The best walks and hikes around Sesto San Giovanni

Parco Nord Milano is a large regional protected area that extends for about 790 hectares in the northern suburbs of the metropolitan city, representing one of the main green lungs of Europe in an urban setting. Born in the 70s as an environmental redevelopment project of old industrial areas, formerly Breda, and degraded agricultural lands, today the park touches as many as seven municipalities in the Milanese suburbs. It is a very rich ecosystem made up of large meadows, artificial wooded areas, canals, and bodies of water, ideal for sports, walks, and outdoor relaxation.

Porta Venezia, formerly called Porta Orientale (it was renamed in the 18th century, during Austrian rule) was one of the 8 toll barriers, but above all one of the triumphal entrances to Milan. Its toll houses, which separate corso Venezia from corso Buenos Aires, were built in 1828 by Rodolfo Vantini, an architect who won a competition to replace the two previous toll houses, which were considered too humble and remained unfinished. Vantini built two parallelepiped-shaped buildings, open on three sides with porticoes with Doric order columns; to adorn them, he included sculptures by artists. In the corners, he had Carrara marble statues placed. Looking closely, one notices that high up, on all facades, there are bas-reliefs with scenes from Milanese history.

The creation of an articulated and complex water system, with ponds, lakes, fountains and canals, began in 1992 with the construction of the Laghetti Suzzani and continues today thanks to the construction of the two large lakes in the eastern sector of the Park, in Niguarda and Bruzzano. Excavations for the construction of the artificial Suzzani lake inside the Parco Nord Water is a fundamental element for biodiversity and the landscape, and its presence significantly increases the species present: aquatic plants, insects, amphibians, fish, reptiles. The greatest impact is noted on the increase in birdlife: not only have water hens, mallards and coots spontaneously settled and nest permanently, but sometimes you can come across rarer species that prefer humid environments such as the grey heron and the kingfisher.

The decorated window of the Sanpietro Milano pastry shop, featuring an artistic illustration in the style of Jacopo Ascari depicting a cityscape with sweets and a female figure.

Maybe it's Women's Day, maybe it's the first day of Almost Spring, but today even on bikes we're going at a walking pace.

The most valuable historical asset within the Park, owned by Parco Nord Milano, is this beautiful building. A sumptuous villa in the 16th century, it later served as a peasant residence and lodgings for Breda workers, and finally as a military headquarters during the Nazi occupation. The Villa was purchased by the Park in the early 1980s, preserved from decay, and then renovated and transformed, thanks to a private developer, into a luxury hotel and conference center. Rich in Renaissance frescoes, depicting views and patrician scenes, the Villa is open to the public for guided tours once a month, hosting important conferences, such as the opening day of the "Biodiversity Festival."

The Sesto Rondò stop is a station on the M1 (red) line of the Milan Metro, located in the municipality of Sesto San Giovanni. In operation since 1986, it serves as a crucial hub between Sesto Marelli and Sesto 1º Maggio FS. The area is served by a pedestrian underpass between Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza Garibaldi. Elevators have recently been installed.

Milan has 18 tram lines that run throughout the city until after midnight: this is the means of transport with the most extensive schedule. Trams are numbered 1 to 33. Unlike the metro, which was created relatively late (in the second half of the 20th century), trams have been running in Milan since 1876, and at that time they were pulled by horses. Unlike Paris and other cities, trams have never stopped being used in Milan.