Have you ever wondered why this area is called Parco Bosco dei Ronchi? Well, it all comes down to a unique geological formation. Parco Bosco dei Ronchi is a green haven in the heart of Legnano, a city just outside of Milan. The name “ronchi” refers to a moraine plateau that was formed over centuries by the Olona River. The river used to bend left, at this very spot, creating a slope where sediment collected and formed the plateau.
The area was a prime spot for human settlements even in prehistoric times. It offered protection from the cold northerly winds while still allowing the sun to shine. This slope was also perfect for vineyards, making it a major part of Legnano’s landscape for centuries.
But let’s go back to the history of this park. In the late 1930s, this area became a destination for health and healing. An open-air heliotherapy clinic was built here in 1937 and 1938 by the famous Italian architects, BBPR, considered proponents of the Italian Rationalist architectural movement. Sadly, it was created to treat children with rickets, a condition that could cause serious bone deformities. The clinic eventually became a local Red Cross chapter and a psychosocial care center for the Legnano civil hospital.
Today, you can wander through this beautiful park, enjoying its forest setting and the history that surrounds it. If you stop to reflect on this area’s past, you can almost hear the laughter of children playing in the sun, or the quiet whispers of patients seeking a cure.