Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Brunch
Housed in an 18th-century laundry,
El Brellin
( 02 5810 1351;
www.brellin.com
;
cnr Vicolo dei Lavandai 14 & Alzaia Naviglio Grande 14; meals €40-45; Mon-Sat)
is a ro-
mantic spot. The Sunday brunch buffet is laden with cured meats, scrambled
eggs, smoked salmon, and homemade desserts including the Milanese in-
joke, biscuit-filled chocolate 'salami'.
Boat Tours
Canals were the autostrade of medieval Milan, transporting lumber, marble,
salt, oil and wine. The largest, Navigli Grande, grew from an irrigation ditch
to become one of the city's busiest thoroughfares. You can take a boat tour
with
Navigli Lombardi
( 02 9227 3118;
www.naviglilombardi.it
;
Alzaia Naviglio
Grande 4, Porta Genova area near Scodellino bridge; adult/reduced €12/10;
Apr-Sep;
Porta Genova,
3)
, for views of the churches and villas that line its banks.
Aperitivo
On weekend and summer evenings, Milanese come for Navigli's
aperitivo
scene. Almost every bar along the Navigli Grande offers an
aperitivo
buffet.
Some, like
El Brellin
(see No 2, left) , while grungy
Plat du Jour
( 02 832
1823; Via Vigevano 2; Tue-Sun; Porta Genova, 2, 3)
overflows with beer-touting
20-somethings. Corks start popping at about 7pm.
Browsing
With its old laundries and warehouses, pretty iron bridges and low rents,
Navigli is home to a thriving community of artists and musicians. Eclectic stu-
dios and shops line the canals, perfect for window-shopping. Highlights in-
clude
Mauro Bolognesi
(
02 837 6028;
www.maurobolognesi.com
;
Ripa di Porta Ti-
Porta Genovese)
with modern collect-
cinese 47;
9.30am-12.30pm & 3-7pm Tue-Sat;