Provincia di Milano

The Martesana canal or "Naviglio Piccolo" (little canal), played a leading role in the economic and commercial development of Milan for 400 years. It was used in the past for transporting goods by river navigation, irrigating fields and driving mills, and it receives its water from the Adda, near the locality of Groppello. It passes through the countryside and various municipalities for about 34 kilometres. The route, most of which is along cycle paths, is to discover the scenery of the Martesana canal, characterised by the water and views of villas and historic buildings.

Itinerari

The first stretch of the Martesana canal waterway

The first stretch of the route, which begins from the municipality of Milan, follows the towpath along the left bank of the canal through varied and interesting urban scenery. Care should be taken when you reach via Melchiorre Gioia as works are being carried out on the railway overpass there. Following the towpath (still along the left bank), you pass through Vimodrone, through the periurban area to the north of the underground railway line, until you arrive near the Gaggiolo quarry, a stretch of water to the right of the Martesana canal as you enter Cernusco sul Naviglio. Here the fields give way to more and more buildings until you reach the public gardens in the centre of the town. The route is level and runs alongside the watercourse. Villa Uboldo and Villa Alari-Viscontisi can be seen on the opposite bank from the towpath.
The second stretch of the Martesana canal waterway

The second stretch of the canal continues east as far as Gorgonzola, the town famous for the cheese of the same name. Villa Facheris, Villa Rej, which is attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, and the 18th-century Villa Gnecchi Ruscone stand out among the buildings that belonged to the old nobility. The route is level and runs alongside the watercourse.
The third stretch of the Martesana canal waterway

The third and final stretch of the journey continues without any particular difficulties until the built-up area in Groppello, where the road is no longer surfaced. A little after the stage at "Rudun" the road no longer resembles a cycle path. Once you arrive at the Divina Maternità sanctuary in Concesa and cross the footbridge over the river, a shady street leads to the Crespi d'Adda workers' village, a UNESCO world Heritage site that was created by a family of cotton industrialists from Lombardy. Continuing along the towpath, you reach Trezzo sull'Adda; the five tombs of Lombard warriors discovered in the locality of San Martino and the Visconti Castle are of considerable importance.