Baraggia

Did you ever hear of a place named after “poor land”? Here in Brugherio, we have just such a place. Cassina Baraggia, our charming hamlet, derives its name from “baragia,” meaning little fertile or uncultivated land. This seemingly unpromising name belies a rich history stretching back centuries. Cassina, meaning “camp,” suggests a shared dwelling place, hinting at the communal life once lived here. Cassina Baraggia first appears in records in 769 AD. A Monzan named Grato freed his servant and granted him land in “de Barazia,” marking the hamlet’s entry into written history. Another document from 853 AD further solidifies Cassina Baraggia’s presence. It mentions a donation to the monastery of Saint Ambrose in Milan and notes a chapel of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Baraggia. This chapel, dependent on Saint Ambrose, still stands today as Saint Anne Church in the nearby San Damiano hamlet. By 1594, Cassina Baraggia was home to around one hundred souls. Just a few decades later, in 1621, Archbishop Federigo Borromeo’s visit recorded 96 inhabitants. The 18th century brought detailed land surveys under Charles VI and Maria Theresa. The maps, though grouping Cassina Baraggia with Cassina Brugherio Saint Ambrose, acknowledged them as separate entities within Vimercate. Cassina Baraggia thrived, reaching a population of 516 by 1805. Napoleon’s decree briefly annexed it to Carugate, but it regained autonomy with the Austrian return in 1816. The population continued to grow, exceeding 1200 by the 1850s. Ultimately, in 1866, Cassina Baraggia became part of Brugherio, its mayor, Giovanni Noseda, becoming Brugherio’s first mayor. Cassina Baraggia’s story is not just one of changing borders and growing numbers. It’s a testament to the resilience of its people, making a life from land once deemed “poor.” Their story echoes through the centuries, woven into the very fabric of this unique hamlet.