Istituto Leone Dehon

In 1250, a humble community of Umiliati, evangelical workers of wool, settled near present-day Istituto Leone Dehon. They called their home “Casa dei SS. Filippo e Giacomo.” This Istituto Leone Dehon, nestled in Monza, has witnessed centuries of transformations. The Umiliati built a small church, its peak still visible today. Their story intertwined with San Carlo Borromeo, culminating in the order’s dissolution in 1571. The Orsoline arrived in 1579, shaping Istituto Leone Dehon into a religious institute and a college for foundlings. Via delle Orsole, behind the building, whispers their name. Napoleon’s Editto di Compiègne in 1810 brought another change, dissolving the Orsoline and seizing their assets. Count Luigi Masciaga purchased the property in 1813. He transformed the former convent into a nobleman’s villa. The church was downsized. The walls and ceilings embraced neoclassical aesthetics. A grand hall emerged in the east wing, boasting parquet floors and frescoes revealed during 1987 restorations. Even Canova’s statues graced the villa during the Masciagas’ time. The entrepreneurial Cambiaghi family acquired Villa Masciaga in 1904. World War II cast a shadow, with Nazi occupation marking a period of decline. The Cambiaghi family retreated to their Lake Como villa. Post-war, the property was sold to the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehoniani). In 1948, a north wing arose at Istituto Leone Dehon, housing a new chapel, refectory, studies, and dormitories. A second floor followed in 1954, providing individual rooms for religious students. A grotto in the park honored Our Lady of Lourdes. Istituto Leone Dehon became an educational hub. The Liceo Classico Leone Dehon opened in 1969. A girls’ section followed in 1979, merging into a co-ed institution in 1989. The Dehoniani closed their minor seminaries in 1990, focusing on external students. In 2002, the socio-psychopedagogical program was introduced, officially changing the name to Istituto Leone Dehon. The Riforma Gelmini in 2010 led to another name change: Liceo delle Scienze Umane. The Istituto Professionale per i Servizi Socio-Sanitari opened its doors in 2012. Istituto Leone Dehon participated in the Erasmus+ project, embracing themes of sustainability, digital transformation, and democratic participation. The project saw Italian and Hungarian students exchanging experiences, celebrating together in Budapest, and exploring Milan’s Duomo.