- Navigli
- Villages
- Art & Culture
Abbiatense's world of canals, churches and farmsteads
Commissioned by Duke Filippo Maria Visconti, the nearly 19-km-long Naviglio di Bereguardo was created for irrigation purposes and as a transport route for goods that were to arrive from Pavia via the Naviglio Grande to the Darsena in Milan.
Among these the most usual were salt from the Adriatic, firewood from Ticino, and cereals and wines from Oltrepò.
The historical peculiarity of this waterway are the basins present, among which to be mentioned is the one called the Abbey. Many consider it to be the first lock in the world that came into operation on an artificial canal. These hydraulic works, the pride of Lombard ingenuity but costly to maintain, were studied and designed by Leonardo in his codices. Again according to the vincian genius, the Lombards with this system could take boats even to the Alps.
Coming from the countryside on the horizon you will notice the white polygonal tower of Villa Bianchi Calvi. Its origin is ancient and certainly predates 1034, and over time it has undergone many changes. Of Visconti origin, it stands on a slope and dominates the village. Some traces of the quadrangular fortifications in the building are still visible. From a monumental point of view, the parish church of San Siro, built at the time of St. Charles Borromeo on an earlier church building, the Centurioni Palace, the Barzizza Palace and the Cagnola Palace also stand out.
(Ph: IG dave8ph)
The little church of Our Lady of Zerbo was founded in 1630 near the left bank of the Ticino River: inside is kept the sacred image from which the little church takes its name: a Madonna and Child, 16th-century fresco, altarpiece. It is a sacred image very dear to the local population, as the protagonist of a miraculous event. Entirely decorated inside are frescoes dated 1716-19 by Francesco Porro from Milan. Another characteristic place is the "semitori" with the parish church of St. Michael the Archangel and the ancient walls topped by the Da Torre coat of arms.
(Ph: IG schwarze_stern)
The little church of Our Lady of Zerbo was founded in 1630 near the left bank of the Ticino River: inside is kept the sacred image from which the little church takes its name: a Madonna and Child, 16th-century fresco, altarpiece. It is a sacred image very dear to the local population, as the protagonist of a miraculous event. Entirely decorated inside are frescoes dated 1716-19 by Francesco Porro from Milan. Another characteristic place is the "semitori" with the parish church of San Michele Arcangelo and the ancient walls topped by the Da Torre coat of arms.
(Ph. parcoticino.eguide.it)
