“Did you know Cascina Inglesina’s history stretches back centuries?” I ask my captivated audience. We stand before the Cascina Inglesina a significant historical landmark in Milan. It’s more than just a building. It embodies the evolution of Milanese agriculture.
Cascina Inglesina is a prime example of a Milanese farmhouse. These farmhouses were not merely isolated structures. They represented complex settlements. From the tenth century onwards they served as agricultural storage areas. Often they were made of perishable materials like straw and clay. They were frequently attached to city dwellings.
By the thirteenth century these buildings evolved. They became more substantial. They featured homes and outbuildings. Bonvesin de la Riva noted their proliferation in 1288. He mentioned their vast numbers in his De magnalibus Mediolani.
Initially close to city walls Cascina Inglesina and others were limited in size. Those near Porta Ticinese for example had only 60 pertiche of land. A pertica was a Milanese land measurement. Even with limited land they often boasted a press and mill. These were essential for processing agricultural products.
The architecture of Cascina Inglesina reflects the typical layout of a Milanese farmhouse. It includes living quarters for workers and the farm manager. There were also barns and processing areas. It likely followed the enclosed courtyard design. This design was common. It provided protection from theft and violence.
Many farmhouses like Cascina Inglesina were owned by wealthy Milanese families. They often added to their landholdings. They did so through purchases from suppressed religious orders. The Repubblica Cisalpina played a role in this. The republic confiscated and sold off religious properties.
Cascina Inglesina stands as a testament. It’s a testament to the evolution of Milanese agriculture. It also showcases the architectural and social structures of bygone eras. As we conclude our tour remember Cascina Inglesina’s story. It is a significant part of Milan’s rich agricultural heritage.