• 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

MTB-Ponte, Val Fontana

Ponte stazione, San Rocco, Sant’Antonio, Piano dei Cavalli, Alpe Campiascio - ritorno a Ponte stazione
  • Cycle Tourism
MTB-Ponte, Val Fontana

By bike through the streets of Lodi

Discovering the Liberty style on two wheels
  • Cycle Tourism
By bike through the streets of Lodi

In and Around Bergamo on Two Wheels

Exploring Bergamo by bike
  • Cycle Tourism
In and Around Bergamo on Two Wheels

MTB - Percorsi a Castello dell'Acqua

Castello dell'Acqua
  • Cycle Tourism
MTB - Percorsi a Castello dell'Acqua

Lecco’s Brianza on two wheels

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

MTB-Campo Franscia, Campagneda, Prabello

Campo Franscia, Largone, Alpe Campascio, Alpe Campagneda, Alpe Prabello - ritorno a Campo Franscia
  • Cycle Tourism
MTB-Campo Franscia, Campagneda, Prabello

MTB-Fusine, Valmadre

Fusine, La Madonnina, Casa Borghetti, Dosso di Sopra, Valmadre, Le Tecce, Baita Forni, Casera Dordona, Passo Dordona - ritorno a Fusine
  • Cycle Tourism
MTB-Fusine, Valmadre

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

The cycle routes of the Po

An old pontoon bridge. Swamps and reeds. Handcrafted jewelry. And tasty boiled meat dishes and Grana Padano to eat. 10 stages to discover
  • Cycle Tourism
The cycle routes of the Po

Cycling to Cernusco sul Naviglio

  • Cycle Tourism
Cycling to Cernusco sul Navigliov

MTB-Triangia, Lago Colina

Triangia (Sondrio), Ligari, Forcola, Poverzone, Alpe Prato Secondo, Alpe Marscenzo, Alpe e Lago Colina - ritorno a Triangia
  • Cycle Tourism
MTB-Triangia, Lago Colina

Cycling from Morbegno to Colico

  • Cycle Tourism
Morbegno to Colico

Valsassina cycle route

This trail is ideal for the entire family
  • Cycle Tourism
bike tour in lombardia como lecco

Cycling along the Navigli

Discovering the incredible Navigli area of Lombardy on two wheels.
  • Cycle Tourism
Cycling along the Navigli

Along the river Po, between Lodi and Cremona territories

Fiume Po, fiume Adda, scorci impensati in piccoli borghi
  • Cycle Tourism
Along the river Po, between Lodi and Cremona territories

MTB-Boirolo (Tresivio), Bocchetta Mara

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

From Como to Cremona

Canals, tricycles and a funicular that made history. And, to drive away hunger, high-calorie soft cheeses (with or without bread)
  • Cycle Tourism
From Como to Cremona

Itineraries. Slow biking in Lodi

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

MTB-Chiesa, Rifugio Bosio

Chiesa in Valmalenco, strada per Primolo, Lago di Chiesa, Alpe Airale, Rifugio Bosio, Lago di Chiesa, Alpe Pirlo, strada per Lago di Chiesa - ritorno a Chiesa Valmalenco
  • Cycle Tourism
MTB-Chiesa, Rifugio Bosio

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