Linate: Church, Airport and Cycling Route

Three perspectives help put Linate in context as a destination for your stay: the history of the area and the church of Sant’Ambrogio, the development of the airport, and the Linea 7 cycling route. They relate to different periods and forms of mobility. If you are looking for a hotel, these points of interest can help you define more precisely how your trip relates to the area.

Local history and Sant’Ambrogio

Linate was first mentioned in an official document in the 12th century. The church of Sant’Ambrogio has been explicitly mentioned since the 14th century and is considered one of Milan’s oldest churches because of its dedication. The dates refer to different milestones: the first official mention of the area predates the explicitly recorded mention of the church. In 1938, Sant’Ambrogio was elevated to the status of a provost church.

The bell tower also tells of the connection between local history and the airport: in 1960, it was demolished up to the belfry to meet the airport’s requirements. A former monastery-farm complex later became the rural farmhouse Cortazza; traces of it can still be found. Historically, Linate was located on the banks of the Lambro and on the road to Paullo built by the Romans. Linden trees line Via Rimembranze in Linate. These details offer different insights into the area’s recorded history and streetscape.

The airport and the connection to Milan

The airport’s history has two distinct dates. It was established in January 1933 as a replacement for the old Taliedo airfield. It was inaugurated on 21 October 1937 under the name “Aeroporto di Linate, Enrico Forlanini.” Its establishment and inauguration were successive steps in its development.

For airport access, the ATM M4 line reaches it from Milan city centre in 12 minutes. The line is 15 kilometres long and has 21 stops. Check the line’s current service before travelling. This information describes the connection from the city centre to the airport and may be relevant when planning your journey, but it does not indicate the route to any specific hotel.

Linea 7: a different way to plan your trip

The approximately 17-kilometre Linea 7 cycling route, part of the Biciplan CAMBIO, connects Linate with Paullo. It passes through Peschiera Borromeo, Pantigliate, Mediglia and Tribiano, as well as through part of Colturano. The route has its own signage and is integrated with public transport stops.

The information about the M4 and Linea 7 answers different questions: the M4 describes the connection from Milan city centre to the airport; Linea 7 is a cycling route between Linate and Paullo. Their journey times and distances are therefore not directly comparable. Depending on whether you are planning an airport journey or a cycling leg, different information will be relevant.

A look at past events

The 41st Festa di Linate in 2024 included a procession with a brass band through the streets of Linate and a classic car gathering. The programme thus combined a parade through the area with a gathering of historic vehicles. This information relates to that edition of the festival.

The one-day All in Experience on 5 September 2025 also offers a dated glimpse of an event programme: it included a football tournament with four teams of six players each and a concert by emerging young artists. In contrast to the Festa di Linate, the programme here featured a tournament and a concert, while the 2024 festival included a procession and a classic car gathering. The two examples illustrate different event formats, without promising a current date or a repeat event.

This makes it clear which information is relevant to your plans.

Discover more destinations: Arluno, Robecchetto Con Induno, Pantigliate, Ossona, Arese, Cisliano, Bareggio, Cormano.

For the broader travel overview: Milan.