“Culture with direct selling” reads a sign. Cascina Cantalupo is more than just a farm. It is a journey back in time.
Cascina Cantalupo sits in San Giuliano Milanese. It is a complex of buildings that includes a manor house and an oratory. You will also see a disused farmhouse plus two other farmhouses. A stallion stable with porticoes completes the scene.
Francesco Sala runs the farm. He has a deep respect for the land. He also loves rural culture. Sala teaches and many schools visit. He shares his knowledge of rural history and Lombard peasant tradition.
Sala has a collection of old farm equipment. It is housed in a shed. A vintage “hot bulb” tractor from the early 20th century stands out. There are looms plus carts. Machines for threshing and flour processing are also present. The collection of farm tools is extensive. Axes, saws, sickles, and sieves are among them. You will also see plows and scythes.
Sala maintains the buildings. It is a labor of love. He cares for the elegant 18th-century manor house. The Oratory of San Lorenzo is nearby. Inside is a colorful painting. It depicts San Carlo Borromeo. He brought corn to peasant tables in the 1500s.
Sala’s farm focuses on cereal production. He grows rice and other grains. Sala has renovated buildings to sell his products directly. The sales point is heated by a historic wood-burning fireplace. This makes the space welcoming. Just entering to buy eggs or rice feels special.
Sala has three projects in mind. He wants to reconstruct a “peasant house.” It will feature period furniture. He also plans to create a silkworm farming lab. This will revive an old tradition. Finally, he hopes to restore lodging in the large farmhouse. This will offer rural hospitality like a B&B. The farmhouse flanks the manor house near the Oratory of San Lorenzo.
Cascina Cantalupo offers more than just a glimpse into the past. You can buy rice, flour, and cured meats. Wine and honey are also available. Specialized educational activities focus on rural history. You can explore collections of farm machines and tools. Reconstructions of peasant workspaces await you.
Visits to the farm and tool “museum” can be arranged. Guided tours of the Oratory of San Lorenzo are available. It is located next to the manor house.
The Oratory has a single rectangular nave. A large sacristy sits behind the presbytery. Giambattista Sassi from Milan created the altarpiece. It shows the Madonna and Child with Saints Lawrence and Charles. The 18th-century decorations are attributed to Sassi and his workshop. Unfortunately, 19th-century repainting altered them. However, the four medallions remain. They depict Saints Filippo Neri, Antonio da Padova, Francesco di Paola, and Vincenzo Ferrer. These are painted in pairs along the side walls.
Cascina Cantalupo is a place where agriculture meets culture. It offers a unique experience. It connects you to the rural past of Lombardy.