“Walnut forest.” That is what “Nosedo” means in Lombard. The name comes from the Latin nocetum. We are standing before Cascina della Noce. It is an outlying district that has partially kept its rural character. Let’s explore this old farmhouse.
Cascina della Noce has witnessed centuries unfold. Its history is deeply intertwined with the surrounding area. Nosedo has been a settlement since the Middle Ages. The Goths controlled Milan then. Milanese bishop Onorato was buried in a local church in 569. People sought shelter from the Goths in the Church of San Giorgio al Pozzo.
The oldest reference to “Nosedo” is from 1346. It was then called Nosea. Nosedo was part of the Pieve di San Donato. This happened when the territory around Milan was divided.
During Napoleonic rule from 1806 to 1816, Nosedo was annexed to Milan. It regained its autonomy when the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia was founded. By 1816, Nosedo had only 393 inhabitants. In 1870, Nosedo merged with Chiaravalle Milanese. Then, in 1923, it was annexed to Milan.
Today, Cascina della Noce stands as a reminder of Nosedo’s rural past. Several cascine or farmhouses dot the landscape. Some are sadly abandoned.
This cascina features a 13th-century chapel. It is located in Via San Dionigi number 77. Cistercians from the nearby Chiaravalle Abbey built the church. They built it on the ruins of an older church. The church was dedicated to Saints Philip and James.
Over the centuries, the church decayed. It was even used as a warehouse. Later, it returned to its original purpose. Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies and Isabella married in the chapel in 1825. The chapel underwent restoration in 1985. In 1998, an association formed. Its mission was to preserve the church and the cascina. They aimed to protect the historical and religious traditions of Nosedo.
This place stands as a testament to resilience. It embodies the spirit of Nosedo. Cascina della Noce connects us to Milan’s agricultural roots. It reminds us of simpler times.