Cassinetta di Lugugnano, an elegant village overlooking the Naviglio

Cassinetta di Lugugnano, today a unified village but once formed by two distinct nuclei, has ancient origins. Lugagnano, dating back to Roman times, probably derives from Lucanianus, while Cassinetta originated from the fifteenth‑century Cassina Biraga, founded by Maffiolo Birago, master of the aula at the Visconti court.

The first documents concerning Lugagnano date back to 1251, when a fortified castle already existed. In 1451 the village passed as a fief to the Barzi family, with privileges over duties and trade. It was the site of pastoral visits by Saint Charles Borromeo in the sixteenth century and experienced troubled feudal events until it passed to the Trivulzio and then again to the Barzi. In 1862 the two territories were unified into the present municipality.

What to see in Cassinetta di Lugugnano

Cassinetta di Lugugnano, overlooking the Naviglio Grande, preserves an architectural and landscape heritage of great charm. The village unites the two nuclei of Cassinetta and Lugagnano through a characteristic humpback bridge built in 1862, next to which stands the statue of Saint Charles Borromeo, commemorating his stop here in 1584.

Of particular note are the Church of Santa Maria Nascente and Sant’Antonio Abate and the Oratory of San Giuseppe (1742), a refined example of Lombard Rococo.

Along the canal stand the splendid ville di delizia, summer residences of the great Milanese families: among them Villa Negri, with its scenic perspective entrance; Villa Visconti Castiglione Maineri, with Italian and English gardens; Villa Cattaneo Krentzlin, elegant and protected by greenery; Villa Castiglioni Nai Bossi, eighteenth‑century, attributed to the same owner; and the monumental Villa Birago Clari Monzini, the oldest and largest patrician residence, once connected to the Naviglio by a long tree‑lined avenue.

Other prestigious residences include Villa Trivulzio, Villa Morlin‑Visconti, Villa Frotta Eusebio, Villa Mantegazza Macinaghi, Villa Clari, Villa Beolco Negri (today the town hall), and Villa Bodio Parravicini, of which the façade remains. Testimony to the agricultural and proto‑industrial vocation of the village is Cascina Biraga (1428), with its irrigation ditch and still functioning mill.

Cassinetta thus reveals itself as an open‑air museum along the Naviglio.

Events that enliven the village

Cassinetta di Lugugnano offers a rich calendar of events that combine tradition, sport, and conviviality. It opens in January with the Sagra della Frittella for Saint Anthony Abbot, followed in April by the Maratona dei Navigli, a race immersed in the landscape of the Ticino Park. In May and June the village hosts the International Festival of Urban Theatre and numerous fairs: Frog, Rice, Gorgonzola, and Salami, as well as the lively Notte Bianca. September is dedicated to the patronal feast of Saint Charles Borromeo, the Stracassinetta race, and typical fairs (Goose, Donkey Stew, Wild Boar, Polenta Taragna). In November the calendar closes with the Sagra della Caldarrosta, all organized by the local Pro Loco association.

Leisure around Cassinetta di Lugugnano

Cassinetta di Lugugnano offers many opportunities for leisure between nature and culture. The area is ideal for country walks, cycling routes, and navigation along the Navigli.

At the Tourist Information Point it is possible to book free guided tours of the villas and the village, thanks to the volunteers of the Pro Loco. The Navigli Cycle Tourism Park offers a 200‑km loop among paved roads, dirt tracks, and cycle paths, immersed in the rural landscapes of the South Agricultural Park and the Ticino, with the possibility of stops in local trattorias. The Naviglio Grande, a 50‑km navigable canal, offers a fascinating itinerary: from Cassinetta to Castelletto di Cuggiono one encounters patrician villas, historic villages, bridges, and the splendid Canonica of Bernate Ticino.

And now it’s your turn to enjoy Cassinetta di Lugugnano!

Photo credits: www.italia.it