Travel Diary: Walking along Naviglio Grande in Milan’s Navigli District

Naviglio Grande Milan Navigli District

Naviglio Grande is the place to be in Milan, especially during summer evenings. In the Navigli district there is one Restaurant next to another Café and Restaurant, the houses are cute and small and in between you can find individually owned shops and art galleries. Naviglio Grande is the last Canal that is still intact in Milan, on each side you find numerous gastronomies and you can sit outside and just enjoy life. Water always brings in some special atmosphere, everything is more relaxed and crossing the water via bridges brings as well nice photo opportunities.

During my Sightseeing Walk along Naviglio Grande in Milan’s Navigli District I felt like I was walking in some small Italian village, and not in the metropolitan city of Milan. There are no skyscrapers in sight and the people felt all so relaxed. Compared to busy and modern areas like Porta Nuova, you can find an illy Restaurant there, it’s so quiet at Naviglio Grande.

Naviglio Grande, a river, is not the only one in Milan. There are in total three that all meet at the Darsena Basin. Naviglio Pavese comes from Pavia, south, Naviglio della Martesana from Lake Como, north-east, and Naviglio Grande from west. Initially they were used as transport routes but they disappeared more and more. Actually, they had to ‘leave’ as more and more people lived in Milan as well as so much water in a city attracted animals and they started to stink.

Nowadays Navigli and all around Naviglio Grande and the Darsena Basin is where the street-life takes place. When I went there during the early afternoon many people were sitting on outdoor terraces enjoying their Lunch. There are Lunch Packages for 10€ including a big Salad and a Drink for example, but also Gelaterias, vegan Fastfood or typical Pizza and Pasta. You definitely can’t leave Naviglio Grande in Milan’s Navigli District hungry. To enjoy the quick trip I went to Universo Vegano, a vegan fast food chain with stores all over Italy, and had my favorite Ice-Tea. They even served my San Benedetto Thé with a glass and ice cubes, how thoughtful! People watching, a mild breeze and the brooding Italian sun – you can really enjoy la dolce vita in Navigli!

Address Naviglio Grande in Milan

Alzaia Naviglio Grande
20123 Milan
Italy

Next Milan Metro Station: Porta Genova, Line 2
otherwise you can take an UBER in Milan

Naviglio Grande Milan Navigli District

Naviglio Grande Milan Navigli District

Navigli Street-Art
Navigli Street-Art

Naviglio Grande Milan Navigli District

Naviglio Grande Milan Navigli District

Naviglio Grande Milan Navigli District

Naviglio Grande Milan Navigli District

Naviglio Grande Milan Navigli District

Naviglio Grande Milan Navigli District

Love Locks on a Bridge over Naviglio Grande
Love Locks on a Bridge over Naviglio Grande

Naviglio Grande Milan Navigli District

Darsena Basin
Darsena Basin

Naviglio Grande Milan Navigli District

Naviglio Grande Milan Navigli District

Naviglio Grande Milan Navigli District

Naviglio Grande Milan Navigli District

Naviglio Grande Milan Navigli District

Naviglio Grande Milan Navigli District

Naviglio Grande Milan Navigli District

Naviglio Grande Milan Navigli District

San Benedetto Thé at Univero Vegano Naviglio Grande
San Benedetto Thé at Univero Vegano Naviglio Grande
vintage yellow Vespa in Navigli Milan
vintage yellow Vespa in Navigli Milan

About

Outdoor Lifestyle Blogger Lisa JoyDellaVita

Lisa is a Blogger for more than a decade now, sharing her adventures exploring the world on JoyDellaVita, as well as excursions into the culinary world, sustainable choices, how to live a healthy active lifestyle but overall, how to enjoy a life full of joys.