The fascinating history of canals starts in the second half of the twelfth century with the construction of the first fairway. The first channel, the Ticinello, was inaugurated in 1179,and with its 50 km of length, began the building of the great canal. For the constructionof canals were senior engineers set to work and it is still possible to appreciate the ingenious system of locks designed by Leonardo da Vinci in the late fifteenth century: think it was the distant 1482, when Ludovico il Moro, Leonardo entrusted the task of designing a system to allow navigation from Lake Como to Milan. Over the years, thecanals were very neglected and in 1977 the state handed over the management ofMartesana the region, which in 1980 started a project for the upgrading of the area. Thecanals were once very popular and were the haunt of shops and flea markets. Currently, this has become an exclusive area, where models, artists, academics and youngseedlings, flit from one bar to another by exchanging small talk. But the atmosphere at the Navigli is very particular, perhaps because next to the premises ”to” survive even the small craft shops, or perhaps because the courtyards of the houses are colored withbright colors and intense with the setting sun: the is certain is that wherever you positionyour eye, there is something beautiful and exciting to see.