mastro Orso

If you look the territory of
Cremona from above, you will
notice a thick network of intersecting
lines, which almost get
mixed up with the streets. It is actually
the provincial network of
irrigation and boat canals, which
has been an essential element for
the local economy and agriculture
for centuries. The towpaths that
coast the courses of water are now
greenways that allow you to travel
and do some physical exercise
far from the smog and the traffic
of the national roads.
The cycle-road
of the Walled Towns
The cycle-route of the Walled
Towns passes through the most
interesting towns surrounded by
historic walls in the province of
Cremona, from Pizzighettone to
Soncino. The Torre del Guado,
in Pizzighettone, the symbol of
the entire route, is the starting
point. You will exit the walls and,
riding along the Serio Morto
River, you will arrive in Formigara.
The route passes through
the Regional Natural Park of
Adda Sud, among a countryside
spotted by farms and riding
schools. The woody oxbow lakes
will accompany you up to San
Bassano. From the small village
of Santa Maria dei Sabbioni you
will continue north-ways passing
through the two irrigation ditches,
called Bernarda and Gallotta,
a plain dotted with characteristics
farms that leads you to
Soresina. The modern town is an
industrial point of reference for
the wide farming area. After few
thrusts on the pedals, you will arrive
in front of the Santuario di
102 Straight stretches of water • The province of Cremona
Adiadello, while in Tomba Morta
you can glimpse the most important
hydraulic junction in Cremona.
Soncino is the final destination
of your route; the impressive
walls built by the Sforzas embrace
its historic centre, which
consists of small blocks of houses
along with the towering fifteenth
century fort, one of the
best preserved in Lombardy.
The Navigli of Cremona
1 st stage
Our adventure starts in Paullo,
in the province of Milan, even
though the real starting point is
actually when you cross the Adda
River reaching the towpath of
Canale Vacchelli.
The canal, which is an extraordinary
work designed by the engineer
Pietro Vacchelli in 1887,
allowed the irrigation of most of
the plain of Crema. The route
follows the water on a pleasant
dirt track so that you may fully
enjoy the glimpses of the plain of
Crema. Some short detours lead
you to some very interesting spots
full of history: the Castello Visconteo
in Pandino is considered
one of the most interesting fortified
areas of the region. Palazzo
Pignano, nearby, hosts the
Romanesque Parrocchiale di San
Lorenzo, which testifies an illustrious
past followed by a contemporary
silent atmosphere of the
rural village. Once you have arrived
near Cremosiano, you will
take the Ciclabile dei Mosi on
your right, which shortly leads
you to Crema, where the
Lombard environments melt with
the remnants of the old Venetian
domination. Do not miss the two
artistic gems: the gothic Dome
with a “wind façade” and the elegant
Renaissance Santuario di
S. Maria della Croce, 1 km far
from the centre.
The Navigli of Cremona
2 nd stage
Leaving Crema behind, you will
cross the Serio River coasting
Canale Vacchelli again. The
route continues similarly to the
first stage with less historic sights,
but surrounded by a delightful
countryside, which brings to
memory the “artificial homeland”
praised by Carlo Cattaneo.
In Tombe Morte you will
see an extraordinary scene: the
meeting of the canals of Cremona
and their following departing.
From here you will continue
along Naviglio Civico di
Cremona, a canal built by the
ancient Romans and extended
by Azzone Visconti in 1337.
You will coast its course that
runs southward, leaving it only
for a short stretch between Casalmorano
and Mirabello Ciria.
In Casalbuttano, a real cycle
track begins, which is almost entirely
paved, being a remarkable
example of cycle-tourist road
that ends in Cremona. There
are several sights to visit in the
city, especially the buildings in
the centre: the Dome, the
Torrazzo, the Babtistery and the
Palazzo del Comune, which
form a rare homogeneous mix of
structures.
• Sotto:
Santuario
di Santa Maria
della Croce
a Crema
• Below:
the Santuario
di Santa Maria
della Croce
in Crema
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