Milan used to be crisscrossed by canals, the majority of which have been covered over. The Martesana naviglio (canal) is one of the few that remains although now it’s a scenic route rather than used for the navigation of passengers and the transport salt.
Originally proposed in 1443 by Visconti, the Duke of Milan, as a source of water for irrigation, like so many projects born by Italian politics, works didn’t get started until 1457 under Francesco Sforza. Sforza wanted the canal widened and also used for navigation.
Later it became ‘cool’, as in chic but also as in fresco (cooler temps) for the nobility to have their country homes along the naviglio. One could go for a dip, of course avoiding the boats transporting the occasional illustrious passenger. Even Leonardo da Vinci used the Martesana on his way to Villa Melzi, to paint a fresco.
- Contributed by Jean Tori, artist (www.jeantoriartwork.com), who rents holiday houses in her medieval hamlet in Umbria (www.caiporrihomeinumbria.com)
December 17th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Very nice! I was in Milan years ago but didn’t know about these canals. I think it would be a nice to explore these canals. Quiet and beautiful.
December 17th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
How absolutely lovely! Thank you for this beautiful note.
December 17th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Thank you so much for these wonderful photos. Most visitors to Milano (including me) are unaware of Naviglio Martesana. I’ll be sure to go there next time I’m in Milano.
December 18th, 2009 at 1:11 am
Beautiful photographs, thank you! Keep up the good work! Antoinette
December 18th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Jean, thank you so much for this contribution. As long as we lived in Italy, we were mostly based in Torino and Rome. Milano was a poluted city that we drove around to get to Switzerland or Germany, or somewhere else. I had heard of these canals, the Naviglio, but really didn’t understand them. As I considered it I recalled that the famous hiking area of Cinque Terre was reachable ONLY by sea until the trains were built and connected those sea-side towns. And I think of other coastline towns, in Calabria where several towns had no connecting roads until the 1900s when the FFSS (trains) were built. At that time these Calabrian towns were reachable only by sea. The Waldensians who settled those 2-3 towns moved there in order to escape religious persecution. The townspeople still speak Piemontese.
I appreciate your stimulating insight into these things, starting with Milano’s Naviglio. By the way, a few years ago we had occasion to drive through that great city once again. We were amazed to be able actually TO SEE the mountains far to the north. The polution has been much lessened. Great work Milano. La Madonnina risplende di nuovo. And thanks to YOU, It.N.com for your continuing increbibly informative and site. WOW.