Cascina Saresina

Atop a gentle hill overlooking the bustling city of Milan sits Cascina Saresina, a world away from the urban clamor. Cascina Saresina whispers tales of a bygone era, a time when the rhythmic mooing of cows and the scent of hay filled the air. Cascina Saresina, like many traditional Lombard farmhouses, or “cascine a corte,” is built around a central courtyard. These “courtyard farms” were once the heart of agricultural life in the Po Valley. Cascina Saresina likely dates back to the 18th or 19th century, when these structures became commonplace. Imagine the families who lived and worked within these walls, their lives intertwined with the land. Perhaps Cascina Saresina even housed a dairy, producing the cheese that gives these farms their colloquial name, “cascina,” derived from the Italian word for cheese, “cacio.” The residents of Cascina Saresina would have been part of a self-sufficient community, growing wheat, maize, rice, and barley, tending to livestock, and perhaps even cultivating mulberry trees for silkworms. Specialized workers, like the “campari,” maintained the vital irrigation systems, while the “bergamini” cared for the cattle. The “casari” expertly crafted cheese in the dairy. The “bifolchi” and “cavallanti” worked the fields with oxen and horses. The “contadini,” the general farmhands, ensured the smooth running of daily operations. Cascina Saresina stands as a reminder of Milan’s agricultural past, a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of the people who cultivated this land. Although many cascine have been lost to urban development or lie abandoned, Cascina Saresina persists, a silent observer of Milan’s transformation. It offers a glimpse into a time when life moved at a slower pace, dictated by the seasons and the bounty of the land.