Lodi between art, history and Parco Adda Sud

Lodi brings together urban history, sacred art, museums and landscapes. The city lies in the agricultural plain of Parco Adda Sud, an area interspersed with woodlands. As a result, historical themes and paths through this landscape come together in Lodi. When planning your trip, you can consider cultural sightseeing, a sculpture tour and excursions into the park as different focal points.

History and sacred art

Lodi was refounded in 1158 after the Milanese razed the city to the ground. During the same historical period, construction began on the Basilica Cattedrale of Lodi: the foundation stone was laid in autumn 1158 or in the spring of the following year. The crypt of the Basilica Cattedrale contains the relics of the patron saint San Bassiano. Another historical account is associated with the Chiesa di San Cristoforo. The church was built around 1300 to fulfil a vow made by the people of Lodi, who, according to legend, had been freed from the dragon Tarantasio, which haunted the waters of Lago Gerundo.

Churches and museums as different perspectives

The Tempio Civico dell'Incoronata houses fifteenth-century frescoes, including works by Ambrogio da Fossano (Bergognone). The underground rooms of the Tempio dell'Incoronata contain the Museo del Tesoro dell'Incoronata. It preserves sacred furnishings, two illuminated manuscripts, worked copper vessels, a precious late-sixteenth-century pax tablet and a sixteenth-century cross. The Museo della Stampa e della Stampa d'arte traces the history of printing from woodcuts through various printing techniques to the digital revolution and is located in the premises of the former “Lodigraf” printing house. The Museo dello Strumento Musicale e della Musica di Lodi complements this cultural focus with musical instruments that visitors can partly try out themselves. The Museo Ettore Archinti organises exhibition projects featuring established and emerging artists.

Sculptures, tours and landscape

With SculturiAmoLO!, Lodi can be explored using a virtual map featuring more than 30 outdoor sculptures, monuments and commemorative statues. This includes a guided tour of approximately 5 km to the most important sculptures in Lodi's historic centre. The map and tour therefore provide a distinct focus alongside the churches and museums: they lead to works of art and places of remembrance in public spaces. Parco Adda Sud can be explored via interconnected cycle routes on paved and unpaved roads as well as existing paths. On the Sentiero delle Libellule in Parco Adda Sud, you can observe various butterfly species. In this way, alongside its built heritage, Lodi also offers access to paths, open landscapes and nature observation.

Connection to Milano Centrale

Trenord train services on the Lodi–Milano Centrale route connect Lodi with Milano Centrale in approximately 30 minutes. If you would like to include both places in one trip, this connection is a practical planning consideration when choosing your hotel in Lodi.

Other places: Codogno, Sant'angelo Lodigiano, Ospedaletto Lodigiano, Boffalora D'adda, Bertonico, Tavazzano con Villavesco, Cornegliano Laudense, Lodi Vecchio

More about Lodi: Lodi.