Monza Cathedral is one of the finest examples of Lombard Gothic architecture in northern Italy, its marble facade a study in alternating bands of white and green — the distinctive visual signature of Lombard church building. Construction of the current building began in 1300, replacing an earlier basilica built by Queen Theodelinda of the Lombards in the early 7th century, whose memory permeates the place.
The interior is more sober than the facade suggests, with good medieval frescoes in the side chapels and the impressive Theodelinda Chapel decorated with 15th-century frescoes depicting the queen's life. The cathedral treasury holds some extraordinary objects: the Iron Crown of Lombardy, the votive crown of Theodelinda, and the Cross of Agilulf. The treasury has separate entrance fees and opening hours — worth checking before you visit. The crown itself is a small, surprisingly modest-looking ring of gold set with gems, yet it has been at the centre of European political symbolism for thirteen hundred years.