“Sorighee” is what the locals call it. That’s Sorigherio in Milanese dialect. This small hamlet might seem like any other quiet spot in the Parco Agricolo Sud Milano. But Sorigherio holds a story of shifting borders and resilient identity.
Sorigherio is a part of San Donato Milanese. It is easy to miss where Sorigherio ends and Poasco begins. Residents of Sorigherio often identify more with Poasco.
Once upon a time Sorigherio was part of the Pieve of San Donato. This was a division of the Milanese territories. Between 1808 and 1816 Sorigherio was actually part of Milan. Imagine this small village swallowed up by the big city.
But that didn’t last. In 1841 Sorigherio was joined to the municipality of Chiaravalle Milanese. Then in 1923 Chiaravalle Milanese was suppressed. It was annexed to Milan.
Sorigherio’s story takes another turn in 1932. It was separated from Milan. Sorigherio was then added to the municipality of San Donato Milanese. So Sorigherio became a fraction of San Donato Milanese.
Today Sorigherio remains separate from the surrounding towns. The ATM bus line 77 connects it to Milan. It starts from San Donato M3. It passes the Abbey and Cemetery of Chiaravalle. The bus ends its route in Poasco. It also stops at the Corvetto metro station.
Another bus line the ATM 140 serves Sorigherio. It starts at the Rogoredo metro and train station. It passes through Sorigherio and Poasco. It finally reaches the center of San Donato Milanese.
In 1991 the population of Poasco-Sorigherio was 2210. By 2001 it had grown to 2537. In 2011 the population was 2661. By the end of 2021 evaluation, the population was about 2661. In 2021 Males were 1312 and Females were 1349.
Sorigherio may be small. Its history reflects the larger story of Milan. It shows the ever-changing landscape of Italy. So next time you pass through Sorigherio remember its journey. Remember its people who have seen borders shift around them.