Cassinetta di Lugagnano

As the majority of ancient settlements along the Naviglio Grande, Cassinetta di Lugagnano as well bends its history and its destiny to the presence of the canal that represented an important route of communication and transport to Milan for centuries. Basically, this village is the result of two parallel stories, one is quiet and the other rich of misfortunes. What unites them is a granite bridge, built in the XVII century, which connected the two opposite banks of the Naviglio Grande. The most ancient part of the village is Lugagnano, on the right bank of the Naviglio Grande, whose first settlements date back to the Roman era. It was extended up to Abbiategrasso and it became an important Medieval feud (together with the nearby Robecco sul Naviglio) whose dominion passed from one lord to another. Various documents attest that the country was perched around a castle with a moat. However, to this day only a few things of that era still exist.

A different story is the one that affected the core of the village located on the other side of the Naviglio: Cassinetta. The term would come from Cassina Biraga, with reference to the founder of this suburb, Maffiolo Birago, noble of the Duchy of Milan, that here in 1435 ordered the creation of the most ancient church of the place dedicated to Beata Vergine and Sant'Antonio Abate. A few years before he also dig an artificial canal (called Roggia Biraga), which derived from the Naviglio Grande, that would start the blades of a mill (Mulino della Pazza Biraga) that is still working today.

The importance and the functionality of the Naviglio in those centuries enabled the creation of the fortunes that the place benefits. In addition to the commercial transportation of goods, the Naviglio also allowed, with a certain comfort for that age, to go out of the city and reach holiday and hunting resorts. This is how increasingly wealthy families discovered the calm and the fresh and healthy air of these rural areas, and owning a property along the watercourses that surrounded Milan became the trend of the moment. Therefore the Villa di Delizia (House of delight) was created: noble homes, surrounded by parks and gardens. Some of these deserve to be visited and admired for their grace and elegance, surrounded by the green and the slow flowing of the Naviglio Grande waters.

BY CAR

• From Bologna: Take the A14 highway, continue on the A1 highway, near Milan, take the Tangenziale Ovest - A50, take the exit towards Vigevano, continue on the SS 494, cross Castelletto, continue on Viale Giotto, take the SP 197 and follow the signs for Cassinetta di Lugagnano.
• From Turin: Take the A4 motorway in the direction of Milan, exit in the direction of Marcallo - Mesero, take the SS 336DIR in the direction of Vigevano / Magenta, continue on the SS 526, continue towards Robecco sul Naviglio, Cassinetta di Lugagnano.
• From Como: Take the A8-A9 motorway, continue on the A50, continue on the A4 motorway in the direction of Turin, exit in the direction of Marcallo - Mesero, take the SS 336DIR in the direction of Vigevano / Magenta, continue on the SS 526 , continue towards Robecco sul Naviglio, Cassinetta di Lugagnano.
• From Genoa: Take the A7 highway, exit at Binasco, continue in the direction of Casorate Primo, take the SP 30, continue on the SS 494, cross Castelletto, continue on Viale Giotto, take the SP 197 and follow the signs for Cassinetta di Lugagnano.
• From Milan: Take the West ring road, exit towards Vigevano, continue on the SS 494, cross Castelletto, continue on Viale Giotto, cross Abbiategrasso and continue towards Cassinetta di Lugagnano.

BY PLANE

• Milan Malpensa Airport
• Milan Linate Airport
• Bergamo airport
• Turin airport
• Genoa airport

BY SEA

• Port of Genoa