Cycling in Lombardy: 10 family itineraries

Our itinerary starts from Desenzano to intercept the Mincio Cycle Route, known as the Peschiera Mantova. Explain to your children that this route is a bit special: you are riding one of the very first cycle paths built in Italy. Driven by the magic of these places, you pedal for 43.5 km, along the Mincio, and slightly downhill. Of course, if you don't want to face the uphill return journey, you can always take a train from Mantua!

The river accompanies us along the journey and a unique and varied landscape, rural, wooded and wet in places, with peat bogs and fountains, opens up before our eyes. Guided by the slow flow of the current we arrive in Mantua and, between the Laghi di Mezzo, Inferiore and Superiore lakes, the water seems to want to greet us with a final embrace.

This itinerary takes us on a discovery of one of the busiest waterways around Milan. Created to transport grain, timber and marble from Lake Maggiore to the Duomo factory, the Naviglio Grande has a long and interesting history to tell.

For cyclists, young and old, the most common meeting point is at the small church of San Cristoforo on the Alzaia Naviglio Grande in Milan. We set off in the direction of the Valle del Ticino Natural Park and, skirting the Naviglio Grande we enter a gradually quieter area: the small roads gradually become quieter, with low traffic, after Trezzano, about 12 km from the Darsena, bending towards Cusago and Cisliano. We return to the Naviglio cycle path near the 18th-century landing stage in the small ancient village of Robecco. We have now covered 30 km and can decide to arrive in Abbiategrasso, passing through the zero-growth village of Cassinetta di Lugagnano, and return by train with the bikes in tow.

If we say Franciacorta, our thoughts immediately go to 'bubbles'. In fact, it was in this moraine basin that a certain Dr Conforti, in the 16th century, had guessed that 'mordacious' wines could be made.

Cycling in this area means riding along undulating roads, past sloping terraces, parish churches, vineyards and monasteries. The cycle path from Paratico to Brescia is certainly the most suitable route for a family outing. All tarmac and partly on protected ground, the track leads to Clusane sul Lago and then into the Torbiere del Sebino Nature Reserve. An extraordinary route through forests and bodies of water, crossed by 2 km of dirt track and wooden footbridges. An enchanted place that seems to have come straight from a painter's palette, a beautiful wetland dominated by the unmistakable profile of the Cluniac Monastery of San Pietro in Lamosa.

Although it may sound strange, cycling in the mountains with children, even without electric bikes, is possible! Equipped rest areas and rental points make the Sentiero Valtellina suitable for everyone: it can be walked downhill and in the flatter central sections. The cycle and pedestrian path, which in its entirety follows the course of the Adda River, from Bormio, 1,225 metres, to Villa di Chiavenna, 633 metres, passes through Tirano, Sondrio, Morbegno, Colico and Chiavenna, in a landscape of terraced vineyards. The two stretches, 114 km in the Valtellina part, 42 in Val Chiavenna, meet near the Pian di Spagna and Lago di Mezzola Nature Reserve, a resting place for migratory birds north of Lake Como. The route is, for a good part, flanked by the railway, which gives the possibility to choose a part of the trail and return by train, after a short stop to taste Bitto, one of the typical local cheeses.

Fact or hearsay, in the Pavia area it is said that in the summer of 1895 a then unknown Albert Einstein, a student visiting family, cycled along these paths, and it is fascinating to think that the waters of the Ticino may have accompanied the great genius' restless thoughts. Certainly the Castello Visconteo, home to Pavia's Musei Civici, houses the great scientist's piano.

Our itinerary starts from the Ponte Coperto di Pavia in the direction of Abbiategrasso (40 km on the flat) and continues, skirting bends and floodplains, to the charming Ponte delle Barche di Bereguardo, which greets our passage with a creak under our wheels. The route continues and, after a modest climb, reaches Bereguardo where, having taken the Naviglio di Bereguardo cycle path, for 20 km we are surrounded by a unique landscape characterised by basins, locks and small stone bridges. Before arriving, Morimondo Abbey, from 1136, is most certainly worth a visit.

Quite unique and unlike classic cycle routes, the Valle Imagna cycle path is very distinctive in that it follows the old course of a canal that fed the hydroelectric power station in Clanezzo. The path, which is entirely flat and easy to ride, starts in Clanezzo, 16 km from Bergamo, and arrives in Strozza along a stretch of just 4 km. Immersed in a unique landscape, between springs of water and shady forests, you can test yourself on this mainly dirt track in complete safety thanks to the presence of railings;

The cycle path, which runs along the Imagna stream and Mount Ubione, is named after the engineer who designed the Chitò Bridge, an imposing water structure with six stone arches, at the end of the 19th century.

This wondeful cycle path has a flat and trouble-free course, making it accessible to all. Immersed in the Lombardy countryside just a few kilometres from Milan, you can cover 85 km of tarmac, dirt or gravel, following the course of the Villoresi Canal, the second-longest in Italy, built at the end of the 19th century;

Despite its ease, it is advisable to tackle the route in various stages in order to enjoy the natural, artistic and eno-gastronomic beauty of the region. Not to be missed are Boscherona Park and the Reggia di Monza Park, which is of great historical, natural and artistic value and is one of the largest walled parks in Europe. Changing direction, before reaching Cassano d'Adda, you can stop in the centre of Monza for a visit to the Cathedral, the Arengario and the Municipal Museums.

Why not treat yourself and your family to a few leisurely moments along this romantic cycle path, between the tranquil shores of the lake and the bright green meadows? The route, which is almost entirely flat and runs along the shore of the lake, is also suitable for children;

Starting from Buguggiate, you can reach the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Lago (Azzate) in just a few minutes, and immediately afterwards Bodio Lomnago, with its picturesque little harbour offering a fantastic view of Monte Rosa and Campo dei Fiori.

With a small detour, we reach Cazzago Brabbia, to visit the old "ice houses" where ice used to be stored in the past and used in the summer to preserve the freshly caught fish. Arriving in Biandronno, we make time for a quick excursion to Virginia Island and its Archaeological Museum before setting off again for lively Lake Gavirate and arriving at the small village of Calcinate del Pesce. Just a little more effort and you arrive at the Lido della Schiranna, where you can regain energy in one of the many snack bars and set off again for Buguggiate (starting point).

This route winds through the Cremona countryside for 38 km, passing areas characterised by their important fortifications, which take us back to the ancient "walled cities" of the past.

Starting from Pizzighettone, we arrive in Soncino, both protected by walls, and along the path, which is a combination of tarmac and dirt road, we are guided by "brown signs" indicating the route.

After passing through a few hamlets, we follow the Serio Morto river for about seven kilometres to reach San Bassiano, where our itinerary, following a section of the Antica Strada Regina, takes us to Santa Maria dei Sabbioni;

After reaching Soresina, we continue on to the Sanctuary of Ariadello and the Tombe Morte, and finally arrive at the ancient and well-preserved town of Soncino.

The route passes through the picturesque locations of the Valle del Serio Morto and Valle dei Navigli parks, offering unique views of the Adda and Oglio rivers, as well as of the natural embankments of the two river valleys and the Tombe Morte hydrographic node.

This circular route begins and ends at the Punto Parco Casa dell'Acqua in Paullo, along the banks of the mysterious Lake Gerundo and the irrigation ditches of the Lodigiano. The route, easy to pedal and suitable for family rides, in its approximately 25 km of tarmac offers the opportunity to immerse oneself in the rural landscape that characterises the Parco Agricolo Sud Milano and Adda Sud Park.

Starting from Paullo, one reaches Zelo Buon Persico via the cycle path from Zelo in the direction of Lodi. Take the time to admire the old 19th-century icebox and show the little ones how human ingenuity came up with unique solutions to everyday problems.

The Paradiso Fish Park is also well worth a visit, before heading towards the ancient farming village of Casolate and continuing our journey through the green area of the Adda Sud Park Point to the village of Galgagnano. We cross the Muzza canal over a beautiful cycle-pedestrian bridge and enter the villages of Mulazzano and Lanzano. We visit the town with its beautiful mediaeval church of San Barbaziano, to reach the confluence with Tribiano. From here, in a few hundred metres, we reach the Casa dell'Acqua di Paullo from where we started and enjoy the memories of what we have admired along our route.