Navigli

Navigli (or singular Naviglio ) are the typical to the 20th century canals in and around Milan, whose use contributed as traffic routes in ancient times to the prosperity of the ancient Mediolanum.

The Ascended in late antiquity to the metropolis city owed ​​the resurgence in the early Middle Ages, not least the beginning around 1000 AD restoration of its ancient canal system.

The oldest of the Milan canals was Vettabia (from the Latin vectabilis, navigable ) and dates from the time of Emperor Hadrian (but probably of earlier origin ). Around the year 1100, the city begins construction. Over the centuries, and as a result of the improvement in technology to build locks, he became the central roundabout of an enormous network of channels whose severed head today axes of the Naviglio Grande Naviglio Pavese and the Naviglio della Martesana were and are. The Naviglio Grande brings water from the Ticino River, the Martesana comes from the Adda and the Naviglio Pavese aims at Pavia and the confluence of the Ticino with the Po (the latter shipping route to the Adriatic Sea is already planned in the 15th century, but only under the Napoleonic rule ended.

At times, as the road transport was slow and difficult, meant such channel connections in the fertile plain huge economic benefits. Then there was the great result of the spread of the water mill in the early Middle Ages energetic importance of the water-rich Alpine rivers.

Milan Cathedral was built with marble from the Alps, which was brought about Navigli practically up to the building site: Gian Galeazzo Visconti was built at the end of the 14th century a branch channel, the approach led to the cathedral building to 250 meters.

Under Spanish rule, the city walls of Milan were upgraded to 1560 and adapted the improved artillery technology. With the construction of the new Renaissance fortifications of the inner circle of the Milanese distribution channel system migrated behind the ring of bastions.

The so-called " artists " division of urban design in Milan in the Napoleonic era (1807 ) the system was allowed the Navigli still untouched, from the early days, however, began the decline of the Milan channels. The Domhafen had already been filled in 1857, 1877 began with the vaulting of the inner canal ring and made ​​in the era of Mussolini from 1929 to 1934 with regard to the increasing individual traffic most of the work. In 1969 the river bed of the annular channel was finally filled with cement. Great review there was inter alia to the destruction of the " Vicolo dei Lavandei ", the scrubber angle. After all, the protests were successful to the extent as at least preserved some peripheral sections of the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese and the harbor basin of Darsena. Today, the almost complete disappearance of the Milan Navigli is lamented in general; but it must be admitted that they have lost their transport function, with the advent of the railways and modern public and private transport and are probably also sometimes noticed by unpleasant smell in the summer.