Over 400 years old Cascina Cavallera stands before you. A majestic farmhouse once thriving. Now sadly decaying. It’s a poignant reminder of simpler times.
Cascina Cavallera in Vimercate near Milan. A symbol of Brianza’s rural architecture. Built by the Scotti Counts. It served as a working farm for centuries. The main building stretched over 80 meters. It housed the farmhands and their families. Attached were barns and stables. A high wall enclosed the entire complex. A large wooden gate marked the entrance. The Scotti family crest proudly displayed above.
Imagine the bustling life within these walls. Generations of families lived and worked here. They toiled the land for the counts. Umberto Maggioni one of the last residents. He recalled the cold winters and the respect shown to the visiting count. The count arriving in his carriage. The women bringing out chairs. A scene of quiet reverence. It was a self-sufficient world. A world apart from the changing world outside.
The farmhouse held many memories. Laughter. Hard work. Family celebrations. Umberto and his family left in 2002. They were told to leave everything behind. They salvaged what they could. Burning the rest in a bonfire on Saint Anthony’s Day.
Today Cascina Cavallera is in ruins. Its grandeur fading. The architect Giorgio Federico Brambilla is leading a campaign to save it. He seeks to preserve this piece of Brianza’s history. He calls on professionals to sign a petition. The petition aims to save Cascina Cavallera from complete destruction. It’s a fight to preserve a piece of history. A piece of rural life in northern Italy. A story of families. A story of a way of life now gone. Cascina Cavallera stands as a testament to the past. A reminder of what might be lost forever.