Stage 1 · Chiaravalle → Morimondo
- Distance
- 36 km
- Elevation gain
- 20 m D+
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Surface
- 100% asphalt, 0% gravel · 79% on cycle routes
- Terrain
- Irrigated plains, water meadows
- Cycle path
- Naviglio Grande waterway
- Hospitality
- Hotels
GPX 1.1 file with the track, elevation and the abbeys as waypoints. Tracks are calculated on real roads and cycle routes (OpenStreetMap): check them on the ground before you set off.
Stage map
Map of the stage Chiaravalle → Morimondo: track, start, finish, places to stay and abbeys
Hover the profile to see the spot on the map
Tracks calculated on real roads and cycle paths (OpenStreetMap); elevations from SRTM data — to be checked on the ground
This stage on Komoot
The same track is on the project's Komoot profile: save it in the app and ride it with voice navigation.
Overview
A gentle start through the Milanese hinterland, departing from the historic Cistercian abbey of Chiaravalle and following flat farmland along the Navigli canals towards the Ticino valley.
Notes from the road
You leave Milan following the water, not the roads. The Naviglio flows flat past old farmhouses and tree rows, the pedalling turns almost absent-minded. Toward Morimondo the road runs along the canals, almost entirely paved. The abbey arrives suddenly beyond the fields, red brick against a low sky.
What to see
Abbey of Chiaravalle with its tiered tower, Naviglio Grande, Ticino Park landscape, Abbey of Morimondo, Lombard farmsteads and water meadows
Where to sleep
Morimondo: abbey guesthouse (40-50€); small B&Bs in the village (50-70€)
Where to eat
Risotto alla milanese, fresh pasta with butter and sage, Lombard cheeses (stracchino, taleggio)
Tips
Flat terrain, but the wind can be tiresome. Start in the morning. Leaving Milan needs care: follow the towpaths of the Navigli.
Water & supplies
A peri-urban stage across the plain: bars and fountains along the Naviglio Grande, with Gaggiano and Abbiategrasso towards the end. No isolated sections; the only caution is traffic leaving Milan. Fountain in Morimondo on arrival. On the Naviglio Grande towpath you share the lane with farm vehicles and residents' cars.
Places to stay on this stage
No places listed for this stage yet: the overnight network is a work in progress.
Abbeys on this stage
- Start abbey: Abbazia di Chiaravalle
- Finish abbey: Abbazia di Morimondo
An amateur, non-profit project. The tracks are indicative: everyone rides independently, at their own risk.