Discovering the historical charm of the Navigli - Milan

 

Discovering the historical charm of the Navigli - Milan

Milan is a cosmopolitan, versatile, trendy, fascinating, intriguing city with a thousand of faces, one of which is delving into the soul of the Lombard metropolis, namely the "Navigli", those historic canals organized with a concrete system that made navigation possible in the past, favoring the transport of goods also contributing from this perspective to the commercial and economic boom of a Milanese reality unknown to many.

It is especially during the 1930s that this river activity had a notable development, making Milan similar to Hamburg or Copenhagen, drawing due comparisons.

You can begin to discover this intriguing area of Milan by starting from the majestic Basilica of San Lorenzo located next to the Roman Columns, an urban area not always explored by mass tourist flows that prefer "Monumental Milan" but which hides a unique charm of its kind beyond to be an area that has grown dramatically in terms of fashionable life, trendy clubs and for spending evenings full of fun.

Crossing the historic Porta Ticinese called during the Napoleonic era Porta Marengo or familiarly called by the Milanese "Porta Cicca".

This structure was built between the years 1802 and 1814 with subsequent inauguration in 1815 raised as a monumental entrance obtained from the medieval bastions located to the south of the city in direction of Pavia in an area where other gates stood in Roman times.

From here in a few minutes you can reach the old neighborhood where in the past the workshops of artisans were located, shops mainly dedicated to the sale of goods and the factories of the Milanese gunsmiths located along the banks of the canals which were vital commercial sources for them.

 In an instant you reach the historic Darsena which represents the real “Meneghino river port”, a historical emblem where dockings, departures, arrivals of barges and merchant boats took place.

This area is highlighted by its abundant kilometer of docks which allowed mooring by boats of various dimensions during the golden periods of commercial interchange with Verbano, Lake Maggiore, thus reaching the provinces of this lake basin or Varese and Novara in Piedmont via these river connections.

Apart from the extension of the port area on the Porta Ticinese side, you can see the Ticinello a canal where a well-known bridge stands, famous for its three suggestive arches in the area of the Old Municipal Market. 

This canal represents a conduit which served as a water collector taking the flows from the Darsena and carrying the water up to the Lambro, a river that flows in Monza and Brianza.

Continuing along the famous Naviglio Pavese begins which, as is clear from its name, connects Milan to Pavia territories and its provincial capital Pavia through twelve navigable basins, starting its course in correspondence of Via Cardinale Ascanio Sforza.

At the confluence of Piazza XXIV Maggio and Viale Gorizia where the Naviglio Grande enters the Darsena you can admire the well-known Ponte dello Scodellino built in stone and concrete with a width of 12.0 meters whose name derives from the disappeared Osteria del Pallone where they were served to the boatmen or passers-by for a hot lunch or dinner with bowls of soup.

Moving about 500,0 meters south we will reach the picturesque Vicolo dei Lavandai also called Angolo delle Lavandaie or further in Milanese dialect "Ul cantun dii Lavandée".

 It is of course an evocative place in the old Milan located on one bank of the Naviglio Grande south of the busy Via Vigevano and a short distance from the popular Via Magolfa.

This iconic place is where housewives went from the 19th century to wash the clothes of the nobles or in the 1950s for use family using the well-known "Brellin", a wooden box where they rested their knees and began the scrubbing and washing operation under the canopies developed to protect from the weather.

About 300,0 meters from here near Via Casale you can take the GT Bus heading towards Corsico and Trezzano su Naviglio to reach the beautiful Church of San Cristoforo, a medieval jewel built in the 14th century.

This religious building was a frequent stop for nobles and monarchs who during their river trips to Milan stopped for a moment of prayer in this religious temple.

 This ecclesiastical structure lies along Via Ludovico Il Moro, an avenue that connects to Ripa di Porta Ticinese which leads to Porta Genova north of the Barona district.

We will find ourselves at a point where the Olona river intersects with the Naviglio Grande and where you can stop to admire three magnificent wooden sculptures and of course a series of important medieval frescoes inside this historical Church.

In this visit you discovered a part of Milan absolutely stunning for its historical value and heritage, it’s the place which was in the past the beating commercial heart of the Milanese metropolis and it is certainly worth knowing it in all its details, charm and especially essence.

Links : https://www.yesmilano.it/en - https://milantips.com/navigli.html