Parco del Rio Vallone

Although it cannot be compared with other areas of Brianza for diffusion and value, the local historical-architectural heritage is very important.
The rural buildings, mainly with an open courtyard and often transformed, are scattered all over the territory, but not in the Park area, with a few significant exceptions represented by the farmsteads Cascina Fornacetta in Verderio, Cascina Castellazzo in Basiano, situated along the course of Rio Vallone, and the complex of Cascina Sofia in Cavenago Brianza, currently housing the Park offices.
Outside the Park area, there are Cascina San Naborre in Masate, the complex of Cascina Santa Maria just outside the town of Mezzago and, in Bellusco, the rural complex of Camuzzago with S.Maria Maddalena oratory.
In Ornago forest, an abandoned roccolo (bird snare) still preserves the arboreal structure and the original plan, while in Masate there is another roccolo, whose recovery can contribute to the creation of new landscape and cultural values.
As far as religious buildings are concerned, Ornago Sanctuary represents a famous local reference point. Moreover, since the historical town centers remain outside the Park perimeter, other interesting and significant buildings can be found only at the Park borders. Along the north-western edge of the Park, the historical axis going from Vimercate to Lecco represents an important element of the historical memory.
The use of the natural environment by people is favored by the position of the urban centers along the central axis of the Park, enabling the development of access roads from each of the towns facing it. In this way, the visitor can easily reach the natural areas, thanks to the future development of routes which do not interfere with the main ways of communication. Among the most significant areas of naturalistic interest there are Le Foppe Nature Sanctuary and Boscone di Ornago, along the course of Rio Vallone. The presence, next to Rio Vallone, of the industrial area does not give the opportunity to create recreational areas up to the oak forest surrounding Ornago Sanctuary.