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 Former city port |
Ripa di Porta Ticinese Milan, Milan 20123 Italy |
The small lake of Darsena, next to the Porta Ticinese, is all that remains of the complex system of canals and rivers which have crossed the city of Milan since Roman times. The Naviglio Grande which ran from Abbiategrasso,ran into this lake, as well as the Pavese canal which joins it at the junction of the Ticino and the Olona river which today runs underground. La Darsena was built in 1603 by the Spanish governor the Count of Fuentes. It was there that cargoes were loaded and unloaded from the barges which reached the city via the Lombardian rivers. It found its present form in 1920 when, with the demolition of the Spanish ramparts it was expanded and the long commercial quay was constructed along Via D'Annunzio where on Saturday the traditional Sinigaglia market takes place. It was through the Darsena that the regional canals were linked up with the city system, enabling and developing the commercial and artisanal activity of the city. The city centre was thus linked by a water network to the Ticino, the Adda to the sea and the great lakes of Lombardy Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Fermin Uribetxebarria - mcfer2k  |
 Photo: lawcs |
 Photo: o0piate |
 Photo: Martin Lissmyr |
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Artificial lake and sports centre |
Via Circonvallazione Idroscalo Segrate Milan, Milan 20090 Italy +39 2 7252 4301 (L'ufficio Turistico) |
This artificial basin is considered to be the lake of Milan and is used for high-level motorboat, canoe and rowing competitions. There are also many sports centre around the shore which offer windsurfing, canoeing, rowing and waterskiing. It is also possible to get a fishing permit here. Open in the Summer months only. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Andrea Baietti |
 Photo: Marco Rosella |
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A jewel in Lombardy |
Lago di Como Milan, Como 22100 Italy +39 (0)31 822 1004 (L'ufficio Turistico) |
The third largest lake in Italy (145km2), Lake Como (or Lario) is fed by the river Adda and 36 smaller rivers. It is one of Lombardy's most beautiful spots. It lies between Brianza and Valtellina like an upside down "Y" and so has three distinct sections: the Colico stretch to the north with its mountainous and varied shores, the Lecco stretch to the east with its bare, rocky shores, and the arm of Como with gentle, green banks. Historically, the lake has been a place of transit since ancient times (in proto-historical times there was a road that ran along the crest on the western side of the lake). Remains of the various cultures and peoples that have lived there throughout history have been found around it: villas, sanctuaries, chapels and monasteries lie all around its lovely surroundings. Villa D'Este at Cernobbio, the ancient church on Comacina island, Villa Carlotta at Tremezzo, Bellagio, Piona abbey, the small hamlet of Varenna, Como and its monuments, the ancient mule track of Mount Bisbino, the wide views seen from Brunate are just some of the many attractions the shores of the lake offer to tourists and artists. Besides the standard visits by car, the ferry lines of the lake's transport company offer superb views of the lake. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Rob Jenkins |
 Photo: Starfires |
 Photo: Rob Jenkins |
 Photo: Tim Adisa |
 Photo: Rich Mellish |
 Photo: irlLordy |
 Photo: hugovk |
 Photo: Mathias Bynens |
 Photo: Patrick Weber |
 Photo: Ihab Khreis |
 Photo: Ben Trevino |
 Photo: Dan Brunn |
 Photo: rebeccaweichiu |
 Photo: Heather K. Powers |
 Photo: Susan P. Hill |
 Photo: Walter Roark |
 Photo: Fiona Black |
 Photo: dudley |
 Photo: nomadtraveller |
 Photo: John Waite |
 Photo: Ann-M |
 Photo: Julie Kazakova-Raniero |
 Photo: janipooh5678 |
 Photo: cabuso |
 Photo: madalena serafim |
 Photo: jane hia |
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Between Lombardy, Piedmont and Switzerland |
Milan, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Italy +39 (0)761 64 5404 (L'ufficio Turistico) http://www.lagomaggiore.net/ |
Lake Maggiore - or Verbano - is Italy's second largest lake after Garda and lies in the shelter of the alpine circle between Lombardy, Piedmont and Switzerland. The lake's catchment area is very large and it receives its waters from the Ticino and Maggia rivers, Lake Lugano via the Tresa mountain stream, from Lake Orta via the river Strona, and from Lake Varese via the river Bardello. It's only emissary is the Ticino near Sesto Calende. The lake was of fundamental importance to communications in northern Italy from the Roman era. In the 15th c., it helped to defend the Signoria of Milan from Swiss territories when the city's various lands were enfeoffed to the Borromeo family. This was the beginning of a dominion that still marks the lake (the Borromeo islands, the forts of Arona and Angera, the castles of Cannero). Favoured with a mild climate, the shoreline became a holidaying area in the 18th c. The green banks were filled with villas, parks and gardens which are still very popular tourist destinations. Beyond Stresa, the jewel on the lake with its splendid Borromeo islands, Lake Maggiore is blessed with superb landscapes, views and monuments. The ancient Sanctuary of Santa Caterina del Sasso and the Fort at Angera on the Lombard shore, the attractive nature park in Ticino and Valgrande, the superb botanical gardens at Villa Taranto and Isola Madre, and the many villas and parks along the shore are some of the attractions that the lake offers. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Fer Martin |
 Photo: tristam sparks |
 Photo: Fer Martin |
 Photo: Elaine Pang |
 Photo: Tim Spilman |
 Photo: ITALYPICS |
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Attractive canal that passes through the city |
4 Alzaia Naviglio Grande Milan, Milan 20144 Italy +39 2 8940 9971 http://www.navigliogrande.mi.it/ |
Digging of the Naviglio Grande was begun in 1177. It was extended as far as Milan in 1257 when it flowed into the Darsena. It was one of the first canals in Milan and was one of the most important engineering works to be carried out in Lombardy during the Middle Ages. A branch of the Ticino near Tornavento, the Naviglio Grande enters Milan after about 50 km. For centuries it performed a fundamental role in the city's economy by connecting it to the great canal network in Lombardy (it was this way that the large pink marble blocks used for the construction of Milan cathedral entered the city). Today it has lost almost all its commercial value. Exiting the Darsena along the towpath of the Naviglio Grande, you will see the large residential buildings with fenced courtyards from the early 1900s, arts and crafts workshops, old barges (now turned into bars), the many areas that are undergoing urban renewal, and, further out, the country villas of the nobility (particularly between Abbiategrasso and Robecco sul Naviglio). Make a quick stop near Vicolo Lavandai, the ancient shelter with wooden beams that covers the communal wash-house. It is an image of a Milan from the past. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Justin Clements |
 Photo: Sergio Calleja (aka SuperKeko) |
 Photo: Cathy Ma |
 Photo: Peter Thorell |
 Photo: cpsh* |
 Photo: Carlo Pozzoni |
 Photo: Michael Broda |
 Photo: Angelo Negri |
 Photo: Alissa Chang |
 Photo: Carlo Donati |
 Photo: claudio piatto |
 Photo: Dario Di Barbara |
 Photo: beylisme |
 Photo: amattasoglio |
 Photo: kemperB |
 Photo: manna75 |
 Photo: Maurizio Pucci |
 Photo: Fabio Zuodar |
 Photo: Paolo Costa |
 Photo: Nicola Leo |
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Broad urban canal |
Alzaia Naviglio Pavese Milan, Milan 20142 Italy +39 2 7252 4301 (L'ufficio Turistico) |
The Naviglio Pavese leaves the Darsena below the Trofeo bridge before heading off to the river Ticino 30 km away, through 12 locks that allow boats to overcome the 52 metre difference in water level. Dug around 1300 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti for irrigation purposes, it was only made navigable in 1819 when its traffic exceeded that of the Naviglio Grande with more than 1400 convoys per year. This means of transport was only halted in 1978 due to the competition from land traffic. From the Darsena, the left bank is still characterised by old buildings with landings while the Alzaia bank was prevalently rebuilt after WW2 and has no particular character. On the right bank, the small Via Magolfa is a charming little hamlet that lines a narrow irrigation ditch, and is an example of fast disappearing Milan. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Enrico Maria Porro |
 Photo: Emiliano B. |
 Photo: Elisa Vireca |
 Photo: Enzo Figueres |
 Photo: giorno32™ |
 Photo: eduardopucu |
 Photo: Louise Wennberg |
 Photo: giovanni simbula |
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The waters of the Adda in Milan |
Naviglio della Martesana Milan, Milan 20125 Italy |
The Martesana was built at the orders of Filippo Maria Visconti between 1457-60 with the initial purpose of providing irrigation water to increase agricultural yields; it was later decided to use it as a method of communication with the Adda valley, Bergamo and Brescia. To overcome the rise of 20 metres between Milan and the river Adda, Leonardo da Vinci improved the system of locks and natural basins: over a distance of almost 40 kilometres, the waters of the Adda were taken from Trezzo to the city, then into the Scaricatore canal, and from there into the Redefossi canal that joined the river Lambro south of Milan. From the second half of the 17th century, the Martesana did not represent a trading and agricultural reality and its banks were lined with the country residences of wealthy Milanese. There were many splendid villas including Villa Alari Visconti, Villa Uboldo, Villa Biancani at Cernusco, Villa Rey at Anzago and Villa Castelbarco at Vaprio. Navigation on the canal began to fall off in the 20th c. In 1933, the stretch between Via Castelfidardo to Via Melchiorre Gioia in the city was covered over and those parts of the canal in Milan that were uncovered were neglected. Now that a cycling route has been opened along the towpath from Milan to Casano d'Adda, it is possible to explore Martesana. The locks, control buildings and elegant villas today represent a page in Milanese history. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Alex Graves |
 Photo: AleMi |
 Photo: Filippo Vaccari |