The Longobard Tower

The Longobard Tower is the most important architectural element that remains of the original complex of constructions that Queen Theodelinda had erected in Monza in 595. According to tradition and also to history there were two buildings: the royal palace and an annexed oraculum, a votive chapel named after St. John the Baptist, which was the original nucleus of the Cathedral of Monza.

The Tower was probably a part of the palace for which it might have been a defence element.

After the 9^th century the almost twenty-metre-high building was used as a bell tower and partially included in the construction of the Cathedral apse.

 In the 14^th century, the Tower was downsized to make room for the construction of the chapel named after Theodelinda, which was frescoed by the Zavattari family at the Visconti's will.

Important restoration work carried out in the last decades has contributed to the consolidation of this precious piece of work and to its opening to the public.