The Hydroscalo of "Milan" monumental work

At 2,500 meters long, 300 meters wide and with an average depth of about 3 meters, consisting of more than 2 million mc of groundwater fed by the waters of the Martesana, the Hydroscalo of the Province of Milan was inaugurated on 28.10.1930 by the Podesta of Milan, in the presence of Mussolini for the first inaugural ditching.

Andrea Fiorentini Architect

A great project, started to build only two years earlier in 1928, on the wings of the enthusiasm rampant at the time for seaplanes, also fueled by the first great successes of italian aviation in the international field, and by the famous crossings Italo Balbo, minister of the regime's air force.

The geographical shape of the Italian peninsula led to the idea that commercial aviation would develop mainly on water, hence the interest in the construction of the hydroscali throughout the country, strengthened by a law 1927 which required its construction in all the provinces of Italy.

In fact, already in the first years of the life of the Milan seaplane aviation developed more on land and the hydroscalo immediately assumed a vocation of a predominantly sporty character, already in 1934 the first European championships of rowing and rowing were held here. Motorboating.

Lucchini Cave and Draghe, already present in the area with numerous quarries for the construction of the nearby freight port of Lambrate, was commissioned to dig the material for free in exchange for the construction of the project. of the seaplane, considerable commitment considering the millions of mc of sand and gravel to be excavates by the modest means of the time.

In the following years and still today the seaplane has lived as a place of sport and recreation, popularly called the "sea of Milanese", is still a great environmental and landscape resource of Our territory.

Not everyone knows that the hydroscalo falls almost entirely on the territory of the Municipality of Segrate, with the exception of a small portion to the south on Peschiera Borromeo, and that for a few days it is easily accessible by foot or bicycle along a bike path that thanks to two new walkways allows you to access it safely.