From Bovisio to Saronno the Montiano Way in the footsteps of Blessed Father Monti

From Bovisio where he was born to Saronno where he is buried: a journey to remember the blessed father Luigi Monti.
In the headquarters of the Parco delle Groane and Brughiera Briantea in the former Polveriera di Solaro, the pre-agreement document for the realization of the “Cammino Montiano” project was finalized.

An initiative promoted by the Congregation of the Sons of the Immaculate Conception (Cfic), Parco Groane and Parco del Lura, the municipalities of Bovisio Masciago, Ceriano Laghetto, Cesano Maderno, Cogliate and Saronno and the provinces of Monza Brianza and Varese.

The project was briefly illustrated by Brother Ruggero of the Cfic, who also signed the agreement on the delegation of the superior general Father Benny Mekkatt, a North American religious appointed only last July. The architect Doriano Botton, who supports the Congregation then showed the map of the route, on 7 different tables. Through the Outdooractive application, thanks to the link inserted inside each board, it is possible to follow the path in the mountain places, from Saronno to Bovisio Masciago and also identify the asphalted and dirt sections.

Cammino Montiano: 16 km between park and city from Bovisio to Saronno

The project provides for the installation of posters and some ancillary works, which will be carried out by the municipalities by 2025, the year of the Jubilee and the bicentenary of the birth of Blessed Luigi Monti. The overall route is almost 16 kilometers (15,800 meters) and is covered, through the “slow path” in about 4 hours. Each administration will have to deal with the “diagnosis” of his trait, underlined Brother Ruggero and the architect Botton, before reading the document in full. Further developments towards other places in the mountains, towards Cantù and Erba (seats of institutes founded by the Blessed), Desio (where a very young Monti knew the prison for present conspiracies against Austria), but also Rho are not excluded.

In this sense, the Cammino Montiano could connect to another path under definition the Cammino delle Groane, which will connect the area of ​​Fieramilano to Rho with Brunate, a municipality that dominates Como, thanks to an idea by Vincenzo Gramegna who has been a volunteer of the Parco delle Groane, also present at the presentation of the project.

Cammino Montiano ready in 2025 for the bicentenary of his birth and the Jubilee

The Memorandum of Understanding represents the formalization of the program and initiates the implementation of the project which will also see the renovation of his home in Bovisio Masciagothe updating of the Padre Monti Historical Museum in Saronno, the creation of a website, training-educational courses for children, the establishment of an association, research and historical studies.

Development of religious tourism between Parco delle Groane and Parco del Lura

“This project, the result of institutional collaboration – explains the mayor of Cesano Maderno Gianpiero Bocca -, creates a strategic network for the promotion of our cities. The Montiano Way is also something very particular, which arouses in the citizens the emotion of belonging to a common history. There is a lot of talk about the environment, this is also a project that concretely goes in the direction of sustainable mobility. Spirituality and respect for nature. All this will also help tourism and be good for our economy ”.

Sandro Archetti, councilor of the Groane Park did the honors, with the director Mario Roberto Girelli and, after highlighting the importance of the union between nature and movement, or physical well-being, proposed to organize an operational inspection on the route with all entities involved. The president of the Parco Lura Consortium, Giuseppe Cairoli, also intervened for the signing of the document.

Giovanni Sartori, mayor of Bovisio Masciago, recalled the presence of a statue dedicated to Blessed Monti and a mulberry tree over a hundred years old, a green memory of Montian times. Roberto Crippa, mayor of Ceriano Laghetto has integrated into the journey a further project with 8 intermediate stations for the reflection of pilgrims.

The Municipality of Saronno was represented by the Councilor Franco Casali, Councilor for the Environment and Mobility, who explained how the Saronese administration believes in the development of alternative mobility.

The President of the Province of Monza, Luca Santambrogio, closed the speeches with a reference to the tourist importance of initiatives that connect places dear to pilgrims and with suggestive passages in green areas.

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