The best MTB trails around Pozzuolo Martesana

The Esterle power plant was particularly well-designed from an architectural point of view, as it was intended to be representative of the Edison company that built it. It looks more like a Lombard pleasure villa than a true industrial facility. The effort to integrate the building into the surrounding territory, made in the early 20th century during the construction of the plant, was remarkable. Today it represents a significant example of monumental industrial archaeology and is known for its particular beauty. Inside, the walls and ceiling of the engine room were decorated with great care, as were the floors, lamps, light fixtures, and numerous wrought-iron furnishings.

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.

From Milan (Mi) to Trezzo sull’Adda (Mi) Lush vegetation and surprising architecture make this cycle path a pleasant opportunity to spend a Sunday on a bike. The elevation gain is non-existent, the only difficulty could be the length, but this can easily be remedied thanks to the metro which follows the cycle path closely up to Gessate.

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 Naviglio della Martesana is perhaps the least known of the ancient artificial canals that connect Milan to the great Lombard rivers. It originates from the Adda in Concesa, a hamlet of Trezzo d’Adda, crosses the Martesana sub-region, northeast of the provincial capital, and once in the city, it disappears under via Melchiorre Gioia, near Cassina de’ Pomm.

route for children and tourists

With its seven centuries of history, the Sforza Castle is an extraordinary testimony to Milan's glorious times and dramatic moments. A fortress built by Galeazzo II Visconti between 1360 and 1370, the Castle became a ducal residence during the Visconti era, undergoing partial demolition during the Ambrosian Republic (1447-1450). Rebuilt by the new lord of the city, Francesco Sforza, it became the elegant setting for one of the most sumptuous European courts during the time of Galeazzo Maria Sforza and Ludovico il Moro, in an era that saw artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Bramante in Milan. Having lost its appearance as a noble residence, the Castle was used as a barracks during the foreign dominations of the State of Milan: Spanish (1535-1706), Austrian (1706-1796), French (1796-1814), and Austrian again (1814-1859). Only at the end of the 19th century, during a unified Italy, was the historic building rebuilt, restored, and transformed into a museum by Luca Beltrami. Today, the Castle, with its museums and cultural institutions, is one of Milan's most significant monuments and attracts visitors from around the world.

suggestive and well preserved