Its position makes it easy to quickly reach Bergamo with the marvels of the Upper City, Milan’s shopping streets, Lake Como, and the Bergamo valleys. River Adda, which it overlooks, offers many long and short trips.
This is the village built by the renowned family of cotton industrialists who, in the mid-19th century, decided to construct quality accommodation for their employees. Alongside the factory, their “Ideal workers’ village”, now part of the UNESCO world heritage, took shape.
After leaving the gates of Residenze Daniele Crespi, you can begin excursions, on foot or by bicycle, along the river and the navigable canals. The pedestrian-cycle paths make it possible to reach the centre of Milan, or, from the opposite bank, lake Como.
If you like hiking, a more challenging, but undoubtedly interesting, route is currently being completed, the Leonardo Path which takes enthusiastic walkers from Milan Cathedral up to the 2,350 metres altitude of the Baldiscio Pass, on the slopes of San Bernardino.
Also known as the Orobia area, Bergamo’s valleys are settings where nature reigns supreme. A dense network of tracks leads up to the highest peaks, for leisure, relaxation and sports activities, both in summer and in winter, the perfect period for everyone who loves skiing. .
Its geographical position places it virtually midway between the Lombard regional capital, the city of Bergamo and the town in the Brianza district, an area that represents an example of efficiency in Europe for the number of companies and professional studios present.
Alongside the A4 Motorway, the Kilometro Rosso (Red Kilometre) is the leading private innovation hub in Europe. A Scientific and Technology Park that hosts companies, high-tech manufacturing businesses, research centres and laboratories, and that offers the technical, logistics, promotional and training IT activities essential for incentivising Research, Development and Technological Innovation.
People travelling with their own vehicles can use the motorway toll gate at Trezzo d’Adda to reach the central districts of the Lombard capital and the city of Bergamo. For those intending to reach the eastern parts of Milan, local or provincial roads could offer more convenient routes.
For those who prefer to use public transport, an important opportunity is provided by the Metropolitana Milanese Green line, the suburban railway whose eastern terminal is in the municipality of Gessate, on the provincial road midway between Gorgonzola and Villa Fornaci, linked to the centre of Vaprio by a bus service.
Starting point: Milan (province of Milan), 120 m above sea level
Destination: San Bernardino (municipality of Mesocco, Switzerland), 1,608 m above sea level
Distance: 300 km
Total ascent: about 1,500 m
Roads: a historic route consisting mainly of cycle paths and tracks
The Leonardo Path is named after the genius born in Vinci who designed the locks along the river Adda, and it links Milan to Switzerland: more specifically, the track runs from the Lombard capital to the hamlet of San Bernardino.
The 300-km route runs along the Naviglio Martesana canal, through Trezzo d’Adda and then along the river, reaching Paderno, Brivio and Imbersago where, by taking Leonardo’s ferry, you can cross the Adda from the bank on the Lecco province side at Imbersago to the opposite bank at Villa d’Adda (province of Bergamo). From here the route continues to reach Lecco, and then it moves on to the Sentiero del Viandante (wayfarer’s path) until Colico and then to Pian di Spagna (the Spagna plain), over the Passo bridge at Sorico, successively reaching the Ancient Roman ways Via Francisca and Via Spluga: Chiavenna, Madesimo, the Baldiscio Pass and finally reaching Switzerland.
Starting point: Cassano D’Adda (MI), 133 m above sea level
Destination: Lecco (LC), 214 m above sea level
Distance: 50 km
Total ascent: about 80 m
Tracks: protected cycle paths or vehicular roads with little traffic; tarmac surface with a few sections of dirt track.
The Ciclovia dell’Adda (Adda cycle path) runs through Vaprio d’Adda, location of the remarkable Villa Melzi which hosted Leonardo da Vinci for some years; the track begins a short distance to the south, in Cassano d’Adda, and it offers an easy route, ideal for families, making it possible to reach the city of Lecco celebrated in Alessandro Manzoni’s writings.
Cassano d’Adda, Vaprio d’Adda and, soon after, we reach the famous industrial village Crespi d’Adda, part of the Unesco heritage, before continuing on to the castle in Trezzo sull’Adda built by the Visconti family, just a few kilometres away. On the river bank, on the right, first of all we see the Ecomuseo di Leonardo (Leonardo da Vinci Ecomuseum) and then the large and impressive iron bridge at Paderno d’Adda. The pleasant and relaxing route continues, bringing us first to Brivio and eventually to Lecco.