Here before us stands Cascina Resentera a testament to centuries of rural life. The air is filled with whispers of its past. This grand farmhouse complex has been a fixture in Locate Triulzi since the 15th century. It’s more than just a building. It is a living story.
Cascina Resentera began as a rural settlement. It offered a safe haven for peasants during medieval times. Cities were often targets for invasions. The cascina provided a secure place for people to live and work. Wealthy families or the church owned these complexes. They could house up to 400 people. Workers and their families cultivated the land. The cascina became an economic hub. It allowed communities to trade even during conflicts.
Originally, the cascina belonged to Cardinal Francesco Grassi. Later, it was owned by Countess Margherita Lasso de Castillia. By the late 16th century, it became property of the Ospedale Maggiore di Milano. From the mid-17th century, the cascina comprised various buildings. These buildings defined a large open courtyard.
Look around at the main building. It includes the farmer’s residence and stables. There were also houses for tenants and chicken coops. Within the complex were a mill and rice husking plant. A canal powered them. Maps from 1722 show an oratory dedicated to San Domenico. Architect Pietro Giorgio Rossone designed it between 1569 and 1673. There was also a large garden.
Between the 18th and 19th centuries, expansions occurred. A structure for ice conservation with a portico was added. Also a building closed off the courtyard along the southwest side. After a fire in 1847, the cow and ox stables were repaired. Small additions and modifications took place between 1855 and 1866. New agricultural and residential buildings were constructed. This took place outside the main courtyard in the early 20th century.
Notice the main complex. It is arranged around a quadrilateral courtyard. Buildings from the 15th to 20th centuries coexist here. The manor house stands in the northwest corner. It is likely the oldest part of the cascina. The facade faces the courtyard. It features pointed arches with terracotta frames on the first floor. The portico with arches at ground level came later.
In the courtyard’s west corner is the mill building. You can still see the iron wheel in place. A large portico and granary are adjacent. The southeast side of the courtyard houses a large stable with a portico. Arched windows adorn the upper part. North of the manor house is the 17th-century oratory of San Domenico. Southeast of the courtyard is an early 20th-century addition. It includes a small stable with a portico, a barn, and a farmyard.
Today, the manor house is a residence. The northeast houses are also residential. The entire property functions as a farm. The southeast stable houses animals. The small east stable serves as a stable and barn. Azienda Agricola Fedeli has been here since 1909. They produce milk, meat, rice, and renewable energy. They also have a bakery that uses stone-ground flour.
Cascina Resentera stands as a reminder of Milan’s agricultural past. It showcases the ingenuity and resilience of rural communities. The cascina adapted to changing times. It remained a vital part of the local landscape.