A city of water: the unexpected Milan between canals and fresh fish

Have you ever wondered why the best seafood restaurant can be found in a city which is at least 150 km away from the sea? Well, Milan is surprisingly a water city: since the 13th century, an extensive net of navigable canals have connected the town to the nearby rivers and lakes, allowing the flourishing of art, culture and business. A private guided tour will lead you to discover, walking and cruising, these unusual places, where water meets the edges of the centre. As an ultimate proof, you will taste some excellent take-away seafood: Milan is not only Risotto!

This artificial basin, excavated in 1603 under the Spanish government, has been a major logistic point for the city of Milan until the late Seventies of last century. Indeed, it was intensively used for loading and unloading of goods, arriving by boat along the canals; also a part of the marble used for the construction of the Duomo arrived here. Nowadays, it is primarily a tourist site; the basin receives water from the Naviglio Grande and discharges into the Naviglio Pavese.

This canal, originally tracked in the 12th century with irrigation functions, was turned into a navigable course around 1272. Since then, several varieties of goods could reach the city by boat, allowing the flourishing of commerce and business and, moreover, the supply of marble for the ongoing construction works of the Duomo. Today, the Naviglio Grande and its surroundings are a major tourist site, well known for its nightlife.

A small but characteristic religious site located on the Naviglio Grande waterfront, featuring a couple of churches. The first, a Romanesque one, was built in the 14th century on the place of an older one; the second, also known as the "Ducal Chapel", was completed in 1405 under the government of Gian Galeazzo Visconti.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

• A city of water: the unexpected Milan between canals and fresh fish
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• Qualified private guide
• A boarding pass for a one-hour cruise along the canals, on a public ferry boat

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• This Tour is Provided by Book Your Italy.
• Tour Timezone & Starts at Europe/Rome.
• Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
• All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
• This Tour is Rated 5 Stars based on 1 valid reviews on TRIPADVISOR.
• Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
• Maximum 9 Travelers is accepted for booking.