The best traffic-free bike rides around Agrate Brianza

Montevecchia is a charming hilltop village located in the province of Lecco, famous for its terraced vineyards and for being nicknamed the "Tuscany of Brianza". Perched at about 442 meters above sea level, it offers a spectacular panoramic view that, on the clearest days, ranges from the peaks of Monte Rosa to the skyscrapers of Milan.

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The Naviglio della Martesana, definitively completed in 1496 under the guidance of Ludovico il Moro, flows from Trezzo sull’Adda to Milan for a total length of 38 km. The route runs alongside the ancient Roman road (the current SS 11 padana superiore) which crossed the Adda with two branches: at Vaprio and Cassano. Irrigation of the land located above the spring belt was for a long time the predominant use of the canal, so much so that initially navigation was limited to two days a week; concurrently with the improvement of the agricultural structure thanks to irrigation, a notable flourishing of stately villas occurred in the Baroque era, intended to enjoy the convenience of travel on water and to control owned lands.

Montevecchia is a charming village suspended between Milan, Brianza and the Lecco Prealps. It stands at an altitude of almost 500 meters and overlooks the almost 3000 hectares of the Montevecchia and Curone Valley Regional Park, where the famous Pyramids, mysterious rock formations, emerge.

The Naviglio della Martesana, initially known as Naviglio Piccolo, is one of the Milanese canals that connects Milan with the course of the Adda river through the municipalities of Martesana. Commissioned in the 15th century by Francesco Sforza, it was used for irrigating the countryside but also represented the ambitious project of connecting Milan with Lake Como and thus with the Alps and Ticino. The Naviglio della Martesana is a place rich in history and beauty, a heritage for everyone that, however, today is still little known and protected. Along the Naviglio runs a rather busy cycle path, which allows you to admire the landscape and cultural beauties, such as the rich flora, fauna, or the numerous historic villas, including the Renaissance Villa Melzi d’Eril in Vaprio d’Adda.

The Villoresi Canal towpath cycle path is a flat, almost entirely dedicated cycle-pedestrian route of about 85-90 km, connecting the Ticino river (Panperduto, Somma Lombardo dams) to the Adda river (Groppello). It crosses the Brianza and the northern area of Milan, ideal for cycle touring, gravel/MTB bikes, and walks.

In Groppello d'Adda, along the Martesana Canal, there is a large waterwheel called "el rudun." It is not a mill, but a noria that was used to raise water for irrigation. It was built in 1618 at the behest of Cardinal Federico Borromeo. It was used to irrigate the vegetable gardens and gardens of the Archbishop's Villa. Tradition attributes the design to Leonardo da Vinci. The water also fed kitchens, washhouses, and livestock watering troughs. The original wheel was dismantled in the late 19th century. The current one is a 1989 reconstruction, restored several times. It has a diameter of 11 meters and eight large blades. Today, it is a historical and educational symbol that tells the story of the area's past.

Perhaps the most famous and popular of the bridges in Monza Park, it takes its name from the iron chains that connect the solid parapets. Featuring a rectangular base and a length of 15 meters, it spans two spans on segmental arches with masonry abutments on two inclined planes converging in the middle. In the center, a brick oculus-shaped infill decoration is visible. The "Chain Bridge," located along the Viale Valle dei Sospiri, was built in neoclassical and eclectic style in 1820, designed by architect Luigi Canonica.