Last updated on .
Naviglio Grande is a canal in Milan just south of the historic city center.
Getting to Naviglio Grande
To get to Naviglio Grande, take the metro to P.ta Genova FS. From there it’s just a short walk to the canal.
Introduction to Naviglio Grande
Naviglio Grande was the most important of five interconnected canals around Milan called the Navigli. It dates back to 1157 when it originated as an irrigation ditch between Abbiategrasso and Landriano. Construction on the canal we see today began in 1177. It reached Milan by 1258 and was completely navigable by 1272.
Although the main function was still irrigation, pontoon boats started using the canal to transport goods between Milan, Lake Maggiore, and Switzerland. When construction of the Duomo began in 1386, the canal was instrumental in carrying stone and marble from quarries outside the city. This solidified its importance as a shipping canal, which continued until March 30, 1979. On that day, the last cargo ship unloaded sand at the Darsena. Since then, the canal has once again been used solely for irrigation.
Naviglio Grande runs for 49.9 kilometers (30.1 miles) from the Porta Ticinese dock, also known as Darsena, to the Ticino River near Tornavento. It drops 34 meter (112 feet) along the way and varies in width between 15 and 50 meters (49 and 164 feet). The depth is between 1 and 3.8 meters.
The Canal Today
The canal is now a popular area lined with restaurants and some nightclubs. We walked along a small section of it and had lunch before heading back to the city center.
In the summer, it’s possible to take a day cruise down Naviglio Grande to see small towns and villages along the canal. We were there in winter so the cruises weren’t running, but we did see some rowers.
Santa Maria delle Grazie al Naviglio
Finally, there’s one church we noticed on the stretch of the canal we visited. The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie al Naviglio (Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie al Naviglio) was first built on the spot in 1556 as a chapel to house a miraculous image of the Virgin. The chapel was demolished and replaced with a larger Baroque church. It was damaged by fire 1719 but quickly repaired.
The community outgrew the old church and was ready to replace it with a larger building by the end of the 19th century. Construction began in 1901 under architect Cesare Nava (1861-1933) and it was consecrated on May 1, 1909. The Neo-Romanesque church is on a Latin cross plan with a central nave and two aisles. It features Corinthian marble columns and two bronze pulpits made in 1913. The bell tower is 59 meters high.
