Navigli is one of the most romantic districts in Milan.
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Located South-West from the historical center of the city the district is named in honor of the Navigli canals that were once ubiquitous in this former port area. In its heyday, the canals formed a network with a length of 150 km, connecting the city with the rivers and lakes in the region of Lombardy. Canals were used for irrigation, supplied the city with water and were ideal to transport people and deliver goods from remote areas to the Alps and even to the sea.
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The construction of the old canal Ticinella began in 1179, after this, it was quickly followed by other canals. There were series of gateways to overcome the elevation, which at that time was quite a significant technical challenge. The Duke of Milan Ludovico di Moro in the late fifteenth century asked for help to Leonardo da Vinci, asking him to design an innovative system of water conduits.
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Only three canals have been preserved to this day: Navigli Della Martesana in the North-East, Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese in the South-West of Milan. The impoverished working-class district still looks a bit rough, but the situation is changing for the better since the 1980s, since the renovation of buildings along the canals. Navigli area began to attract artists, drawing inspiration from such unusual landscapes. Today in Milan there are plenty of bars and restaurants, some of which is in the old barges.