Milan is certainly not what we would call a “city on the water.” When we think of the Lombardy capital, many great monuments, the Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the Pinacoteca di Brera or La Scala, but not water. Yet water has always been part of Milan, even before the first stone of the Duomo was laid. Milan's Navigli are one of the oldest areas of the city, experiencing a revival in recent years. Never heard of them? Let’s discover them together!
What Are Milan's Navigli?
Milan's Navigli are nothing more than a system of artificial canals used for navigation,irrigation, and city defense. Their construction took place between the 12th and 19th centuries, when it became necessary to protect the city from foreign incursions and allow the rapidly growing population access to all the water it needed.
The first naviglio to be built is the one that today, here you can find plenty of information about it.