12. Vaprio d'Adda to Gorgonzola

Water

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After following the Adda at the bottom of the valley, it follows the rich agricultural plains, gardens and granary of the Milan megalopolis along canals irrigated by the waters of the Adda.

A first half still in the narrow gorges of the Adda then a change of direction towards the West to go up on the fertile agricultural plain grid of irrigation canals.

7 points of interest

Vaprio d'Adda
Cultural
Church of San Nicolo
Neoclassical church of the 19th century, whose frescoes were made between 1880 and 1885 by the local painter Natale Riva.
A visit to the church of San Nicolò, built between 1816 and 1817, is recommended as it houses the historic and imposing Bernasconi organ (3,600 pipes), built in just twenty months thanks to donations and the free labour of workers and parishioners: the expression "working for the church of Vaprio", i.e. voluntarily, is still popular today.
Vaprio d'Adda
Cultural
Church of Sant Columban
Romanesque church from the 12th century with a statue of Saint Colomban and magnificent bas-reliefs.
Cassano d'Adda
Tourist
Rudùn (the big wheel)
Faithful reconstruction of the wheel wanted by San Carlo Borromeo to draw water and irrigate the gardens of the neighbouring archbishop's palace, the autumn residence of the Milanese prelates, who stayed there for hunting and grape processing. The bridge is neo-gothic.
Cassano d'Adda
Cultural
Church of San Bartolomeo
Neo-Gothic church.
Cassano d'Adda
Historical
Leonardo's self-supporting bridge
Self-supporting bridge designed by Leonardo da Vinci.
Inzago
Cultural
Casino Monasterolo
Church of a small monastery on the edge of the cycle path.
Gorgonzola
Cultural
Church of the Saints Martyrs Protaso and Gervaso
The building, which is now visible, was built in neoclassical style between 1806 and 1820, replacing the old medieval foundation church (mentioned in a document dating from 953, but probably older).

Description

Go down to the Adda river along the same path as the previous stage:

Cross the canal at the bottom of Vaprio d'Adda and turn right onto the other bank (via Alzaia sud) which, together with the canal, turns left to head south. Continue along the left bank of the canal, which moves away from the Adda and then gradually approaches it. Pass by the Vaprio d'Adda power station, in the Adda Morta nature reserve, until you enter the Groppello d'Adda industrial estate, where the canal is closest to the Adda. Join Via Fara, continue along the canal along Via Cassano, leaving three bridges on the right until the canal changes direction at a right angle to the west.
Continue along the canal bank (Alzaia Naviglio Martesana). This small road crosses the SP104 and becomes a bicycle/pedestrian path, changing direction twice according to the canal before crossing the town of Inzago marked by four bridges left on the right.
The canal curves to the south-west through the village of Villa Fornaci marked by two bridges. Continue along the left bank of the canal to Gongonzolla shortly after passing under a large bridge (strada Padana Superiore). Continue on this still agricultural bank of the canal, until you reach the fourth bridge after a bend in the canal.
Cross the canal and take via Erminio Giana to reach your destination in piazza della Chiesa on the right shortly afterwards.

Departure : Church Saint Columban, Via Don Moletta, 20069 Vaprio d'Adda
Arrival : Church San Gervaso e San Protaso, Piazza della Chiesa 1, 20064 Gorgonzola
Towns crossed : Lombardia