Cascina Autogestita Torchiera Senzacqua

Has anyone ever told you about the time Dario Fo, the Nobel Prize winner, saved a building with a phone call? It happened right here in Milan, at the Cascina Autogestita Torchiera Senzacqua. This historic farmhouse, dating back to the 14th century, stands as a testament to Milan’s rebellious spirit. Originally owned by the clergy of the Garegnano Charterhouse, Cascina Autogestita Torchiera Senzacqua was ceded to the city in 1888. Years of neglect led to its decline. Then, in 1992, a group of activists, seeking to create a space for social change, occupied the dilapidated farmhouse. They christened it “Centro Sociale Autogestito Torchiera.” What started as a squat became a symbol of resistance. The city, in an attempt to reclaim the property, cut off the water supply. Undeterred, the occupants added “SenzAcqua,” meaning “Without Water,” to the name, turning a disadvantage into a badge of honor. The Cascina Autogestita Torchiera Senzacqua flourished, hosting theater performances, workshops, and language classes, all free from institutional control. When eviction loomed in 1999, Dario Fo, a staunch supporter of the center, made a phone call to the mayor. His intervention halted the eviction and cemented the Cascina Autogestita Torchiera Senzacqua’s place in Milan’s cultural landscape. Today, this “farmhouse without water” thrives as a space for grassroots activism, artistic expression, and community engagement.