Cascina Giugalarga

Is this where time has stood still? Cascina Giugalarga in Milan. This ancient farmstead, nestled in the northern reaches of the Naviglio Martesana, seems to whisper tales of a bygone era. The oldest of Gorgonzola’s farms, its story unfolds on lands that were once known as “terre asciutte,” the dry lands. Imagine the year 1721. A map, meticulously drawn for the first Cadastre, reveals the presence of a solitary structure. This was the very heart of Cascina Giugalarga, its northern section, crowned by a distinctive dovecote tower. Over the centuries, the farm expanded, leaving its mark on maps, including the one commissioned by Charles VI, where it bore the name “Bussetti.” Records from 1854 tell us it belonged to the esteemed Marquis Antonio Busca, a testament to its enduring legacy. Step under the shelter of its portico. There, you’ll find a treasure. It’s a depiction of the Immaculate Conception, painted not on canvas but on wood, a unique touch added by the artist Anselmo Balconi in 1949. What you see today is actually a meticulous restoration undertaken in 1999 by Mario Grandi, ensuring the artwork’s survival for generations to come. This painting holds a secret. It’s a faithful reproduction of a 17th-century masterpiece, an oil on canvas created by the Spanish painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo in 1679. Known as “The Immaculate Conception of Soult,” the original hangs in the revered Museo del Prado. Cascina Giugalarga, a place where history and art intertwine, offering a glimpse into the soul of old Milan.