Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 14, 2026

Desio

Desio is a comune (municipality) in the province of Monza and Brianza, in the Italian region of Lombardy.

Last revised
Jun 14, 2026
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≈ 2 min
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Wikipedia ↗
Desio
Des (Lombard)
Comune
Città di Desio
Villa Tittoni Traversi
Villa Tittoni Traversi
Coat of arms of Desio
Coat of arms
Desio
Location of Desio in Italy
Show map of Italy
Desio
Desio (Lombardy)
Show map of Lombardy
Coordinates: 45°37′N 09°13′E / 45.617°N 9.217°E / 45.617; 9.217
CountryItaly
RegionLombardy
ProvinceMonza and Brianza (MB)
FrazioniSan Carlo, San Giorgio, San Giuseppe
Government
 • MayorSimone Gargiulo (since October 18, 2021) (Civic list)
Area
1
 • Total
14 km2 (5.4 sq mi)
Elevation
196 m (643 ft)
Population
 (30 November 2017)2
 • Total
41,960
 • Density3,000/km2 (7,800/sq mi)
DemonymDesiani
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
20832
Dialing code0362
Patron saintMadonna del Rosario
Saint dayFirst Sunday in October
WebsiteOfficial website

Desio (Brianzoeu: Des) is a comune (municipality) in the province of Monza and Brianza, in the Italian region of Lombardy.

History

In 1277 it was the location of the battle between the Visconti and della Torre families for the rule of Milan. On 24 February 1924, Desio received the honorary title of city with a royal decree.

In 1944 the opera singer Giuseppina Finzi-Magrini was killed in an American air raid on Desio.

Birthplace of Pope Pius XI on Vicolo del Popolo; it was later renamed Via Achille Ratti in his honour source ↗

The town is known for being the birthplace of Achille Ratti, later Pope Pius XI (born 1857, elected Pope 1922, died 1939), information which the road sign on Desio’s border recalls. In the centre, more precisely in Via Pio XI 4, tourists and citizens can visit the Pope’s house every Sunday.3 On November 20, 1998, it was instituted the International Studies and Documentation Center Pius XI, at the presence of Mgr. Maurizio Galli.4 On 28 May 2022, Desio’s hospital was named after Pius XI to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Pope’s election.5

Marco Sportiello, A.C. Milan goalkeeper, was also born in Desio.

Gabriele Oriali, former Inter‘s icon and 1982 FIFA World Cup winner with Italy, lives in Desio.

Main sights

Transport

Desio is served by Desio railway station.

Sports

Gruppo Sportivo Santi Pietro e Paolo, also referred to as S. Pietro e Paolo Desio, is one of the most famous football teams in Desio. Founded in October 2003, the Group started its activities in March 2004 becoming affiliated with the Centro Universitario Sportivo Italiano (CUSI), the entity for sport promotion acknowledged by the Italian National Olympic Committee and the Episcopal Conference of Italy.78 Members of the Italian rhythmic gymnastics national team live and train in Desio.

The football team U.S. Aurora Desio 1922, which plays in the Seconda Categoria, is based in Desio. The club is also affiliated with AC Monza

References

References

  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. "Museo Papa Pio XI" (in Italian).
  4. Fabrizio Pagani, Franco Cajani (2019). "Achille Ratti: cronologia 1857-1922" [Achille Ratti: a chronology (1857-1922)] (PDF). I Quaderni della Brianza (in Italian) (185). Desio: Centro Internazionale di Studi e Documentazione Pio XI: V. OCLC 1225220129. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 26, 2021.
  5. "Desio, l'ospedale intitolato a Papa Pio XI" (in Italian).
  6. "Polo di Eccellenza - Desio". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  7. "Gruppo Sportivo Oratorio Ss. Pietro e Paolo" (in Italian).
  8. "Attività sportiva" (in Italian).