The best running trails around Gorgonzola

Villa Fornaci is a historic hamlet geographically divided between the municipalities of Gessate and Bellinzago Lombardo, in the metropolitan city of Milan. The core rises and develops entirely along the banks of the Naviglio della Martesana (also called Naviglio Piccolo), representing one of the most characteristic and historically rich hydraulic and industrial crossing points in the entire Martesana territory.

The Naviglio della Martesana, definitively completed in 1496 under the leadership 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 at 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, aimed at enjoying the convenience of water travel and controlling the owned lands.

The Naviglio della Martesana, definitively completed in 1496 under the leadership 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. The irrigation of the lands 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 homes occurred in the Baroque era, aimed at enjoying the convenience of travel on water and controlling the owned lands.

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.

The Naviglio Martesana cycle path is a 30-35 km cycle and pedestrian route that connects Milan (Cassina de' Pomm/via Melchiorre Gioia area) to Trezzo sull'Adda, running alongside the homonymous canal. It is a predominantly asphalted, flat, easy route suitable for everyone, passing through parks, rural areas, and historic noble villas from the 17th-18th centuries.

Leonardo's locks on the Naviglio della Martesana, particularly the Conca dell'Incoronata and the Conca di San Marco in Milan, are 15th-16th century engineering systems designed to overcome water level differences and connect the Martesana to the inner network of canals. Designed by Leonardo da Vinci, these locks used wooden leaf gates, designed to facilitate the passage of barges loaded with goods.

The covered wooden bridge over the Naviglio Martesana in Gorgonzola is a historic and characteristic pedestrian crossing from the 15th century, renovated over time, which connects the two banks of the canal. A local symbol, it unites historic buildings and offers a suggestive view, representing one of the most iconic structures in the town along the canal.

Completed in 1471, the Naviglio Martesana was a huge hydraulic work of its time. Used for the transport of things and people, on both banks there was the road that was used by horses pulling barges along this important waterway that connected the villages with Milan, the big city. Now the use of the canal as a transport route has fallen into disuse after the mass arrival of rubber-wheeled transport and the route has been transformed into a beautiful cycle path, it is on this route that the Martesana cycle path is described, 36 kilometers on its own protected route and almost not at all trafficked by motor vehicles.