Monza celebrates 150 years of Milan-Monza tramway history

Monza hosted celebrations on October 25, 2026, to mark the 150th anniversary of the rail connection between Milan and Monza. The event, organized by the associations Connetti Monza e Brianza and Mnemosyne, featured historical reenactments, period costumes, and the presentation of the book ‘Milano Monza tra Storia e Futuro’.

The festivities included a parade of an 1880 omnibus drawn by two grey horses through the city center. While the event aimed to highlight the evolution of transport and the importance of sustainable mobility—specifically the proposed extension of the M5 metro line—it sparked significant controversy.

The animal welfare organization LAV issued a formal warning to Mayor Paolo Pilotto, protesting the use of horses for historical reenactments. The group argued that using animals for entertainment under the guise of tradition is unacceptable in 2026, suggesting that historical memory should be preserved through restored carriages, mannequins, or multimedia technology instead.