The Navigli: The Charming Old Canals in Milano

The Navigli district of Milan is best known for its nightlife but it is also worth visiting during the day.

The Navigli were a system of navigable and interconnected canals inside the city of Milan built from XII to XIX century. The canals served as trade routes to connect Milan to Switzerland via the lakes and to the Adriatic Sea via the Po river. Later the Navigli canals were abandoned and many sections in the inner city were covered.

The Navigli district, which covers the area surrounding the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese canals near Porta Genova, is full of restaurants, bars, art galleries and vintage shops. The main canal-side promenade makes a nice walk. A picturesque corner is Vicolo dei Lavandai (Alleyway of the Washermen) which runs off Naviglio Grande.

The Naviglio Grande is easy to reach from the center of Milan, taking around 20 minutes via public transport or 35 minutes on foot. You can reach Navigli taking the green line (Metro 2) of the underground (stop Porta Genova).