The Del Naviglio Festival is an annual event that takes place in Milan. It is a celebration of Italian arts, culture, and music. The festival has been held since 1979 and is considered one of the most important cultural events in Italy.

The navigli (Italian pronunciation: [naˈviʎʎi]; Lombard: Navili [naˈʋiːli], singular and plural) are a system of interconnected canals in and around Milan, in the Italian region of Lombardy, dating back as far as the Middle Ages.

They were built between 1179 (Naviglio Grande) and the 16th century (Naviglio Martesana) with the purpose of making Milan accessible from the Ticino and Adda rivers. These routes were not only used for commercial purposes but also for the transportation of marble used to build the Duomo Cathedral.

By day, the district is home to several markets (don’t miss the popular antiques fair on the last Sunday of every month), art galleries and artisan craft shops; in the evening, the lights from the myriad of clubs and restaurants flicker and reflect in the canals, making it the city zone where people like dining.

Navigli is famous for its nightlife, but it’s worth getting out of bed to stroll the canals in the early morning.

Taking place in the first ten days of June, this large summer fête features theatre shows, folklore music and dance shows. The culmination of the events is a dazzling torchlight parade.

During the first ten days of June, the streets near Naviglio canal in Milan turn into a folklore entertainment center.

The annual festival is a welcome event to the coming summer. The festival hosts theatre shows, folklore music and dance shows in addition to stands with artistic handmade crafts.

The festival ends with a marvelous torch parade. Due to the numerous visitors during the festival days and the high demand for accommodations it is recommended to check hotel rates and book rooms well in advance.