The best traffic-free bike rides around Comun Nuovo

La Porta San Lorenzo, officially renamed Porta Garibaldi in 1907, is the smallest, oldest, and most rustic of the four monumental gates that open onto the Venetian Walls of Bergamo, included since 2017 in the UNESCO World Heritage. It was built between 1562 and 1563. It takes its name from the ancient church of the same name that stood in the area and which was demolished by the government of the Republic of Venice precisely to make way for the fortifications. On June 8, 1859, Giuseppe Garibaldi, leading his "Cacciatori delle Alpi" volunteers, entered Bergamo through this gateway. He thus liberated the city from Austrian rule. A plaque on the facade commemorates the event. This historical link is the reason why Bergamo is today nicknamed the "City of the Thousand".

The Canale della Muzza is an important hydraulic work from the 12th-13th century that branches off the Adda river in Cassano d'Adda and extends for about 39 km to Castiglione d'Adda. It is one of the oldest and largest irrigation canals in Europe, fundamental for Lodi's agriculture, now also flanked by cycle paths.

The Città Alta is the historic and medieval heart of Bergamo, a jewel perched on a hill and entirely enclosed by the majestic Venetian Walls, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Unlike the modern Città Bassa located on the plain, the upper part retains the intact charm of its cobbled streets, period buildings, and historic squares.

The Esterle power plant was particularly well-designed from an architectural point of view, as it was intended to be representative of the Edison company that built it. It looks more like a Lombard pleasure villa than a true industrial facility. The effort to integrate the building into the surrounding territory, made in the early 20th century during the construction of the plant, was remarkable. Today it represents a significant example of monumental industrial archaeology and is known for its particular beauty. Inside, the walls and ceiling of the engine room were decorated with great care, as were the floors, lamps, light fixtures, and numerous wrought-iron furnishings.

Any trail that winds through its vicinity is wonderful, a shame about the interruption between Zelo and Galgagnano of the path due to the hunting area, incidentally a beautiful place part of the ADDA sud Park but inexplicably in the hands of one or more private individuals who have made it their "hunting park" by fencing it all in. I happened to get inside by mistake, finding one of the numerous open gates and could no longer get out, finding the others closed, receiving a couple of shots in the air behind my back to make me understand that I was not welcome! A real shame because it interrupts the descent from Zelo towards Lodi along the Adda. Beyond the "hunting park" I believe that the passage along the river (state-owned area!!) SHOULD always be guaranteed without any ifs or buts!

In Groppello d'Adda, along the Martesana Canal, there is a large waterwheel called "el rudun." It is not a mill, but a noria that was used to raise water for irrigation. It was built in 1618 at the behest of Cardinal Federico Borromeo. It was used to irrigate the vegetable gardens and gardens of the Archbishop's Villa. Tradition attributes the design to Leonardo da Vinci. The water also fed kitchens, washhouses, and livestock watering troughs. The original wheel was dismantled in the late 19th century. The current one is a 1989 reconstruction, restored several times. It has a diameter of 11 meters and eight large blades. Today, it is a historical and educational symbol that tells the story of the area's past.

Porta San Lorenzo, also known as Porta Garibaldi, is the smallest of the four gates to the upper town of Bergamo, built by the Venetian Republic between 1562 and 1563. It takes its name from the church of San Lorenzo, which was demolished for the construction of the city walls and was closed from 1605 to 1627 because it was deemed difficult to defend. On June 8, 1859, Giuseppe Garibaldi entered the city through this gate, an event commemorated by a plaque on its façade.

Surroundings of Cassano d'Adda