The best road cycling routes around Idroscalo

The Votive Chapel of via Monza is located in Cassignanica, a hamlet of the municipality of Rodano (MI). It is a small religious and ritual architecture protected as a historical asset and included in the catalogue of cultural heritage of the Lombardy Region.

The Muzza Canal is one of the most important and oldest hydraulic engineering works in Europe. It is a large artificial branch of the Adda river that crosses the Lombard plain. For centuries, it has represented the main resource for irrigating the lands of the province of Lodi and southern Milan. It originates in Cassano d'Adda (Milan), drawing water directly from the Adda near the Visconti castle. It ends its course after about 39-40 kilometers (over 60 km considering the entire main network), rejoining the Adda at Castiglione d'Adda (Lodi).

The Locks of Bellinzago Lombardo are an important historical hydraulic engineering work located along the course of the Naviglio della Martesana. They represent one of the best-known stopping and points of interest for cyclists and hikers who frequent the canal bank. These historical hydraulic systems (locks or sluices) originally served to regulate the flow of water and allow commercial navigation between the Adda and Milan.

La Testata Nord is considered the true operational and infrastructural hub for water sports and park entertainment: Sports Clubs and Associations: It hosts historic facilities such as the Idroscalo Club, dedicated to rowing, canoeing, and kayaking. Grandstands and Race Finish: In this area are the large historic grandstands overlooking the water, used as the finish point for national and international competitions. Il Bosco Nord: A large planted green area ideal for walks, picnics, and relaxing in the shade. Torre del Faro and Service Facilities: The visual landmark of the North shore and the seat of administrative offices or multifunctional rooms.

The Idroscalo Nord (formally known as Testata Nord) represents the main sports and educational area located in the northern part of the Idroscalo basin in Milan. This specific area is the closest to the Strada Rivoltana (Segrate) and is opposite the South bank and the two rivieras (East and West).

Take a snack and bring it to Idroscalo. He'll take care of the rest

The Muzza Canal is the oldest in Europe and this year, its 800th anniversary was celebrated by the Municipality of Paullo in collaboration with the Pro Loco and other Municipalities. Its origin dates back to the year 1220, when Frederick II of Swabia, crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, issued an imperial edict that granted the people of Lodi the right to use the waters flowing through their territory. The current route, about 60 km long, receives the waters of the Adda at Cassano d’Adda, at an altitude of 120 m above sea level, crosses the Lodi territory for about 40 km up to near Castiglione d’Adda, at an altitude of 45 m above sea level, and here it releases them back into the Adda. It has a regulated water regime, with a flow rate, depending on the seasons, of about 200,000 liters of water per second; an initial width of 50 meters which reduces to a few meters at the end of its course and an average depth of 2 meters.

The Naviglio della Martesana is perhaps the least known among the ancient artificial canals that connect Milan to the great Lombard rivers. It originates from the Adda river in Concesa, a hamlet of Trezzo d’Adda, crosses the sub-region of Martesana, northeast of the provincial capital, and once in the city, it goes underground beneath via Melchiorre Gioia, near Cassina de’ Pomm. It measures approximately 38 km in length, with a width varying from 9 to 18 meters. However, in the past, the Naviglio della Martesana continued in the open air all the way to the center, where a system of locks centered on the Conca dell’Incoronata connected it to the short Naviglio di S. Marco and the urban network of the Navigli. The lock was inaugurated in 1496, utilizing lock gates designed by Leonardo da Vinci. The canal had been opened in 1471, under Francesco Sforza. By connecting it to the other Navigli, Leonardo laid the foundations for realizing a dream of the Sforza family: to travel by water from the Ticino river, and therefore from Lake Maggiore, to the Adda river.