“A rural architecture complex.” That’s how official documents describe Cascina Santa Maria del Toro. But let’s discover its real story.
Here at Cascina Santa Maria del Toro, we find ourselves in Villanova del Sillaro. It is outside the main town. The location makes it special. Cascina Santa Maria del Toro is more than just a farm. It is a piece of history.
The buildings here show different construction styles. The residential building has three levels. A portico stands on the first level. Inside you will find laterocement ceilings. The floors are made of terracotta or ceramic. The roof has two pitches and is covered with tiles. Regular openings punctuate the facade.
Look around at the rural complex. You can see buildings used for agriculture. There are machine storage areas and stables. The buildings use continuous masonry. Buttresses and pillars support the structure. The roofs are wooden with tile coverings.
Notice those newer buildings? Those are the pigsties. They were built recently. Concrete blocks form their walls.
Over there stands another recent building. It dates back to the late 1960s. That is the former dairy.
See that old structure? That was once a country oratory. Its structure is brick. The roof has a tiled slope. The masonry is plastered. Today the old oratory serves as a storage space. It once had a very different purpose. Historically it was a campestre oratory.
Cascina Santa Maria del Toro is a private property. It functions as a farm today.
Let’s talk history. A. Sacconi mentioned Cascina Santa Maria del Toro in 1985. His book discussed architectural and environmental assets of the Province of Milan. It is mentioned on page 72.
Francesco Repishti compiled information about the site in 1999.
Remember that Lombardia Beni Culturali holds further details. Contact them directly for more information. This includes high-resolution photographs.
So, as we conclude our visit to Cascina Santa Maria del Toro consider its layers of history. From its structural design to its uses over time, Cascina Santa Maria del Toro represents the blend of rural life and architectural evolution in Lombardy. It stands not just as a farm but as a living record of the region’s past.