Monks' Way

From S. Eustorgio - Parco delle Basiliche this last section of the Via Francigena Renana leaves Milan developing a route responding to the fundamental need to propose a path able to obviate the problems posed by infrastructural interventions of fast connection with heavy environmental impact (TAV, highway network, etc.)

...to ensure a path as linear as possible, suitable for "Rhenish Francigene" wayfarers i.e. long-distance travelers; to touch places of unmissable historical importance; to connect with historical/religious routes of (trans)European importance.

The route exits Milan favoring the axis of Corso di Porta Romana, where Hospitalia for Roman pilgrims stood( S. Lazzaro, Teatro Carcano area; Ss. Peter and Paul now private studio); it continues to Nocetum and from there to Chiaravalle along the Vettabbia park; it goes on to Viboldone and then touches the not-to-be-missed passages of Melegnano, Vizzolo Predabissi (Cluniac site) and Lodi vecchio, with Basilica of S. Bassiano; it then continues to San Colombano al Lambro where it intersects the Way of St. Columba-no. From San Colomba-no, by a direct route, it leads to Sigeric's Via Francigena and then to Orio Litta and Corte Sant'Andrea, from which the Po can be forded to Soprarivo/Caledasco.

The passage from Lodi Vecchio and S. Bassiano is essential not only because of the historical-co-artistic importance of the place, which goes back to the origins of Christianity in Lombardy, to St. Ambrose and the birth of the first Lombard dioceses, but also because it intersects the Itinerarium Burdigalense, the oldest pilgrimage route to Jerusalem.

Technical information
Starting point: Milan S. Eustorgio
Point of arrival: Corte Sant'Andrea. For Roman pilgrims passage of the Po from Corte to Soprarivo (Calendasco-PC-)
Length 67.02 (km)
Difficulty: easy
Means of travel: on foot, by bike
Possible ford of the Po by authorized private ferry.
Pedestrian signage: from Nocetum to Corte Sant'Andrea "Monks' Path" sticker placed by Nocetum Association to indicate identity of purpose. The metropolitan section has no signage.