Cascina Moneta

The air hangs heavy with the scent of hay and the memory of bygone days. You are standing right before Cascina Moneta. This farm, a testament to Milan’s rich agricultural past, has witnessed centuries of change. The original structure dates back to the 17th century, a time when Milan was still surrounded by vast fields. It was known as a “cascina,” a traditional Lombard farmhouse, with its own little farm attached. In the 17th century, a man named Carlo Santo Catenazzo bought it, along with another farm called Cascina Rivera, from the Moneta family. The name stuck. Cascina Moneta. What does that name evoke? A simple farmer’s life, you’re thinking, but the story is more remarkable than that.
The farm continued to be a vital part of the Milanese ecosystem for a good while. Generations of families lived here and worked this land, producing food and raising livestock. At the turn of the 20th century, the farm was modernized and was bought by a family of modern farmers, now known as Borgonovo.
Today, Cascina Moneta looks quite different: a large portion is now used for modern agriculture. Rows upon rows of dairy cows, mostly Frisian-breed, call this their home. It’s a stark contrast to the rustic charm of its older structure.
The old farmhouse portion of Cascina Moneta is now used for residences. It still holds the charm of its past, standing in quiet defiance amidst the modernity. A reminder that progress is measured not just in terms of technology but also through the preservation of heritage. Now, if you look closely, you can almost hear the echoes of the past: the gentle clinking of milk buckets, the rumble of a farmer’s wagon, and the laughter of children who played among the animals. Each sound whispers a story of a life lived in harmony with nature.