# Rho > municipality in the metropolitan city of Milan **Wikidata**: [Q42784](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42784) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rho,_Lombardy) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rho-q42784 ## Summary Rho is a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Milan, Lombardy, Italy, located approximately 15 kilometers northwest of central Milan. With a population of approximately 50,000-51,000 residents, Rho serves as an important industrial and transportation hub, home to notable companies such as Zagato and Carrozzeria Touring, and features significant infrastructure including Rho railway station, Rho Fiera railway halt, and the Rho Fieramilano metro station on Milan Metro Line 1. The city gained international prominence as a key venue for Expo 2015 and contains historic sites such as the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Sorrows, dating to 1584. ## Key Facts - **Location:** Lombardy region, Metropolitan City of Milan, Italy - **Coordinates:** 45.533333° N, 9.033333° E - **Country:** Italy - **Population:** Approximately 50,000-51,000 residents (data points: 50,534; 50,767; 50,904; 50,299) - **Administrative status:** Municipality (comune) in the Metropolitan City of Milan - **Metropolitan City of Milan inception:** January 1, 2015 - **Province of Milan inception:** October 23, 1859 - **Website:** https://www.comune.rho.mi.it/ - **Wikipedia title:** Rho, Lombardy - **Wikidata ID:** - **Sitelink count:** 71 ### Connected Entities - **Passirana:** Settlement and parish within the municipality of Rho - **Barbaiana:** Human settlement and parish in Lainate, Metropolitan City of Milan (adjacent area) - **Zagato:** Italian design and development firm based in the outskirts of Milan, founded 1919 - **Carrozzeria Touring:** Italian bodywork company based in Milan, founded 1926 - **Wind Tre:** Italian telecommunication company (headquartered in Rho area, formed December 31, 2016) - **Wind Telecomunicazioni:** Former Italian telecommunications company (headquartered in Rho area, founded December 1997) - **Rho Fieramilano:** Milan Metro station, opened September 14, 2005 - **Milan Metro Line 1:** Subway line serving Milan, operational since 1964 - **Rho Fiera railway halt:** Railway halt in Rho, opened 2008 - **Rho railway station:** Railway station in Rho - **Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Sorrows, Rho:** Roman Catholic Marian shrine just outside the historic center, founded 1584 - **Expo 2015:** International expo held in Milan in 2015, with significant venue space in Rho ## FAQs **What type of administrative area is Rho?** Rho is a municipality (comune) in the Metropolitan City of Milan, which is located in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. The Metropolitan City of Milan was established on January 1, 2015, replacing the former Province of Milan, which had existed since October 23, 1859. **What major companies are based in Rho?** Rho is home to several notable Italian companies, including Zagato (an Italian design and development firm founded in 1919 and based in the outskirts of Milan), Carrozzeria Touring (an Italian bodywork company founded in 1926 and based in Milan), and Wind Tre (a major Italian telecommunications company formed in 2016 through the merger of Wind Telecomunicazioni and 3 Italia, with headquarters in the Rho area). **What transportation infrastructure serves Rho?** Rho is well-connected through multiple transportation modes: Rho railway station provides regional rail services, Rho Fiera railway halt (opened in 2008) serves the fairground area, and Rho Fieramilano metro station on Milan Metro Line 1 (opened in 2005) provides subway access to central Milan. The city is approximately 15 kilometers northwest of central Milan. **What is the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Sorrows?** The Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Sorrows is a Roman Catholic Marian shrine located just outside the historic center of Rho in Lombardy, Italy. It was founded in 1584 and serves as a significant religious site within the municipality. **What role did Rho play in Expo 2015?** Rho was a key venue for Expo 2015, the universal exposition held in Milan from May 1 to October 31, 2015. The expo site covered significant areas within the Rho municipality, and the event brought substantial international attention and infrastructure development to the area. **What is the relationship between Rho and Passirana?** Passirana is a settlement and parish that is administratively part of the municipality of Rho. It represents one of the distinct areas within the broader Rho municipal boundaries. ## Why It Matters Rho matters as a strategic industrial and transportation hub in the Milan metropolitan area. The municipality serves as home to historic Italian companies in the automotive and design sectors, including Zagato (one of Italy's oldest design firms) and Carrozzeria Touring (a renowned bodywork company), both of which have contributed significantly to Italian automotive history and design heritage. The presence of Wind Tre, one of Italy's largest telecommunications providers, further establishes Rho as a center for modern industry and technology. From an infrastructure perspective, Rho's transportation connections make it a critical node in the greater Milan area. The Rho Fieramilano metro station provides direct access to the Milan Metro Line 1, while Rho railway station and Rho Fiera railway halt connect the municipality to the regional rail network. These connections make Rho an important commuter suburb and a gateway to the Fiera Milano exhibition center, one of the largest trade fair complexes in Europe. The city's role as a host venue for Expo 2015 demonstrated Rho's capacity to accommodate major international events and contributed to lasting infrastructure improvements. The event brought global attention to the municipality and reinforced its position within the broader Milan metropolitan region. Additionally, Rho's historical religious site, the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Sorrows, dating to 1584, represents the municipality's historical depth and cultural heritage within the Lombardy region. ## Notable For - Home to Zagato, the historic Italian design and development firm founded in 1919 - Location of Carrozzeria Touring, the renowned Italian bodywork company founded in 1926 - Headquarters of Wind Tre, one of Italy's largest telecommunications companies - Venue for Expo 2015, the universal exposition held in Milan - Location of Rho Fieramilano metro station on Milan Metro Line 1 (opened 2005) - Site of Rho Fiera railway halt (opened 2008) - Home to the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Sorrows, founded in 1584 - Part of the Metropolitan City of Milan, established in 2015 - Approximately 15 kilometers northwest of central Milan - Population of approximately 50,000-51,000 residents ## Body ### Geography and Location Rho is situated in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, specifically within the Metropolitan City of Milan. The municipality lies approximately 15 kilometers northwest of central Milan, positioning it as an important suburban center within the greater Milan metropolitan area. The coordinates of Rho are 45.533333° N latitude and 9.033333° E longitude. The municipality is part of the broader Lombardy administrative region, which is one of Italy's most prosperous and densely populated areas. ### Administrative History Rho operates as a municipality (comune) within the Italian administrative system. The current administrative structure places Rho within the Metropolitan City of Milan, a metropolitan city that was officially established on January 1, 2015, replacing the older Province of Milan. The Province of Milan had existed since October 23, 1859, during the period following the unification of Italy. This administrative reorganization in 2015 was part of a broader reform of metropolitan areas in Italy, granting the Metropolitan City of Milan expanded powers and responsibilities similar to those of other major European metropolitan regions. ### Demographics Rho has a population of approximately 50,000 to 51,000 residents, based on multiple data points recorded in the source material (50,534; 50,767; 50,904; 50,299). This population size places Rho as a mid-sized municipality within the Milan metropolitan area, serving as a significant residential center for commuters working in Milan while maintaining its own local identity and services. ### Industry and Commerce Rho has a notable industrial heritage, particularly in the automotive and design sectors. The municipality is home to Zagato, an Italian design and development firm founded in 1919 and based in the outskirts of Milan. Zagato has a long history of collaboration with automotive manufacturers, creating distinctive car bodies and designs throughout the 20th century and continuing into the present day. The company represents a significant part of Italy's automotive design heritage. Also based in the nearby Milan area is Carrozzeria Touring, an Italian bodywork company founded in 1926. Touring became famous for its coachbuilding work, creating custom car bodies for various automotive manufacturers and establishing a reputation for quality and innovation in automotive design. The telecommunications sector is also represented in Rho through Wind Tre, a major Italian telecommunication company. Wind Tre was formed on December 31, 2016, through the merger of Wind Telecomunicazioni and 3 Italia, becoming one of the three largest mobile network operators in Italy. Wind Telecomunicazioni itself had been founded in December 1997 and was headquartered in the Rho area, continuing operations under the Wind brand before the merger that created Wind Tre. ### Transportation Infrastructure Rho benefits from comprehensive transportation infrastructure that connects it to Milan and the surrounding region. The municipality is served by Rho railway station, which provides regional rail connections to Milan and other destinations in Lombardy. Additionally, Rho Fiera railway halt, which opened in 2008, serves the fairground area and provides convenient access to the Fiera Milano exhibition center. The Milan Metro Line 1 serves Rho through the Rho Fieramilano station, which opened on September 14, 2005. This metro station provides direct connections to central Milan and is part of Line 1 (the red line), one of Milan Metro's primary lines. The metro extension to Rho was part of broader infrastructure improvements that enhanced public transportation access to the northern suburbs of Milan and the exhibition center. ### Expo 2015 Rho gained significant international attention as a key venue for Expo 2015, the universal exposition held in Milan from May 1 to October 31, 2015. The expo theme was "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life" and focused on sustainable food production and nutrition. The expo site covered substantial areas within the Rho municipality, including the main exhibition pavilions and infrastructure. The event attracted millions of visitors from around the world and brought lasting improvements to transportation infrastructure and urban development in the Rho area. ### Religious and Cultural Heritage Rho contains the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Sorrows (Santuario della Beata Vergine dei Dolori), a Roman Catholic Marian shrine located just outside the historic center of the town. The sanctuary was founded in 1584, making it a significant historical and religious site within the municipality. This shrine represents Rho's historical roots and its place within the religious tradition of Lombardy. ### Adjacent Areas Within the broader Rho municipal area and surrounding municipalities, there are several distinct settlements and parishes. Passirana is identified as a settlement and parish within the Italian municipality of Rho, representing one of the local communities within the municipal boundaries. Barbaiana is another human settlement and parish, though it is located in the adjacent municipality of Lainate, which is also within the Metropolitan City of Milan. ### Official Resources The official website of the Rho municipality is https://www.comune.rho.mi.it/, providing information about local government services, events, and administrative matters. The municipality maintains an active online presence to serve its residents and provide information about civic matters. ### Position in Metropolitan Region Rho's position approximately 15 kilometers northwest of central Milan makes it an important component of the Milan metropolitan area. The municipality balances its role as a residential center, with commuters traveling to Milan for work, while also serving as a location for industry, commerce, and major infrastructure facilities including the Fiera Milano exhibition center. The combination of transportation connections, industrial presence, and historical heritage establishes Rho as a significant municipality within the broader Lombardy region. ## References 1. Virtual International Authority File 2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 3. [Source](https://www.comune.rho.mi.it/it-it/avvisi/2020/covid-19/il-comune-di-rho-ricorda-con-affetto-e-gratitudine-rino-clerici-uno-dei-fondatori-del-sistema-bibliotecario-di-rho-143467-1-1a6056fd3f66f029a3e8979bff01e93c) 4. MusicBrainz 5. [Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/bilmens2016gen/index02.html) 6. Italian National Institute of Statistics 7. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html) 8. [Source](https://demo.istat.it/?l=it) 9. GeoNames 10. [Source](https://it-ch.topographic-map.com/map-83xg14/Rho/?zoom=19¢er=45.52888%2C9.04022&popup=45.52891%2C9.04025) 11. [Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011. Italian National Institute of Statistics](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224) 12. Wiki Loves Monuments Italia 13. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php) 14. FactGrid 15. Seismic classification in Italy 16. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)