Ex municipio di Linate

Journeying back to 1916, we find ourselves at the Ex municipio di Linate. It wasn’t always the “Ex” municipio. Back then, it was simply the bustling heart of Linate, newly christened as the municipal seat. Linate itself, however, boasts a far older history. Roman travelers once trod this very ground, following the Via Regina, a vital artery connecting Cremona to Chiavenna, passing right through Mediolanum, present-day Milan. Linate, a humble agricultural village, was once divided into Linate Superiore and Linate Inferiore. Its name, a testament to its past, comes from the flax crops that once flourished here. Records from 1751 show a modest population of 185 residents. Linate’s administrative story is a bit of a whirlwind. Briefly absorbed into Milan during the Napoleonic era, it regained its independence with the establishment of the Lombardo-Veneto Kingdom. Later, in 1841, Linate merged with the neighboring town of Mezzate. This union eventually led to Mezzate itself being renamed Linate al Lambro, with the municipal offices relocating to our very location, the Ex municipio di Linate, in 1916. The population boomed after the Great War, nearing 4,000 residents. Linate’s growth, however, was not without its sacrifices. The construction of the nearby Forlanini Airport, named after the aviation pioneer, led to the disappearance of Linate Superiore. The airport’s expansion after World War II further divided the area. Ironically, while separated from Peschiera Borromeo by the airport, Linate remains close to Milan’s Ponte Lambro district. Today, the Ex municipio di Linate stands as a quiet reminder of a bygone era, a testament to the changing landscape of this once-rural community.