Inzago between Villas, Canal Banks and Cycle Paths

Inzago combines local history, canal landscapes and active pursuits to create a destination with several distinct perspectives. If you appreciate Italian architecture and historic townscapes as much as waterside paths, you will find a range of points of interest here: Villa Aitelli, the Chiesa di San Rocco, the Parco dell'Alto Martesana and the Ciclovia della Martesana. Four suggested visitor routes, together with the Mercato Contadino di Inzago, add orientation and an agricultural character to this picture.

Villas and sacred history

Villa Aitelli dates from the second half of the 16th century and was built on the site of a monastery belonging to the Order of the Humiliati. The villa's history also includes its becoming the residence of Ludovico Moneta, who was secretary to Carlo Borromeo at the time. The building therefore represents a historical layer of Inzago in which architectural history and individual life stories are closely intertwined.

The original building of the Chiesa di San Rocco dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Around 1600, construction began on a new Chiesa di San Rocco, whose construction was supported by the local residents. The Chiesa di San Rocco contains a fresco of the Last Supper from the 16th-century Venetian school. On your tour of Inzago, viewing the building here goes hand in hand with a tangible example of Venetian art.

Gardens, water and landscape

The garden of Villa Aitelli, which faces the Naviglio, features dense stands of tall trees, including a banana plant and a large sequoia. The garden of Villa Rey extended as far as the Naviglio and included flower beds, exotic plants and a pond fed with water from the Roggia Crosina. Both garden histories draw attention to the special connection between villas, water and plant life.

The Parco dell'Alto Martesana includes Inzago. One of its aims is the sustainable recreational and sporting use of the area. This makes the park a suitable thematic setting for planning a trip in which cultural visits and outdoor activity stand side by side.

Cycling along the Naviglio

The Ciclovia della Martesana is a 36-kilometre cycle and pedestrian route following the same course as the towpath along the Naviglio. It begins at Cassina de’ Pomm, at the corner of via Melchiorre Gioia, and runs for more than 30 kilometres through Cologno Monzese, Vimodrone, Cernusco sul Naviglio, Cassina de’ Pecchi, Bussero, Gorgonzola, Gessate, Bellinzago Lombardo, Inzago and Cassano d’Adda. Along the way, it follows the right bank of the canal through parks and built-up town centres as far as the historic Monasterolo di Inzago. For your planning, this makes both a longer route and the transition between green sections and town centres clear.

Walking routes and local life

For orientation in the town, “Inzago da scoprire” suggests four visitor routes through different streets. The proposed routes include visits to squares, churches and historic villas, as well as sites of art, devotion and culture. The Mercato Contadino di Inzago is promoted by the Municipality of Inzago in cooperation with Coldiretti to highlight the area's agricultural character and encourage direct contact between producers and consumers.

Discover more places

Discover more destinations: Bareggio, Pero, Cusago, Ozzero, Busto Garolfo, Arese, Cusano Milanino, Vimodrone.

For the overview of the wider travel area: Milan.