Discover Besate in Parco del Ticino

Besate lies in Parco del Ticino and has a strong agricultural character. This brings two sides of the town together when planning a trip: its rural surroundings and a history that stretches from Roman settlement to churches and buildings from later centuries. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Besate, the landscape, routes, and architectural history can help you decide what to focus on during your stay.

Roman traces and local history

Archaeological finds and documents show that the area was inhabited as early as Roman times. The layout of ancient Bexate is reminiscent of a Roman camp: a main street, the Decumanus, crossed a Cardo at right angles. Alongside the finds, the street axes are therefore also part of the recorded settlement structure. The names help explain the layout: the Decumanus is the main street, and the Cardo crosses it at a right angle. The focus is thus not only on how old the settlement is, but also on the described arrangement of the ancient town.

Churches, squares, and artworks

San Michele Arcangelo is a notable 17th-century building, constructed in place of an older church. Its nave and chapels contain decorations and frescoes from the 17th and 18th centuries. The architecture and furnishings thus span several centuries. The historic “semitori” is associated with today’s Piazza don Zanatti, where the parish church stands. The former name, the present-day square, and the church building thus converge in one place.

San Michele Arcangelo houses a copy of an altarpiece attributed to Marco d’Oggiono; the original is in the Museo Diocesano. There is also a painting by Sebastiano Conca depicting Saint Andrew embracing the cross. Together with the frescoes and decorations, these works add specific examples of sacred art to the church’s architectural history.

The Chiesetta-Santuario dello Zerbo was founded in 1630 near the Ticino’s left bank, on the site of a lazaretto. Inside is a 16th-century fresco of the Madonna and Child. The image of the Madonna dello Zerbo is also associated with an annual local festival. If this event is important to your travel plans, check the dates and access arrangements in advance; they may vary.

Rural routes and buildings

The Sesto Calende–Pavia route reaches Besate through a typically agricultural landscape. Along this route, Besate’s old washhouse is one of the sights to see. The Anello dell’Abbazia offers a different focus: it links the abbey area with the parish church of San Michele in Besate and three other notable rural churches. Thus, a route through agricultural surroundings with a washhouse is complemented by a connection between several religious sites. Check route conditions before setting out, as they may change.

Buildings beyond the churches also offer insight into the town’s history. The remains of Besate’s castle wall preserve a large main portal from the 18th century. The portal has openings for the beams of the former drawbridge; this detail provides a glimpse of an earlier structural function.

The Serbatoio dell’Acquedotto has a different form: it has an octagonal base from which a sloping reinforced-concrete frame rises to support the water tank. The base, frame, and tank form a clearly articulated structure. Besate’s architectural heritage thus includes not only religious and fortification architecture, but also the technical design of a water-supply structure.

Discover more destinations: San Giuliano Milanese, Cassina de’ Pecchi, Burago Di Molgora, Pero, Settala, Casarile, Dresano, Cesano Boscone

For the overview of the wider region: Milan.