Was it an olive press or hemp rope that gave Cascina Torchiera its name? That’s a question that has lingered for centuries. Here before us stands Cascina Torchiera a farmhouse in Milan Italy. It’s one of the oldest surviving cascine within the city boundaries. Imagine its history stretching back to the first half of the 14th century.
Cascina Torchiera wasn’t always a self-managed social center. Originally it was nestled in a large rural area. The 18th-century Mailänder Kataster shows barley and mulberry cultivation surrounding the cascine. Owned by the clergy of the nearby Garegnano Charterhouse Cascina Torchiera and the surrounding land including the Maggiore cemetery were given to the Comune di Milano in 1888.
Sadly a large section of the original building was demolished. This created space for the cemetery entrance. The cascine’s L-shape today is a consequence of this demolition. Before the demolition Cascina Torchiera was a square-yard structure typical of cascine. The Comune adapted the remaining structure. It housed craft workshops small shops and even the local Italian Socialist Party. Lack of maintenance caused structural damage and a roof collapse.
Then in 1992 came a major change. People occupied Cascina Torchiera turning it into an anti-fascist anti-racist and anti-authoritarian social center. They called it Centro Sociale Autogestito Torchiera. The city cut off the water supply. The center then became known as Cascina Autogestita Torchiera SenzAcqua meaning “Without Water”. Even attempts to evict the residents failed. Famous author Dario Fo intervened. He prevented an eviction by personally contacting the mayor.
Volunteers have restored the building since 1994. The Cascina Torchiera is lively. It hosts theater performances gymnastic workshops book presentations music events and Italian language classes for foreigners. The social center continues to play a vital role in the community even facing occasional threats of demolition or sale. During the COVID-19 pandemic Cascina Torchiera provided essential aid to families in need. It was part of the “brigate di solidarietà popolare”. This is Cascina Torchiera a true testament to resilience community and the enduring spirit of Milan.