastery of Santa Maria Assunta, probably dating from the 14th century. The church, of Romanesque origin but with Baroque interiors, houses two works by il Bergognone (1501, once attributed to Bernardino Luini's workshop).
• Church of San Rocco (early 16th century).
• Casa Crivelli Boisio Beretta, an example of 15th-century noble house.
• Casa Giacobbe
• Monument to general Patrice de MacMahon.
• La Fagiana natural park, a former hunting resort of King Victor Emmanuel II.

Twin towns

Magenta is twinned with:

• Magenta, Marne, France
• Sant'Anna di Stazzema, Italy

Gallery

• 

  Main square.

• 

  Off of main square.

• 

  Magenta former Library.

• 

  Monument to Patrice de MacMahon.