• Cycle Tourism
    • Active & Green
    • Art & Culture

Historic Villas and the Groane Park

A cycle touring itinerary, suitable for everyone, to get to know and enhance the landscapes of the area west of Milan.

Taking off from the Ferrovie Nord of Garbagnate-Parco delle Groane Station, where atop a bicycle you'll follow the path along the Villoresi Channels to arrive at the first stop on the route:

Villa Borromeo Visconti Litta, noted for its splendid gardens and lavish fountains. Further on the route we encounter the Rosa Camuna Park, named after the lake in the form of rosa camuna, the symbol of the Lombardy region.

Heading back on the trail for a small stretch backwards we arrive at the marvelous 18th century mansion, Villa Ricotta La Valera. A small deviation to the East will give you a look at the historic and now defunct Alfa Romeo factories. Continuing on to the Permanent Exhibition of peasant life and of furnaces located in some of the restored areas of the Siolo farm, in piazza del Lavatoio at Garbagnate before reaching the spectacular Villa Arconati.

We find ourselves inside Parco delle Groane with some of the most interesting natural locations like the Oasi WWF di Caloggio and the Sentiero delle 7 Cascate. Still cycling along the Villoresi Channel we head back up towards Senago where we can admire Villa Point, Villa Verzolo Monzini and Villa San Carlo Borromeo. The itinerary concludes with the last stop at Villaggio INA Casa di Cesate, built in 1956 thanks to the collaboration with some of the greatest architects of the epoch including Albini, Albricci and Gardella to then head back to the point of departure. 


Milestones:

- Villa Borromeo Visconti Litta, villa di delizia commissioned by Pirro I Visconti Borromeo and completed in 1585 was inspired by the fantastic Medici villas.

- Villa Ricotta La Valera, constructed by the Settala Lattuada family, was a splendid 18th century mansion attached to the ancient agricultural town.

- Permanent Exhibition of peasant life and of furnaces, home to some of the tools in the farming culture of the upper-class Milanese between the 19th and 20th centuries.

- Villa Arconati, one of the most beautiful and majestic of the Ville di Delizie of the province of Milan, reached its peak in the 18th century by Galeazzo Arconati

- Oasi WWF Caloggio, spanning 7 acres and containing the Nirone river, one of the natural waterways with the cleanest water between Ticino and Adda.

- Sentiero delle 7 Cascate, path that crosses 7 waterfalls and small artificial lakes

- Villa Ponti, Villa in Neogothic style surrounded by a vast park in the middle of which one can see the ruins of an ancient tower of the Visconti era.

- Villa Verzolo Monzini, contructed initially for agricultural purposes, was transformed into an elegant villa with frescoed interiors

- Villa San Carlo Borromeo, the villa in which Cardinal Federico Borromeo was received in the 17th century as one of the best theologians and thinkers of his time, today home to the International University of the Second Renaissance  

- Villaggio INA Casa di Cesate, one of the villages created by the state within the plan for reconstruction after the Second World War


Locations on the route:

-The historical center of Garbagnate, whose beautiful courts serve as a testimony to its agricultural past

- Lainate, whose history is connected to the events surrounding the Visconti Borromeo family

-Arese, where Alfa Romeo factories, now defunct, were once implanted

- Bollate, whose name comes from the celtic "gneiss" or birch, which is plentiful in the region

-Senago, situated in Groane Park

- Limbiate and its territory have a rich history

- Cesate, one of the most green towns of Lombardy

Take me here: Historic Villas and the Groane Park

On the same topic

Cycling from Morbegno to Colico

  • Cycle Tourism
Morbegno to Colico

Lombardy by bike: five family-friendly routes

Five easy cycle routes in Lombardy. For a family-friendly bike ride.
  • Cycle Tourism
Bici Settembre Lombardia

MTB-Boirolo (Tresivio), Bocchetta Mara

Boirolo (Tresivio), S.Stefano, Alpe Rogneda, Bocchetta di Mara - ritorno a Boirolo
  • Cycle Tourism
MTB-Boirolo (Tresivio), Bocchetta Mara

The Po plain

Let's discover the park of the Po Plain
  • Cycle Tourism
The Po plain

Itineraries. Slow biking in Lodi

Cycling along the Adda, you will discover a territory full of surprises.
  • Cycle Tourism
Itineraries. Slow biking in Lodi

The cycle road of val bregaglia

Outing in the Val Bregaglia.
  • Cycle Tourism
Tour: The Cycle-Road of Val Bregaglia

Cycling along the waterways

From Brianza's lakes to the canals of Milan, a cycle tour in surrounded by nature, villages and some surprising views
  • Cycle Tourism
Cycling along the waterways - Lombardy

From Garda to the Po

Frescoes depicting lobsters and pomegranates. Freshwater fish and spicy ravioli. The route between Lake Garda and the Po offers many delights
  • Cycle Tourism
From Garda to the Po

Tour the cycle road of the val seriana

La ciclovia della Val Seriana è uno degli itinerari più belli e varii della Lombardia.
  • Cycle Tourism
Tour: The Cycle-Road of the Val Seriana

MTB-Piateda, Ambria

Piateda, Previsdomini, Piateda Alta, San Bartolomeo Val Venina, Vedello, Ambria - ritorno a Piateda
  • Cycle Tourism
MTB-Piateda, Ambria

MTB-Berbenno, Alpe Caldenno

Berbenno di Valtellina, Polaggia, Gaggio, Prà Isio, Alpe Caldenno - ritorno a Berbenno di Valtellina
  • Cycle Tourism
MTB-Berbenno, Alpe Caldenno

MTB-La via dei Terrazzamenti

ovest. Morbegno, Ponte di Ganda, S. Croce, Selva Piana, provinciale per Dazio, Dazio, Regolido, S. Antonio, Bosco, Pilasco, Masino, Ardenno, Villapinta, Ronco, Maroggia, Piasci, Monastero, Regoledo di Berbenno, Foppa, Molini, Polaggia, Postalesio, Vendolo, Castione, Moroni, Triasso, Rocce Rosse, Colombera S. Anna, Campoledro, Sondrio est. Sondrio, Ponchiera, Montagna, Poggiridenti, Tresivio, Ponte, Chiuro, Castionetto di Chiuro, Teglio, Bianzone, Villa di Tirano, Tirano
  • Cycle Tourism
MTB-La via dei Terrazzamenti

MTB-Caspoggio S. Antonio

Caspoggio, Santa Elisabetta, Prabello, Sant’Antonio, Pianaccio, Braccia, Caspoggio
  • Cycle Tourism
MTB-Caspoggio S. Antonio

Between Ticino and Oglio

Artificial canals, aristocratic villas and historic towns with spectacular examples of industrial archaeology to discover by bike
  • Cycle Tourism
Between Ticino and Oglio

Train& Bike in Lombardy

Exciting adventures and relaxing bike rides, discovering the beauty of Lombardy
  • Cycle Tourism
Train&Bike in Lombardy

From Valtellina to Cremona area

Terraced vineyards, mountain bike trails and characteristic eateries. And a lake that you can by steamer, taking your bike with you
  • Cycle Tourism
From Valtellina to Cremona area

MTB-Albosaggia, San Giacomo

Albosaggia Porto, Albosaggia Centro, Contrio, Cà dei Boscacci, San Giacomo, San Bernardo di Faedo, Cà Romeri, Cà dei Giugni, Giambelli, Gandola, Albosaggia Centro, Monaci, Pedruzzi, Albosaggia Porto
  • Cycle Tourism
MTB-Albosaggia, San Giacomo

Lecco’s Brianza on two wheels

Cycle touring route along the Adda
  • Cycle Tourism
Along the Adda

Walled Cities Bike Lanes Itinerary

Itinerario la Ciclovia delle Città Murate percorriamolo !
  • Cycle Tourism
Walled Cities Bike Lanes Itinerary, pedalling in Lombardy

Cycling from Tirano to Sondrio

Discover the Beauties of Alta Valtellina: The terraces, the Sanctuary of Madonna di Tirano, the Little Red Train and much more
  • Cycle Tourism
Tirano to Sondrio