The best traffic-free bike rides around Gudo Visconti

The Naviglio di Bereguardo is a historic Lombard artificial canal, 18.85 kilometers long, which starts at Castelletto di Abbiategrasso (branching off from the Naviglio Grande) and ends in the municipality of Bereguardo, on the outskirts of Pavia. Built mainly in the 15th century at the behest of the Dukes of Milan (Filippo Maria Visconti and Francesco I Sforza), it was created as a strategic commercial waterway to transport goods such as salt, wine from Oltrepò, and timber from the Ticino and Po rivers to Milan. It lost its commercial function in the 19th century with the opening of the more modern Naviglio Pavese, transforming today into a fundamental irrigation canal and a renowned destination for outdoor cycle tourism.

The Naviglio di Bereguardo boasts a historic complex of 12 navigation locks (or sluices) IL NAVIGLIO DI BERE GUARDO - Il Motografo, designed to overcome a height difference of 24 m over a distance of just 19 km Naviglio di Bereguardo - Wikipedia. Inaugurated starting from 1438, these Navigli locks allowed boats to go up the Ticino and reach Milan, making the canal the famous "salt road" Il Naviglio di Bereguardo. Today the locks are no longer active for navigation Il Naviglio di Bereguardo and mainly serve as an irrigation canal. You can admire the best-preserved masonry remains and the original bottom gates near Cascina Conca (between Morimondo and Motta Visconti).

The Bridge of Cassinetta di Lugagnano is one of the most characteristic and historically significant monuments located along the Naviglio Grande, in the metropolitan city of Milan. Originally built of granite, the structure dates back to the 17th century, erected during the Spanish rule of the Duchy of Milan to connect the two historic centers divided by the canal. The bridge historically unites Lugagnano (on the right bank, of Roman origin) and Cassinetta (on the left bank, of medieval design). The bridge was completely rebuilt in a donkey-back shape in May 1862. This intervention became necessary both to repair the damage from the wars of independence (such as the nearby Battle of Magenta in 1859) and to facilitate the transit of commercial barges on the Naviglio.

The Naviglio Grande stretch in Castelletto di Cuggiono is one of the most evocative and intact historical and natural sights of the entire Ticino Park. Located in the province of Milan, this ancient river village seems suspended in time and is an ideal destination for walks, cycle touring, and relaxation away from the city chaos.

The Naviglio Grande riverside in Gaggiano offers a picturesque cycle and pedestrian path immersed in the Parco Agricolo Sud Milano. It is easily reachable from Milan via the Naviglio Grande Cycle Path, is about 15 km from the centre, and is known for its historic villas, such as Palazzo Venini Uboldi and the characteristic Ponte Vecchio.

Another great hydraulic dam work on the Ticino

Great beautiful cycle path on the Ticino Park

Villa Clerici on the Naviglio Grande (also known as Palazzo Clerici or Il Castelletto) is one of the most majestic and extensive noble villas located along the Naviglio Grande canal. It stands in Castelletto di Cuggiono, in the province of Milan, perched on a natural spur overlooking a bend in the canal. It stands on the remains of an ancient medieval fortress from the 10th century, transformed in the 16th century into a residence of the Crivelli family. In 1658, the property passed to the wealthy Clerici family of bankers and merchants. The Clerici invested enormous fortunes in the complex. They wanted the facade to have 365 windows (one for each day of the year) and 12 balconies (like the months) to flaunt their wealth in front of the local nobility. In the 19th century, due to the family's economic collapse, the structure was sold and adapted first into a spinning mill and weaving factory, entering a long period of semi-abandonment. In 2026, an important private recovery project was initiated.