{"id":4623,"date":"2013-07-17T22:22:10","date_gmt":"2013-07-17T20:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/walks.friday.ie\/?p=4623"},"modified":"2025-12-11T12:16:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T12:16:44","slug":"canal-in-milan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/canal-in-milan","title":{"rendered":"Canals in Milan: 5 Fun Facts About the Navigli"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When it comes to canals in Italy, Venice isn&#8217;t your only option! Milan&#8217;s Navigli neighborhood is famed for the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese canals. With its great bars and boutiques, the Navigli is one of our favorite areas in Milan. Not to mention one of the most historic! Learn more about this Navigli district and how you can enjoy the canals in Milan as much if not more than it\u00b4s counterparts in Venice.<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-16598\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Naviglio-tramonto.jpg\" alt=\"Navigli in Milan\" \/>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/canal-in-milan\/#5_Fun_Facts_about_the_Canals_in_Milan\" >5 Fun Facts about the Canals in Milan<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/canal-in-milan\/#Milans_canals_were_built_because_of_the_Duomo\" >Milan&#8217;s canals were built because of the Duomo<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/canal-in-milan\/#Da_Vinci_might_be_the_designer_behind_the_canals\" >Da Vinci might be the designer behind the canals<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/canal-in-milan\/#The_canals_once_made_Milan_look_like_Venice\" >The canals once made Milan look like Venice<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/canal-in-milan\/#The_Navigli_district_is_an_art_lovers_haven\" >The Navigli district is an art lover&#8217;s haven<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/canal-in-milan\/#Head_to_the_canals_and_youll_feel_like_youve_left_Milan_for_the_countryside\" >Head to the canals, and you&#8217;ll feel like you&#8217;ve left Milan for the countryside<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/canal-in-milan\/#FAQs_%E2%80%93_Visiting_NavigliCanals_in_Milan\" >FAQs &#8211; Visiting Navigli\/Canals in Milan<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/canal-in-milan\/#When_is_the_best_time_to_visit_the_Navigli_district\" >When is the best time to visit the Navigli district?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/canal-in-milan\/#Is_the_area_easy_to_reach_from_central_Milan\" >Is the\u00a0area easy to reach from central Milan?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/canal-in-milan\/#What_should_I_know_before_dining_or_shopping_along_the_canals\" >What should I know before dining or shopping along the canals?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Fun_Facts_about_the_Canals_in_Milan\"><\/span>5 Fun Facts about the Canals in Milan<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Milans_canals_were_built_because_of_the_Duomo\"><\/span>Milan&#8217;s canals were built because of the Duomo<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Milan&#8217;s canals aren&#8217;t only beautiful, but functional: They were constructed to transport goods from the nearby lakes. One of the most important deliveries? Precious marble from Candoglia, which was used to construct <a href=\"https:\/\/www.duomomilano.it\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Milan&#8217;s cathedral, the Duomo.<\/a> The canals are no longer used for shipping, but you may see some tour boats floating by for sightseeing tours in the summer.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20871\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20871\" class=\" wp-image-20871 size-full\" title=\"Fun facts about the canals of Milan\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/duomo-milan.jpg\" alt=\"The Milan Duomo with several spires rising up the white fa\u00e7ade.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/duomo-milan.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/duomo-milan-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20871\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Visit the Duomo in Milan, built from the precious marble, transported from Candoglia by canal.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Da_Vinci_might_be_the_designer_behind_the_canals\"><\/span>Da Vinci might be the designer behind the canals<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Renaissance genius <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Leonardo_da_Vinci\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Leonardo Da Vinci<\/a> was called to Milan in 1482 by Ludovico il Moro, Duke of Milan, to improve the city with his talents and ideas. The <em>Last Supper<\/em> is among da Vinci&#8217;s most famous contributions to Milan, but legend has it that he also helped plan the renovation of the canals in Milan.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_13746\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13746\" class=\"wp-image-13746 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/The_Last_Supper_-_Leonardo_Da_Vinci_-_High_Resolution_32x16.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/The_Last_Supper_-_Leonardo_Da_Vinci_-_High_Resolution_32x16.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/The_Last_Supper_-_Leonardo_Da_Vinci_-_High_Resolution_32x16-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/The_Last_Supper_-_Leonardo_Da_Vinci_-_High_Resolution_32x16-1536x768.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-13746\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. Photo via Wikicommons<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_canals_once_made_Milan_look_like_Venice\"><\/span>The canals once made Milan look like Venice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>With five active canals, this neighborhood once was connected by waterways. People built country homes and even castles here, some of which you still can see today. And to get from one location to another, the Milanese often went by boat. In fact, historians note that, for these reasons, this part of the city once resembled Venice!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4631\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/640px-Milano_navigli_1886_01.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4631\" class=\" wp-image-4631 size-full\" title=\"Canals of Milan\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/640px-Milano_navigli_1886_01.jpg\" alt=\"Navigli of Milan\" width=\"640\" height=\"465\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-4631\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A boat on Milan&#8217;s canal in 1886<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Navigli_district_is_an_art_lovers_haven\"><\/span>The Navigli district is an art lover&#8217;s haven<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Love art? Then don&#8217;t miss exploring the many galleries along the canals in Milan! You&#8217;ll see signs pointing into the courtyards for collections of local artist&#8217;s work. And the galleries aren&#8217;t just fun to browse; the art on offer makes a great souvenir to bring home, too!<\/p>\n<p>As well as galleries, you&#8217;ll find design showrooms and temporary outdoor photography and art exhibits, especially during <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salonemilano.it\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Salone del Mobile <\/em><\/a>&#8211; Milan&#8217;s design week.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4632\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/4534619250_664ab64f75_z.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4632\" class=\"wp-image-4632 size-full\" title=\"The Naviglio Grande, a canal in Milan\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/4534619250_664ab64f75_z.jpg\" alt=\"Canals in Milan\" width=\"640\" height=\"398\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-4632\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An art gallery at the Naviglio Grande. Photo by Walter Saporiti<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Head_to_the_canals_and_youll_feel_like_youve_left_Milan_for_the_countryside\"><\/span>Head to the canals, and you&#8217;ll feel like you&#8217;ve left Milan for the countryside<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Want an escape from the city? Head off the beaten path toward Milan&#8217;s suburbs along the Naviglio della Martesana (also know as Naviglio Piccolo, or \u201csmall canal,\u201d opposed to the Naviglio Grande).<\/p>\n<p>There, it&#8217;s easy to enjoy a picturesque walk or a bike ride along the beautiful, tree-lined paths of the canals of Milan.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4633\" style=\"width: 490px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Naviglio_Martesana_between_Vaprio_d\u2019Adda_and_Trezzo_sull\u2019Adda_Ian_Spackman_2007-007-28.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4633\" class=\" wp-image-4633 size-full\" title=\"Canal in Milan\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Naviglio_Martesana_between_Vaprio_d\u2019Adda_and_Trezzo_sull\u2019Adda_Ian_Spackman_2007-007-28.jpg\" alt=\"Naviglio della Martesana, a canal in Milan\" width=\"480\" height=\"480\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-4633\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Naviglio della Martesana. Photo by Ian Spackman<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs_%E2%80%93_Visiting_NavigliCanals_in_Milan\"><\/span>FAQs &#8211; Visiting Navigli\/Canals in Milan<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_is_the_best_time_to_visit_the_Navigli_district\"><\/span>When is the best time to visit the Navigli district?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Evenings are the most atmospheric, especially in spring and summer when the bars and restaurants spill out onto the canal banks. Weekends can be crowded, so visiting on a weekday offers a more relaxed experience for strolling, dining, or taking photos.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20872\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20872\" class=\"wp-image-20872 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Navigli-neighborhood.jpg\" alt=\"Milan's Navigli neighborhood sees several bars with terraces along the river.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Navigli-neighborhood.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Navigli-neighborhood-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20872\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Milan&#8217;s Navigli neighborhood has several bars with terraces along the river.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_area_easy_to_reach_from_central_Milan\"><\/span>Is the\u00a0area easy to reach from central Milan?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, Navigli is very accessible. You can take the M2 metro to Porta Genova, hop on several tram lines, or enjoy a pleasant 20 to 30 minute walk from the Duomo. The district is compact, making it easy to explore on foot once you arrive.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_should_I_know_before_dining_or_shopping_along_the_canals\"><\/span>What should I know before dining or shopping along the canals?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Canal-side restaurants and bars can fill up quickly, especially during aperitivo hours. It\u2019s a good idea to book ahead for dinner, and expect slightly higher prices in prime waterfront locations on the canals of Milan. Many boutiques and galleries close for a mid-afternoon break, so plan your visit around typical Italian opening hours.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23998\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23998\" class=\"wp-image-23998 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Milan_Welcome-to-Milan_WEB-RES-0008-temp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Milan_Welcome-to-Milan_WEB-RES-0008-temp.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Milan_Welcome-to-Milan_WEB-RES-0008-temp-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Milan_Welcome-to-Milan_WEB-RES-0008-temp-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-23998\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Expert local guides are the best way to learn about the past, present and future of a place!<\/p><\/div>\n<p data-start=\"487\" data-end=\"1071\"><strong data-start=\"487\" data-end=\"537\">Ready to experience Milan like a true insider?<\/strong><br data-start=\"537\" data-end=\"540\" \/>Whether you\u2019re passionate about art and history, a foodie eager to sample Milan\u2019s culinary scene, or simply want to see the city\u2019s most iconic sights with expert local guides, there\u2019s a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/milan-tours\/\">Walks of Italy tour<\/a><\/strong> waiting for you.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"487\" data-end=\"1071\">Choose from immersive <strong data-start=\"785\" data-end=\"811\">sightseeing adventures<\/strong> that bring Duomo, Leonardo\u2019s masterpieces, and hidden gems to life; <strong data-start=\"880\" data-end=\"909\">food and wine experiences<\/strong> that introduce you to authentic Milanese flavours; and <strong data-start=\"965\" data-end=\"991\">exclusive access tours<\/strong> that let you skip the lines and enjoy VIP moments you won\u2019t find on your own!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When it comes to canals in Italy, Venice isn&#8217;t your only option! Milan&#8217;s Navigli neighborhood is famed for the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese canals. With its great bars and boutiques, the Navigli is one of our favorite areas in Milan. Not to mention one of the most historic! Learn more about this Navigli district [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":4629,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[17],"ppma_author":[160],"class_list":["post-4623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art-culture","tag-milan"],"authors":[{"term_id":160,"user_id":28,"is_guest":0,"slug":"walksofitaly-2","display_name":"Elena Ciprietti","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9faa64906a691c0581a37e3599ce455d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","user_url":"","last_name":"","first_name":"Elena Ciprietti","job_title":"","description":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4623"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4623"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4623\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24419,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4623\/revisions\/24419"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4629"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4623"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=4623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}