The Parco Agricolo Nord Est includes the Parco del Molgora, the Parco del Rio Vallone and the Parco Cavallera, extending into 22 municipalities that belong mainly to the Province of Monza and Brianza, but also to the Metropolitan City of Milan and the Province of Lecco.
The Park includes mostly farmland intended for planting that is surrounded at times by hedges and rows and by poppies and camomile at other times. Robinia forests where squirrels, rabbits, foxes and badgers take refuge, colorful meadows overflown by birds and butterflies, and wetlands that are home to fish, amphibians, lizards and lizards. This is the environment of high naturalistic value, which is also flanked by rural architecture, farmsteads, chapels, shrines and villas, vestiges of the area's ancient agricultural past.
What to do in the park
Many are the paths that cross the park where you can walk independently or practice running, trekking, cycling or horseback riding. Check out the mappa to locate the trails and access points.
Farms in the Park often open their doors to the public for direct sales, catering, classes and environmental education activities.
In the Park you can also take part in guided tours for children and adults and there is also an environmental education service designed not only for schools.
Parco del Molgora
The Park covers an area of about 1,000 hectares where the Molgora stream flows: from the hills of Carnate, Usmate and Velate to the plains of Vimercate, Burago Molgora, Agrate, Caponago and Carugate.
The environment, conditioned by watercourses, consists of wooded areas, cultivated fields alternating with uncultivated meadows, as well as some wetlands in which there is typical marsh vegetation, characterized by the presence of the marsh reed (Phragmites australis) and the deaf mace (Thypha latifolia). The presence of numerous protected plant species makes it interesting from a botanical point of view. A number of animal species have found refuge within the park: mainly amphibians (newts, salamanders and emerald toads) and micro-mammals (mainly squirrels).
Rio Vallone Park
Rio Vallone Park is a local park that covers a total area of 480 hectares along the stream of the same name, Rio Vallone, forming a green lung in a highly urbanized area. The vegetation present is very rich; the fauna is diverse, with some interesting presences, such as 13 species of micromammals, including the midge and the rice-field mouse. In addition to the areas of naturalistic interest, it is possible to admire within its perimeter buildings of cultural value, such as the sanctuary of Ornago or the lazaretto of Cavenago di Brianza.
Cavallera Park
The Cavallera Park, created by the municipalities of Arcore, Concorezzo, Monza, Villasanta and Vimercate, occupies an area of 650 hectares. The Park is characterized by a strong agricultural vocation and the presence of numerous homogeneously distributed rural nuclei consisting of farmsteads of ancient origin. In addition to the Foppa (Vimercate), Cassinetta (Concorezzo) and Meda (Concorezzo) farmsteads, the Cavallera (Vimercate) farmstead, which gave its name to the park, is of particular importance. The park was designed with the intention of mitigating the effects of the progressive urbanization of the area and to safeguard cultivated fields, groves and rows of mulberry trees that are an important testimony to local cultural roots.
How to get there
To reach Cavallera Park, the nearest train stations are Villasanta and Arcore.
To reach Molgora Park, the nearest train station is Carnate-Usmate.
Rio Vallone Park can be reached from the green line subway station in Gessate.
Nearby Rio Vallone Park and Molgora Park there are also parking lots, as indicated in the map.
Photo credits P.A.N.E., Paolo Rovelli
