Seveso

Seveso is a town in the Province of Monza and Brianza, in Lombardy. It sits in the Brianza lowlands, 21 kilometres north of Milan. The Seveso river flows through the comune from north to south. The town has a long tradition of furniture-making. It gained city status in 2003 by presidential decree. Seveso’s history begins in the 3rd century BC, when Roman forces used the area as a staging post. The church of Saint Peter Martyr was built in 1252 to honour a murdered Dominican friar. The knife used in his killing is kept in the crypt of the Church of the Seminary. In the 17th century the Arese family left lasting monuments in the town. The 1976 chemical disaster at the ICMESA plant led to the creation of Bosco delle Querce park. Visitors find a highly urbanised centre with a few historic buildings. The church of Saint Peter Martyr and the Seminary Church remain important landmarks. Bosco delle Querce park now covers the main contaminated area, offering a green space in the town. Seveso station serves the Milan–Asso line, while Seveso-Baruccana station lies on the Saronno–Seregno route. The town is linked by the Statale dei Giovi trunk road and the Milan-Meda motorway.