Cernusco Sul Naviglio: Waterways and Silk History

Cernusco Sul Naviglio has been historically, ecologically and culturally shaped by the Naviglio della Martesana. Along the canal, a series of connected parks stretches for about three kilometres. Together, they form a route for leisure, education and historical tourism. Here, waterways and urban history can be considered as distinct yet connected themes when planning a trip.

Paths along the Naviglio and through the city

When planning, it is worth distinguishing between the various routes by their length: the connected series of parks along the Naviglio covers about three kilometres. The cycle path along Alzaia Naviglio Martesana leads directly from Cernusco Sul Naviglio to Milan and, in the opposite direction, to Trezzo d’Adda. The entire route along the canal is more than 30 kilometres long.

An urban network of cycle and walking paths covers about 30 kilometres and connects parks with existing green spaces. This makes it possible to cross Cernusco Sul Naviglio from north to south and from east to west exclusively by bicycle. The Ponte Levatoio connects the two banks of the Naviglio in the east of the city, near the border with Cassina de’ Pecchi. It provides safe access on foot and by bicycle to Parco Azzurro dei Germani.

Silk history and architecture

In the historic centre, a walking route traces the history of silk production. The theme also appears in Piazza della Repubblica: a sculpture by Nado Canuti depicts the transformation of a silkworm into a cocoon and chrysalis. The history of silk is thus encountered both as a theme along the route and in a specific work of art.

The Santuario di Santa Maria Addolorata is considered the oldest surviving building in the city. The Chiesa parrocchiale di Santa Maria Assunta was consecrated by Cardinal Ildefonso Schuster on 17 July 1932. Its three-part pedimented façade has three portals and a central oculus, a circular opening.

The history of the Chiesa di San Rocco can also be read in its architecture and furnishings: a plaque above the main portal dates its construction to 1567 and attributes it to the brothers Alberto and Camillo Litta. The church was built on the foundations of an existing place of worship dating from the late 15th century; its altarpiece survives from this earlier building. Villa Biancani Greppi was also historically oriented towards the Naviglio. At the end of a tree-lined avenue corresponding to today’s Via Cavour, there was a landing place.

Villas, waterways and observation

Parco di Villa Alari was laid out as a geometrical garden in the French style. The grounds included a theatre, a pond, fountains with water features, statues, tree-lined avenues, pergolas, hedges and woodland. In 2026, the municipality announced regular guided tours of the rooms of Villa Alari and its restored frescoes. Advance booking is required; check the current dates before planning your visit.

Villa Uboldo was conceived as a Casa Museo to house part of the art collections for which Ambrogio Uboldo was known. This describes its intended historical function, not a museum today. By contrast, the paths along the Naviglio offer insight into the importance of water transport: a diorama depicts the historic waterway network in the Milan area at a scale of 1:1,800 and spans more than 40 metres in diameter. It also includes an elevated grandstand with 60 seats arranged in four rows. Students can use model boats to simulate the historical transport of goods by water, which was carried out by barges until the 1950s.

The telescopes at the astronomical observatory also serve different purposes: the Newtonian telescope is suited to observing galaxies and nebulae, while the Cassegrain telescope is suited to observing the Moon and planets. The comparison highlights two specific areas of observation without combining them into a single programme.

Discover more destinations: Cerro Maggiore, Gorgonzola, Ponte Nuovo, Cormano, Cesano Maderno, Bollate, Concorezzo, Basiano.

For the broader travel overview: Milan.