Legnano
Legnano is a comune in the Metropolitan City of Milan, Lombardy region, northern Italy, located approximately 20 km northwest of Milan along the Olona River.[1][2] With a population of about 60,000, it serves as an industrial suburb of Milan.[3] The city gained enduring historical prominence from the Battle of Legnano on 29 May 1176, when communal militias of the Lombard League routed the imperial army of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa near the town, halting his efforts to subjugate northern Italian cities and paving the way for the Peace of Venice in 1177, which recognized communal liberties.[4] Initially a rural settlement with water-powered mills dating to medieval times, Legnano industrialized rapidly from the early 19th century, harnessing the Olona for cotton textile production and emerging as a leading manufacturing center in Italy by the mid-20th century, with key sectors including textiles, machinery, and metalworking that fueled economic growth and population expansion.[5][6] Today, Legnano maintains a robust economy centered on advanced manufacturing and services, while preserving cultural landmarks like the Basilica of San Magno and annual commemorations of its medieval victory.[6]
Geography and Environment
Location and Territory
Legnano is situated in the Metropolitan City of Milan, within the Lombardy region of northern Italy, approximately 20 kilometers northwest of Milan city center along the Olona River valley.[7] The comune lies at the northern limit of the Po Plain, south of the Varese Prealps, encompassing a territory characterized by low-relief alluvial plains with elevations ranging from 190 to 229 meters above sea level.[8] Its geographic coordinates are approximately 45°35′52″N 8°54′54″E.[9] The municipal territory spans 17.7 square kilometers, featuring a predominantly flat landscape shaped by fluvial deposits from the Olona and its tributaries.[8] Legnano borders several neighboring comunes, including Canegrate to the west, San Giorgio su Legnano and Villa Cortese to the north, and San Vittore Olona to the east, integrating it into the densely urbanized Alto Milanese area.[10] This positioning facilitates connectivity via road and rail networks to Milan and surrounding industrial hubs, while the Olona valley influences local hydrology and urban expansion patterns.[11]Hydrography and Natural Features
The Olona River constitutes the primary hydrographic feature of Legnano, traversing the municipality and historically bifurcating to form an island upon which the Visconteo Castle stands.[12] This river, originating in the Prealps and flowing southward through the Po Basin, divides Legnano into eastern and western sectors before reuniting downstream, with channels that once powered numerous flour mills along its course. The Olona's path through Legnano reflects broader human modifications to the Lambro-Seveso-Olona system, including canalization for flood control and industrial use.[13] Legnano's terrain forms part of the flat alluvial plain of the Alto Milanese, characterized by low relief with elevations ranging from 192 meters to 227 meters above sea level and a median altitude of 206 meters across its 17.72 square kilometers.[8] Natural vegetation is limited due to urbanization, but remnants persist in protected green areas. The Parco Castello, encompassing approximately 22 hectares of urban woodland known as Bosco di Legnano, develops along the Olona at the Visconteo Castle's base, featuring an engineered ecosystem of streams, ponds, marshes, and diverse riparian habitats established in the 1970s as one of Italy's earliest urban forests.[14] This park serves as a biodiversity oasis amid the surrounding plain, supporting local flora and fauna adapted to the riverine environment.[15]Climate
Legnano features a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), marked by four distinct seasons, with warm to hot summers, cold winters prone to fog, and moderate precipitation throughout the year.[16] This classification reflects the Po Valley's influence, where continental air masses meet Mediterranean warmth, resulting in relatively high humidity and occasional thermal inversions that trap pollutants and moisture.[17] Summers, from June to September, are warm with average highs exceeding 24°C (76°F), peaking in July and August at around 28–29°C (83–84°F); lows remain mild at 15–17°C (59–63°F). Winters, spanning November to February, bring cold snaps with average highs below 10°C (51°F) and lows dipping to -2°C (28°F) or lower, occasionally yielding snowfall equivalent to 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) of water per month in December through February. Spring and autumn serve as transitional periods, with increasing rainfall and variable temperatures.[17] Precipitation averages approximately 820 mm (32 in) annually, distributed fairly evenly but with peaks in late spring and autumn; May and October see the highest monthly rainfall at 94 mm (3.7 in) each. Wet days occur on about 130–150 days per year, with a higher probability (>25%) from April to mid-November. Fog is common in autumn and winter due to the valley's topography and high humidity, often reducing visibility and contributing to overcast conditions, which peak in November at 49% overcast days. Wind speeds are generally low, averaging 6–8 km/h (3.8–5.1 mph), with calmer conditions in summer.[17]| Month | Avg. High (°C/°F) | Avg. Low (°C/°F) | Avg. Rainfall (mm/in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7/44 | -2/28 | 38/1.5 |
| February | 9/48 | -1/30 | 41/1.6 |
| March | 14/57 | 3/37 | 51/2.0 |
| April | 17/63 | 7/44 | 81/3.2 |
| May | 22/71 | 11/52 | 94/3.7 |
| June | 26/78 | 15/59 | 76/3.0 |
| July | 28/83 | 17/63 | 58/2.3 |
| August | 28/82 | 17/63 | 66/2.6 |
| September | 23/74 | 13/56 | 81/3.2 |
| October | 18/64 | 8/47 | 94/3.7 |
| November | 11/52 | 3/37 | 89/3.5 |
| December | 7/45 | -1/30 | 48/1.9 |
Urban Development and Planning
Legnano's urban structure originated as two linear hamlets—Legnanello on the left bank of the Olona River and Oltrona on the right—clustered around early textile mills and agricultural settlements, with development constrained by the river, the Strada Statale del Sempione, and later the railway line. Industrialization in the mid-19th century, particularly in cotton textiles, spurred initial expansions, transforming the compact medieval core into a dispersed fabric integrating factories, worker housing, and infrastructure.[18] The first formal regulatory plan emerged around 1880, focusing on southwestward extension to accommodate population growth from 8,098 inhabitants in 1881 to 25,087 by 1911, driven by factory employment and migration.[19] [20] Subsequent plans in the early 20th century emphasized linear growth along transport axes, incorporating residential zones near industrial poles like Franco Tosi mechanica works, while zoning preserved productive areas amid residential sprawl.[21] Post-World War II reconstruction accelerated via the Morini Plan of 1957, which directed westward expansion around Viale Sabotino, blending new housing with industry to support demographic upticks into the 1970s.[21] The 2003 Piano Regolatore Generale (PRG) shifted toward containment and regeneration, designating transformation zones such as the 75,000 m² Fronte Ovest for mixed-use redevelopment and the 212,500 m² Polo Meridionale for industrial reconfiguration.[21] Contemporary planning under the Piano di Governo del Territorio (PGT), adopted in 2012, prioritizes urban intensification, green infrastructure like the Parco dell'Olona, and infrastructure upgrades including proposed railway burial to mitigate barriers and enhance connectivity.[21] Policies address deindustrialization by reallocating brownfields—preserving 283,000 m² in western industrial poles—while integrating ecological networks and limiting peripheral sprawl in line with Lombardy regional directives.[21] [22] Regulatory evolution from 1880 to 2024 reflects a progression from expansionist designs to sustainable models, with increasing emphasis on urban green spaces to counter historical densification and pollution from Olona-adjacent factories.[23] Challenges persist in balancing Milan commuter pressures with local heritage preservation, as evidenced by unexecuted PRG provisions and ongoing debates over productive land conversion.[21]Etymology and Symbolism
Toponymy
The toponym Legnano originates from Latin roots, with scholarly consensus pointing to a formation combining a Roman personal name—such as Lemennius, Limenius, or Laennius—with the locative suffix -ānum, denoting a possession, estate, or settlement linked to that individual.[24][25] This structure reflects common Roman naming conventions for rural vicus or fundi, where the estate retained the proprietor's name over time.[26] Historical records attest to variant forms, including Latinanium in pre-Christian contexts and Leunianum during the Roman period, suggesting an established settlement by the 1st millennium BCE.[27] An alternative hypothesis proposes derivation from Liciniacum, purportedly named after the Roman consul Lucius Licinius Crassus (140–91 BCE), though this lacks direct epigraphic confirmation and remains speculative.[28] The etymology's uncertainty stems from sparse early documentation and phonetic evolutions in medieval sources, which variously render the name as Legnanum or similar; no single hypothesis is definitively proven, but the personal-name-plus-suffix model aligns with regional toponymy patterns in Lombardy.[29][30]Heraldry and Coat of Arms
The coat of arms of Legnano depicts a shield troncated (divided per fess) of the ancient French type, surmounted by a mural crown. The upper field is gules charged with a lion rampant argent, while the lower field is argent bearing a withered tree gules issuant from a barren mound.[31][32] This design was officially recognized by royal decree (Regio Decreto) on November 16, 1924, affirming its use as the communal emblem.[31] The lion symbolizes courage and strength, evoking the city's historical defiance, particularly in the context of the 1176 Battle of Legnano.[33] The withered tree in red, sometimes interpreted heraldically as evoking coral for rectitude and fidelity, represents endurance amid adversity, possibly alluding to the barren local landscape or foundational legends involving resilience.[33] The colors—red for blood and valor, silver for purity and snow—tie into local lore, though primary heraldic documentation emphasizes the formal blazon over narrative origins.[31]Historical Development
Pre-Roman and Roman Periods
The territory of Legnano exhibits evidence of early Iron Age settlement associated with the Golasecca culture, spanning from the late Bronze Age to the 4th century BC. Archaeological artifacts, including urns and ceramics dated to the 7th–6th centuries BC, have been recovered and are preserved in the Museo Civico Guido Sutermeister.[34] These findings, such as a glass vessel from circa 680 BC, indicate funerary practices and material culture typical of this regional tradition in northern Italy.[35] By the 5th century BC, the area transitioned under the influence of Celtic populations, particularly the Insubres tribe, whose territory encompassed the broader Insubrian region around modern Milan.[36] Roman expansion into the Po Valley following the conquest of the Insubres in 196 BC led to gradual Romanization of Legnano's vicinity.[37] Excavations have uncovered plentiful Roman-era remains starting from the 2nd century BC, including structural elements like wall remnants, terracotta pipes, and roof tiles distributed across the municipal territory.[25] Key discoveries include a necropolis in Via Novara, with burials documented from 1925–1926 and 1997 excavations yielding coarse ware pottery.[38] Imperial Roman artifacts, particularly from the 1st–5th centuries AD, dominate the museum's collection, featuring stone materials and late antique items displayed in the portico.[39] Additional finds, such as sepulchers in areas like Via Trento and Via Micca, alongside mosaics from Via dei Bambini, attest to sustained habitation and possibly rural villas or settlements integrated into the Roman network.[40] Recent surveys in Via Adige suggest potential pre-Roman to Roman layers, underscoring the site's layered occupational history without evidence of a major urban center.[41]Medieval Era and the Battle of Legnano
During the 11th century, the archbishops of Milan established a fortified castle in Legnano to consolidate ecclesiastical authority over the surrounding territory amid feudal fragmentation.[42] The settlement served as a strategic outpost in the Seprio region, facilitating control of trade routes along the Olona River and defending against rival lords.[43] By the mid-12th century, Legnano lay within the sphere of Milanese influence, entangled in escalating tensions between the expanding communes and the Holy Roman Empire. The Lombard League emerged in 1167 as a defensive pact among northern Italian cities, including Milan, Verona, Padua, Vicenza, and Venice, aimed at countering Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa's campaigns to dismantle communal governments and restore imperial regalian rights.[44] Backed by Pope Alexander III, the league coordinated military resistance following Barbarossa's sack of Milan in 1162 and the imperial diet's decrees limiting urban autonomy. The Battle of Legnano unfolded on May 29, 1176, approximately 20 kilometers northwest of Milan, when a Lombard reconnaissance force of around 700 horsemen clashed with the imperial vanguard near the town. Barbarossa's army, marching from the failed siege of Alessandria toward Pavia, numbered several thousand but was disorganized after separating its knightly core from infantry support. The league's Milanese contingent, estimated at up to 2,000 cavalry and 500 infantry, rallied around their carroccio—a ox-drawn altar serving as a rallying standard—and formed a phalanx that withstood repeated imperial charges for hours. Despite initial successes by imperial knights, the league's disciplined militia repelled assaults, inflicting heavy casualties and forcing Barbarossa to flee the field after his standard-bearer fell. This tactical defeat, though not annihilating the imperial forces, halted Barbarossa's Italian offensive, compelled negotiations, and culminated in the 1177 Peace of Venice, recognizing papal and communal prerogatives while affirming nominal imperial overlordship.[45] The event underscored the communes' capacity for collective defense, shaping the trajectory of Italian autonomy against centralized imperial rule.Renaissance to Enlightenment
In the early 16th century, Legnano witnessed significant architectural development with the construction of the Basilica of San Magno between 1504 and 1513. This Renaissance-style church, dedicated to Saint Magnus (Archbishop of Milan from 518 to 530), replaced an earlier Romanesque structure and featured designs influenced by Donato Bramante, though attribution also extends to Giovanni Antonio Amadeo and his school.[46][47] The basilica's octagonal vault, frescoed by Gian Giacomo Lampugnani in 1515, exemplifies the transition from medieval to Renaissance aesthetics in the Milanese hinterland.[48] Following the Wars of Italy, Legnano integrated into the Duchy of Milan, which fell under Spanish Habsburg control in 1535 after the Sforza dynasty's extinction. The town's affairs mirrored those of the duchy, marked by feudal obligations and limited local governance amid recurrent plagues and warfare, including the devastating Milan plague of 1630 that ravaged Lombardy. Spanish rule persisted until 1714, during which Legnano served as a secondary residence for Iberian nobility, contributing to social stratification in districts like Legnanello.[49] The transition to Austrian Habsburg rule in 1714 brought administrative centralization and early Enlightenment influences through reforms in the Kingdom of Lombardy. Under Maria Theresa (r. 1740–1780), Lombardy underwent cadastral surveys and agricultural enhancements, fostering modest economic stability in rural centers like Legnano, which relied on Olona River mills for grain processing and viticulture in the Colli di Legnano. Religious infrastructure expanded with the addition of San Magno's bell tower between 1752 and 1791, reflecting continued ecclesiastical investment amid Joseph II's later secularizing policies.[50][51] By the late 18th century, Legnano remained a agrarian outpost of Milan, with population growth constrained until Napoleonic upheavals.[49]Industrial Revolution and 19th Century
The industrialization of Legnano commenced in the early 19th century, driven by the conversion of existing grain mills along the Olona River into textile facilities powered by hydraulic energy. This shift began around 1821 with the establishment of the first cotton spinning mill by Carlo Martin, followed by Eraldo Krumm's filatura in 1824, which by 1863 produced 280,000 kg of yarn annually.[52] The Olona's water resources facilitated the adaptation of old mills for cotton processing, while proximity to Milan, Busto Arsizio, and trade routes to Switzerland supported market access and technology transfer from foreign technicians, including Swiss and German experts.[53] Entrepreneurs such as Enrico Schoch (active by 1823) and merchant-industrialists like Turati, Radice, Amman, and Crespi further propelled this nascent sector between the 1820s and mid-century.[53] Central to Legnano's textile dominance was the Cantoni family, with Costanzo Cantoni founding the Cotonificio Cantoni in 1839 by acquiring and modernizing an existing spinning operation, incorporating steam machinery in the 1840s.[52] This enterprise, alongside Krumm's, transformed Legnano into a leading cotton production hub in the Alto Milanese, earning it the moniker "piccola Manchester di Lombardia" by leveraging low-cost labor from local agricultural workers, women, and children.[5] The industry's growth integrated home crafting traditions with mechanized spinning and weaving, fostering a division of labor that boosted output and competitiveness in regional markets.[5] By the latter half of the 19th century, diversification emerged as textile machinery repair and production took root, exemplified by Eugenio Cantoni and Luigi Krumm's Cantoni Krumm & C. in 1875, which later evolved under Franco Tosi into Franco Tosi & C. in 1881, specializing in steam engines and employing 700 workers by the 1890s.[52] Additional ventures, such as Ernesto De Angeli's textile printing firm in 1872, complemented core cotton operations like those of Bernocchi (founded 1868).[52] These developments, spanning roughly 1820 to 1880, marked Legnano's primary industrialization phase, reshaping its economy from agrarian milling to mechanized manufacturing while spurring urban expansion and infrastructure like canalized waterways to mitigate floods.[5]20th Century: Wars and Economic Boom
Legnano experienced significant industrial expansion in the early 20th century, building on its 19th-century textile and mechanical foundations, with 44 companies operating by 1897, primarily in textiles and mechanics.[54] When Italy entered World War I on May 24, 1915, the city's life initially continued with relative normalcy, including infrastructure testing on June 12, 1915, but soon faced labor unrest, such as the textile strike on September 4, 1915.[55] Approximately 500 Legnano residents died in the conflict, reflecting heavy local involvement despite the city's non-combatant industrial role.[56] During the interwar period, Legnano's economy grew amid fascist rule, with tensions culminating in post-1918 social unrest tied to wartime aftermath.[57] By 1940, the population reached 34,000, supported by 13,500 industrial workers in 679 enterprises focused on textiles and mechanics.[58] Italy's entry into World War II on June 10, 1940, brought rationing, conscription losses like that of Carlo Borsani in 1941, and factory closures due to coal shortages in 1942–1943, idling 7,000 workers; strikes in March 1943 demanded wage improvements.[58] The city endured one direct bombing on August 13, 1943, when a British bomb struck Via Galvani and Via Moscova, killing 30 civilians, including children.[58] Resistance activities intensified after the July 25, 1943, fall of fascism and the September 8 armistice, led by figures like Carlo and Mauro Venegoni.[58] Postwar reconstruction began amid recession, with initial efforts like sewerage upgrades in 1946, but accelerated in the 1950s via Marshall Plan aid during Italy's economic miracle.[59] From 1951 to 1961, Legnano recorded the nation's second-highest industrial employment rate at 65.2%, trailing only Sesto San Giovanni, driven by textile giants like Cotonificio Cantoni (3,465 employees) and De Angeli-Frua (1,504), alongside mechanical firms such as Franco Tosi (4,800 employees).[59] This boom attracted migrants from Triveneto and southern Italy, fueling population growth and solidifying Legnano's status as a key industrial hub in Lombardy.[59]Post-War Modernization and Contemporary Era
Following the end of World War II in 1945, Legnano underwent rapid reconstruction, leveraging its pre-war industrial base in textiles, machinery, and chemicals to capitalize on Italy's broader economic recovery. The city's factories, which had suffered damage from Allied bombings and wartime requisitions, resumed production amid national policies promoting industrialization, including the 1948 European Recovery Program aid that facilitated machinery imports and infrastructure repairs. By the early 1950s, Legnano's manufacturing employment surged, with the sector achieving the highest national index for job growth between 1951 and 1961, driven by demand for consumer goods and exports during the Italian economic miracle period of sustained 5-8% annual GDP expansion.[60][61] This boom spurred significant urban modernization, transforming Legnano from a compact medieval settlement into an expanded commuter suburb of Milan. Socio-economic pressures from internal migration—drawing over 2 million rural workers to northern Italy between 1955 and 1965—necessitated new housing districts, road networks, and public utilities, often following linear development along the Olona River and rail lines to Milan. Key projects included the extension of the Milan-Gallarate tramway in the 1950s for worker transport and the construction of social housing complexes to address overcrowding, with the population rising from about 35,000 in 1951 to over 50,000 by 1971. Environmental costs emerged, as unchecked industrial effluents polluted the Olona, prompting early regulatory efforts by the 1960s.[61][62] In the contemporary era, Legnano has sustained its industrial orientation while adapting to globalization and EU integration, with manufacturing still accounting for roughly 30% of local GDP as of 2020, focused on advanced sectors like precision engineering and plastics. The population stabilized at approximately 60,961 in 2025, reflecting modest growth of 784 residents annually amid low birth rates and commuter outflows to Milan. Urban planning has shifted toward sustainability, including Olona River cleanup initiatives since the 1990s under regional directives and green space expansions, such as parks integrated into former industrial zones. Economic challenges include factory relocations to lower-cost regions, offset by proximity to Milan's logistics hub and investments in R&D clusters, maintaining unemployment below Italy's 8% national average in recent years.[3][63]Government and Administration
Local Governance Structure
Legnano's local governance follows the standard structure for Italian comuni as outlined in the Testo Unico delle Leggi sull'Edilizia e sull'Urbanistica (TUEL) and the comune's Statuto. The primary political organs are the consiglio comunale (city council), the giunta comunale (municipal executive), and the sindaco (mayor). The sindaco serves as the chief executive, representing the comune, directing administrative functions, and ensuring compliance with laws.[64] The sindaco is elected directly by residents for a five-year term, renewable once. Lorenzo Radice, elected on 4 October 2020, currently holds the office, having secured victory in the municipal elections. The sindaco appoints the giunta, comprising a vice-sindaco and up to 10 assessori (department heads) who manage specific sectors such as public works, social services, and urban planning.[65] The consiglio comunale exercises legislative authority, approving budgets, development plans, and regulations while overseeing executive actions. It consists of the sindaco and a variable number of councilors determined by the comune's population, elected concurrently with the sindaco through a proportional representation system with a majority bonus for the winning coalition. Administrative operations are supported by organized sectors (aree amministrative) and offices handling daily services, personnel, and public interactions.[64][66]Administrative Divisions and Policies
Legnano, as a comune within the Metropolitan City of Milan, encompasses a territory of 17.7 square kilometers and is primarily divided into informal neighborhoods (quartieri) rather than formal frazioni, with only minor scattered hamlets such as Case sparse and Della via Fratelli di Dio noted in demographic records.[67][68] These quartieri, including San Magno (the historic center), Legnanello, San Martino, Mazzafame, San Paolo, Oltrestazione, and Legnarello, serve practical purposes in urban planning, service delivery, and community organization, though they lack independent administrative autonomy.[69][70] The absence of circoscrizioni or decentralized councils reflects a centralized municipal governance model, where territorial management is coordinated through sector-based administrative areas focused on services like social welfare, infrastructure, and public works.[66][71] Local policies are directed by the Piano di Governo del Territorio (PGT), the comprehensive urban planning instrument that defines land use, development strategies, and sustainability goals, with its general variant approved by the City Council on June 12, 2024, and entering into force following publication in the Regional Official Bulletin on September 11, 2024.[72][73][74] The updated PGT emphasizes digital accessibility, transparency in zoning maps, and balanced growth across quartieri, integrating environmental protection along the Olona River with residential and industrial expansion, while aligning with regional directives under Lombardy Law 12/2005.[75][76] Administrative implementation occurs through the mayor-led giunta and council commissions, overseeing policies in areas like heritage management, public procurement, and participatory budgeting, without devolved powers to sub-municipal entities.[77][64]Political Orientation and Elections
Legnano's local politics have historically alternated between center-right coalitions, often led by regionalist and conservative parties such as Lega Nord and Forza Italia, and center-left alliances anchored by the Democratic Party (PD), reflecting the competitive electoral landscape of Lombardy, a region with strong center-right leanings at the regional and national levels.[78] This oscillation stems from voter priorities on economic development, immigration, and local governance, with center-right dominance in the 1990s and 2000s giving way to shifts amid scandals and economic pressures.[79] In the 2020 communal elections, held on September 20-21 with a runoff on October 4-5, center-left candidate Lorenzo Radice, supported by PD, Insieme per Legnano-Legnano Popolare, and Ri Legnano, defeated center-right challenger Carolina Toia (backed by Fratelli d'Italia, Lega Salvini Lombardia, and Forza Italia) in the ballotage, securing 54.07% of the vote (11,974 votes) to Toia's 45.93% (10,173 votes).[80] Radice's victory marked a turnover following a period of administrative dissolution, making him the youngest mayor in Legnano's history at age 39.[81] His administration has focused on urban renewal and social policies, though facing criticism from opposition for fiscal management.[82] Prior to 2020, the 2017 elections saw center-right candidate Gianbattista Fratus, aligned with Fratelli d'Italia, Lega Nord, Forza Italia, and civic lists, win the mayoralty in a runoff, but his term ended prematurely in 2019 due to a corruption scandal involving bid-rigging, leading to council dissolution and a government commissioner until the next vote.[78] This followed a 2012 center-left win by Alberto Centinaio (PD, Italia dei Valori, Verdi, and civics), interrupting a streak of center-right mayors from 1993 to 2007, including Maurizio Cozzi (re-elected in 2002) and Lorenzo Vitali, who emphasized industrial growth and local autonomy.[78] The table below summarizes mayors elected via direct suffrage since 1993:| Election Year | Mayor | Coalition/Primary Parties | Outcome Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Marco Turri | Lega Lombarda-Lega Nord | Elected outright |
| 1997 | Maurizio Cozzi | Centrodestra (civic lists) | Elected; re-elected 2002 |
| 2007 | Lorenzo Vitali | Centrodestra (civic lists) | Elected outright |
| 2012 | Alberto Centinaio | PD, IDV, Verdi, civic lists | Won runoff |
| 2017 | Gianbattista Fratus | Fratelli d'Italia, Lega Nord, Forza Italia, civics | Won runoff; dissolved 2019 |
| 2020 | Lorenzo Radice | PD, Insieme per Legnano, Ri Legnano | Won runoff (54.07%) |
Demographics and Society
Population Dynamics and Trends
The population of Legnano has exhibited sustained growth since Italian unification, driven primarily by industrialization and internal migration in the 19th and early 20th centuries, followed by slower expansion in the postwar era and modest recent increases fueled by net immigration amid declining natural growth.[84] From 6,501 residents in the 1861 census to an estimated 60,646 as of January 1, 2025, the municipality's demographic trajectory reflects broader patterns in Lombardy, where economic opportunities attracted rural migrants and, more recently, foreign inflows offsetting low fertility rates below replacement levels.[84][85]| Census Year | Population | % Change from Prior Census |
|---|---|---|
| 1861 | 6,501 | - |
| 1871 | 6,949 | +6.9 |
| 1881 | 8,098 | +16.5 |
| 1901 | 18,364 | +126.8 |
| 1911 | 25,087 | +36.6 |
| 1921 | 27,218 | +8.5 |
| 1931 | 29,556 | +8.6 |
| 1936 | 31,961 | +8.1 |
| 1951 | 38,014 | +18.9 |
| 1961 | 42,473 | +11.7 |
| 1971 | 47,736 | +12.4 |
| 1981 | 49,687 | +4.1 |
| 1991 | 50,018 | +0.7 |
| 2001 | 53,797 | +7.6 |
| 2011 | 57,647 | +7.2 |
| 2021 | 59,955 | +4.0 |