Cernusco sul Naviglio: Canals, Culture and History

Cernusco sul Naviglio combines the history of Lombardy with a strong connection to water and an extensive network of cycle paths and footpaths. The Naviglio della Martesana is a waterway of historic, ecological and cultural value here. Along the canal, a series of interconnected parks stretches for approximately three kilometres, forming a leisure, educational and historical tourism route. This gives the town different points of interest for a trip in which you would like to combine culture, landscape and active exploration.

Along the Naviglio

For cyclists, the Alzaia Naviglio Martesana is a particularly far-reaching connection. The cycle path leads directly from Cernusco sul Naviglio to Milan and in the opposite direction to Trezzo d’Adda. The total route along the canal is more than 30 kilometres long. Depending on the length of the stages you prefer, this allows you to consider shorter excursions as well as longer stretches beside the water.

Cycling also plays an important role within the town. Cernusco sul Naviglio has a network of cycle paths and footpaths approximately 30 kilometres long, connecting parks and existing green areas. This network allows the town to be crossed from north to south and from east to west exclusively by bicycle. The different route lengths help you tailor your plans to your own interests and the time available.

In the east of Cernusco sul Naviglio, the Ponte Levatoio near the border with Cassina de’ Pecchi connects the two banks of the Naviglio. It provides safe access on foot and by bicycle to the Parco Azzurro dei Germani. The bridge is therefore a tangible crossing between the canal area and another park area, without implying any specific excursion route or length of stay.

Historic Centre and Local Heritage

In the historic centre, there is a footpath dedicated to the history of the town’s silk production. On Piazza della Repubblica, a sculpture by Nado Canuti depicts the transformation of a silkworm into a cocoon and chrysalis. Both places make the history of silk accessible in different ways: the footpath focuses on the historical subject, while the sculpture illustrates the biological process.

Parco di Villa Alari was created as a geometric garden in the French style. Its historic design included a theatre, a pond, fountains with water features, statues, tree-lined avenues, pergolas, hedges and shrubs. The municipality announced regular guided tours of the rooms of Villa Alari and its restored frescoes; advance booking is required for access. At this site, therefore, both the gardens and the interiors with their frescoes are central attractions.

Villa Uboldo was conceived as a Casa Museo to house part of the art collections for which Ambrogio Uboldo was known. Another historic connection with water is shown by Villa Biancani Greppi: it overlooked the Naviglio, and at the end of a tree-lined avenue corresponding to today’s Via Cavour, there was a landing place. The two villas thus point to different aspects of the town’s history: one to art collections and the other to the relationship between a historic villa and the canal.

Churches, Pilgrimage and Architecture

The Santuario di Santa Maria Addolorata is considered the oldest surviving building in Cernusco sul Naviglio. The chapel continues to be used as a pilgrimage destination and a place of intense prayer. The Festa di Santa Maria of the Santuario di Santa Maria is traditionally celebrated on the third Sunday in September; for 2026, 20 September was specified. Those interested in sacred history and religious traditions will therefore find both a historical connection and a use that continues to the present day.

The Chiesa parrocchiale di Santa Maria Assunta was consecrated on 17 July 1932 by Cardinal Ildefonso Schuster. Its tripartite gabled façade has three portals and a central oculus. The Chiesa di San Rocco is of older origin: a plaque above the main portal dates the construction to 1567 and attributes it to the brothers Alberto and Camillo Litta. At the same time, the church was built on the foundations of an existing late-15th-century church; the altarpiece from this older church has survived.

Waterways in Model Form and Views of the Cosmos

A diorama depicts the network of historic waterways in the Milan area. It has a diameter of more than 40 metres and uses a scale of 1:1,800. A raised gallery provides 60 seats across four rows of steps. Students can use model boats in the diorama to simulate the historic transport of goods by water, which was carried out with barges until the 1950s. The site thus combines spatial orientation with an illustrative view of the former importance of the canals.

The astronomical observatory also offers a different way of accessing the surroundings and the sky. The Newton telescope is suitable for observing galaxies and nebulae. The Cassegrain telescope is suitable for observing the Moon and the planets. The two instruments therefore represent different observation targets: one focuses on distant celestial objects, while the other is aimed at the Moon and our planetary system.

More Destinations for Your Travel Plans

If you would like to include other destinations in addition to Cernusco sul Naviglio, you can find Cambiago, Vanzago, Segrate, Baranzate, Casarile, San Giuliano Milanese, Ponte Nuovo and Gessate here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Milan.