“Mazzo? Never heard of it.” That’s what many say when planning a Milan visit. But Mazzo in Milan, or Mazzo di Rho as some call it, holds a story worth discovering.
Mazzo sits east of Rho, toward Bollate, Baranzate, and Pero. Today, Mazzo is a frazione, a part of the municipality of Rho. But its history tells of a time when Mazzo was its own entity.
Back in 1805, Mazzo had a modest population of 148 residents. For a brief period, it was absorbed into Terrazzano by Napoleon in 1809. However, Mazzo regained its independence when the Austrians returned.
In 1841, Pantanedo, another suppressed comune, was annexed to Mazzo. By 1861, Mazzo joined the new Kingdom of Italy, with its population growing to 804. The village continued to grow.
In 1862, Mazzo took on a new name: Mazzo Milanese. This name reflected its growing importance. However, the winds of change brought a major shift.
The Fascist government suppressed Mazzo Milanese in 1928. Mazzo was then annexed to Rho. This marked the end of Mazzo’s independent administrative life.
Once, Mazzo’s landscape was dotted with cascine, or farmhouses. These included Cassina Dugnana, Cascina Nuova, and Cassinazza. Cassinazza was demolished in 1951 to make way for the Condor refinery.
Today, the Nuovo polo fieristico milanese, the new Milan fairgrounds, stands on that site. Only Cascina Mazzino remains. It was renovated in the late 1990s, a reminder of Mazzo’s agricultural past.
South of Mazzo is the new Fiera di Milano, a testament to the area’s modern economic role. Mazzo, though now part of Rho, retains a unique identity. Its story is a microcosm of Lombardy’s changing fortunes.
Mazzo’s tale speaks of shifting borders and evolving identities. From a small comune to a frazione of Rho, Mazzo has witnessed centuries of change. Remember Mazzo, a small but significant piece of Milan’s larger story.