Staying at Hotel Parco Borromeo means immersing yourself in a place where historic charm meets contemporary hospitality. Cesano Maderno and the surrounding area tell the story of a rich past—featuring historic residences, centuries-old gardens, and artistic treasures—that makes the Brianza region an authentic and surprising destination. From the majestic Palazzo Arese Borromeo to nearby nature reserves and parks, every itinerary offers exciting experiences, culture, and landscapes waiting to be discovered. It is the ideal starting point for enjoying the very best of Lombardy.
From the majestic Palazzo Arese Borromeo to nearby nature reserves and parks, every itinerary offers thrills, culture, and landscapes waiting to be discovered. An ideal starting point for experiencing the best of Lombardy.
THE ICE HOUSE AT PALAZZO ARESE BORROMEO
The Ice House is one of the most fascinating and hidden architectural features of the Palazzo Arese Borromeo complex in Cesano Maderno. It is a two-level underground structure dating back to the second half of the 17th century (post-1654 – pre-1700); while today it is used by the Hotel Parco Borromeo for small, exclusive events, it was originally intended for storing snow and ice, which were used to refrigerate food, drinks, and adjacent rooms, or for sanitary purposes.
Architectural structure
The ice house has a quadrangular layout with a circular interior cross-section.
The main space is an inverted truncated-cone-shaped cavity, approximately 5.6 meters deep, with a top diameter of 8.15 m narrowing to 5.35 m at the base.
Surrounding this chamber—at a depth of about ten meters—lies a large circular cellar: a ring-shaped passage providing access to the niches where barrels were stored. The structure is built entirely of brick and stone masonry.
Historical use
Durante l’inverno, lo spazio veniva riempito di neve compressa, che col tempo si compattava fino a diventare ghiaccio. Questo sistema consentiva di mantenere basse temperature per tutta la stagione estiva, garantendo:
la refrigerazione delle cantine e delle dispense, la conservazione di alimenti e bevande, la produzione di blocchi di ghiaccio da utilizzare nei mesi caldi.
Inoltre, secondo studi storici, la ghiacciaia era collegata anche alla vinaia del Palazzo, servendo come deposito fresco per il vino prodotto nei vigneti locali.
Discovery and restoration
The ice house was rediscovered in the 1990s during the renovation of the outbuildings located north of the palace. It was completely filled with earth and debris, and only after this material was cleared away was it possible to restore the structure to its original form. This discovery was considered pivotal to understanding the architectural complexity of Palazzo Arese Borromeo, which integrates visible and invisible spaces into a design of remarkable monumental coherence.
PIAZZA ESDRA, CESANO MADERNO
Piazza Esedra is the elegant Baroque setting for Palazzo Arese Borromeo, designed in the 17th century as a ceremonial space linking the noble residence to the historic center of Cesano Maderno. Characterized by continuous masonry walls, decorated niches, and three large curved exedrae, the square was once a stage for ceremonies, performances, and court life. Today, it remains one of the city's most iconic spaces, symbolizing the connection between historical heritage and the urban fabric.
PALAZZO ARESE BORROMEO, CESANO MADERNO
Palazzo Arese Borromeo is one of the most important noble residences in Lombardy, built between 1654 and 1670 at the behest of Bartolomeo III Arese (President of the Senate of Milan and the Council of Italy—during the period of Spanish rule—and head of an alliance of Milanese noble families).
A masterpiece of Baroque architecture, the palace features extraordinary fresco cycles, dramatic courtyards, and a loggia overlooking the vast historic garden.
Today, it hosts exhibitions, cultural events, and conference facilities, offering visitors an immersive journey through art, history, and monumental landscapes.
PARCO ARESE, CESANO MADERNO
The Palazzo Arese Borromeo Park is one of the most significant examples of a Baroque Italian-style garden in Lombardy, created in the second half of the 17th century as an integral part of the grand urban and architectural project commissioned by Bartolomeo III Arese.
Designed to enhance the noble residence, the park spans approximately 9 hectares and features a dramatic layout based on perspectival axes, geometric flowerbeds bordered by boxwood hedges, and a long hornbeam avenue leading to the monumental exedra of the Baroque fountain—once fed by the Roggia Borromeo canal.
The area houses numerous fine architectural features, such as the Temple of the Faun, the Ice House, the Bird Pavilion, and an intricate network of paths that blends nature, art, and historical memory. The garden—conceived as an *hortus conclusus* (enclosed garden)—represents a refined synthesis of aesthetics, symbolism, and function, typical of noble gardens from the Baroque era.
To this day, Arese Borromeo Park retains its monumental atmosphere intact and stands as one of Cesano Maderno’s most evocative locations, ideal for strolls, cultural visits, and outdoor events.
Ancient Church of Santo Stefano
The Church of Santo Stefano Protomartire is the main parish church of Cesano Maderno; it was built between 1926 and 1937 based on a design by architect Spirito Maria Chiappetta to replace the previous 17th-century church, which had become too small.
Constructed in the Neo-Gothic style, it features an unfinished stepped façade, an interior with three naves, ribbed vaults, and a dramatic octagonal dome at the center of the transept.
The Seveso River flows alongside it, which necessitated complex structural reinforcement work during construction. Today, the church is the heart of the town's religious life and houses numerous altars, artistic stained-glass windows, and side chapels of great value.
Cesano Maderno LIPU Oasis
The LIPU Oasis in Cesano Maderno, established in 1997 through a collaboration between LIPU, the Municipality, and the Groane Park, is one of the most important natural areas in the Brianza region. It is situated on land that was once marked by industrial activity but has since been fully restored to its natural state through environmental rehabilitation projects.
The oasis spans approximately 100 hectares of woodland, heathland, and wetlands, featuring over 10 hectares of ponds created from a former clay quarry. These habitats are home to numerous bird species, including herons, bee-eaters, kingfishers, nocturnal birds of prey, and various species typical of the Groane area.
A trail stretching over 4 km allows visitors to explore oak and birch forests, shrublands, and the area's characteristic groana ditches. At the heart of the site stands the “Alex Langer” Environmental Education Centre—a low-impact wooden building featuring a conference room, educational spaces, and guided tours.
Today, the oasis is a hub for biodiversity, environmental education, and birdwatching; open year-round with free access, it is an ideal destination for families, schools, and nature enthusiasts.
Groane Park
The Groane Park is one of Lombardy’s largest green areas, a unique natural environment featuring heathlands, woodlands, wetlands, and trails immersed in nature. Spanning over 8,000 hectares, it is home to rare habitats—such as the Brianza heath—and encompasses the Cesano Maderno LIPU Oasis, which offers 100 hectares of biodiversity and wildlife-rich wetlands. Ideal for walking, birdwatching, and outdoor activities, the Park features a network of cycling and walking paths that make it easily accessible to families, sports enthusiasts, and nature lovers alike.
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