Busto Arsizio is a city that was called the Italian Manchester in the 19th century. The textile industry developed here and today one of the country's main museums devoted to this field of economy is located here.
The city was founded in the Middle Ages and was a trade and craft center. The neighborhood was a dynamically developing agricultural region. However, Busto Arsizio did not play a major role in the region. Everything changed in the mid-nineteenth century, when the first textile factories were established here. They contributed to a complete change in the image of the city, which became an important industrial center.
There is no compact old town in Busto Arsizio, but quite a few historical buildings have been preserved. Most of them are churches. The most important is the Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Piazza from the 16th century, which is the local place of worship of the Mother of God. There are also churches dedicated to the patron saints of the city, John the Baptist and Michael the Archangel. Every year, Busto Arsizio hosts two great fiestas with street parades, a market and traditional games during the patronal celebrations.
The biggest attraction of Busto Arsizio is the Textile Museum. It shows the industrial history of the city, old textile machines, factory equipment, as well as photos from the period of their operation.
