Farmhouses of Brugherio
The old farmhouses of Brugherio were agricultural structures typical of the Po-Valley in Lombardy, which gave its name to the surrounding areas as well, roughly corresponding to fractional towns in which Brugherio was divided. The union of the various small rural municipalities in which the territory was fragmented gave birth in 1866 to the municipality of Brugherio. Some are still visible: Bindellera, Casecca, Cattoni, Comolli, Dorderio, Guzzina, Increa, Modesta, Moia, Occhiate, Pareana, San Cristoforo, Sant'Ambrogio, San Paolo and Torazza.
Architecture
Isolated in the countryside or unified in a rural agglomeration, the farms were the core of peasant life. They had closed courts and shared architectural characteristics of farms on the plains north of Milan. In such designs the yard was intended to functionally link the property, having a central role in the agricultural chain of production. Around the courtyard, usually very large, four buildings opened: two porches on the ground floor, topped by a railing leading to the residential upper floor; the third belonged to stables and barns; and the fourth was originally made up of small rooms used as latrines. The houses were so arranged: in the ground floor there were a kitchen, pantry, closets and the living room, bedrooms being upstairs. At the center of the courtyard one could find water well.Agriculture
In Brugherio and its surroundings, agricultural properties were mostly small and divided, apart from a few exceptions, until the Napoleonic era. Polyculture prevailed, intended mainly for personal consumption rather than sale. The area was known for the production of wine and, from the mid-eighteenth century, mulberry cultivation grew: the mulberry trees, which were customarily planted on the edge of the field, to avoid sacrificing other crops needed to feed silkworms, were given by the owner to the tenant farmers to labour them together. Women and children were in charge of breeding silkworms. The silkworm boom saw the construction of several mills, the first of which were located in Baraggia and Moncucco.Farmhouses
Bindellera
It was built in 1761 and it was a property of Viganone, a tape-seller. It had a big room at the ground floor where tuns were placed.The farm is located between viale Lombardia and the A4 motorway. It is still used for agricultural activities, but it is in bad condition.
Casecca
Ca secca, as it was once called to emphasize the arid nature of the surrounding land, is located in the north-west of Brugherio, lapped by the irrigation ditch Manganella. It was property of the friars of the Passion of Milan, who built a church dedicated to St. Magdalene, until the end of 1700,and then it was moved to Pecchio Ghiringhelli's family. Recently it hosted the headquarters of the sports center La mongolfiera of GIVIDI club, closed in 2013.It was known for the production of clogs, which were sold at Monza, the town of which the municipality was a member until 1866, when it was annexed to Brugherio. Of the original architectural structure remains only the wing of the portico overlooking Via Casecca, which, although much restored, retains the characteristic features of the Lombard farmhouse.
Dorderio
During the second half of the eighteenth century Dorderio was an independent town that was annexed to the municipality of Moncucco. It belonged to the Marquises Carpani, who possessed, in addition to the farm, a "aratorio used as furnace" and the surrounding grounds.In 1800 the property passed to Butti's family, who built next to the farmhouse a "holiday home", which still preserves valuable frescoes painted on the facade, the inside ones are very scarred.
Guzzina
The farm Guzzina, in the south area of Brugherio and opposite the district Edilnord and bordering Cologno Monzese, once stood isolated in the rural town of Moncucco. Its name comes from gussetta, referret to failed cocoons, testimony of the wide spread of sericulture in these places. In addition to the breeding of silkworms, the farm was known since the eighteenth century for the production of wine. The Guzzina is a complex of buildings that includes, within the town walls plastered with intense yellow, some agricultural courts, a villa owned by Count Venino and a private chapel dedicated to St. Andrew at the beginning, then to Santa Maria degli Angeli and finally to the Magi. Both the villa and the church date back to 1500.Increa
The farm in Cré is very old, dating back at least to the twelfth century and are mentioned among the farms that became part of the parish of St. Bartholomew in 1578. It has always been part of the parish of Gorgonzola, in the municipality of Cernusco Asinario. In 1871 it was aggregated to the municipality of Brugherio, which was formed in 1866. Until that year was the property of Count Carlo Litta, then of the Count Zumenzu. It is passed to Ottolini and Tizzoni's families and finally to Robbiani's, from who the current inhabitants purchased it. The name comes from crea, clay, which could refer to the nature of the surrounding land, or the presence in the area of an old brick kiln. The complex, a rare surviving example of folk architecture of the Renaissance, also includes villa Tizzoni Ottolini and the small church of Saint Mary Immaculate. It is in the countryside between Brugherio and Cernusco sul Naviglio, near the ring road east of Milan and to the park Increa. The planimetry has U-shape: the main structure consists of a portico with five columns topped by a wrought iron balcony. To the left of the entrance there is the small oratory of 1691, known as the church of Santa Maria Immacolata, while on the back there are traces of a large garden which has now disappeared. The cottages and barns have been restored by the municipality of Brugherio, who turned them into housing. The renovation was carried out respecting the original architecture of the farm, protected by the Superintendence for Architectural Heritage and Landscape.Modesta o Del Bosco
Cascina Modesta is located on the eastern border of Brugherio, not far from the Cascina Sant'Ambrogio. It was built in the nineteenth century and took its name from the first owner, Brenna modesta widow Vismara, although some say the adjective should instead be referred to the original architectural structure of rural, virtuous or to the character of its inhabitants; so modesta should refear to the poor condition of the inhabitants. It is also called Del Bosco because it is located on the edge of the only large wooded area of Brugherio, known as Boscone and formerly known for its abundance of game. It is the only farm where there are still fully agricultural lands which are all cultivated.Moia
In the eighteenth century Cassina della Moglia was included in the feud of Durini of Monza. The property then passed to the counts Andreani-Sormani, in the municipality of Moncucco. Since 1866 it is part of the territory of Brugherio and it is located in the north, on the border with Monza. It seems that its name derives from the surname of a family of pharmacists, who had lived there since the sixteenth century.Historical chronicles of the early years of the twentieth century documents in Cascina Moia the presence of a furnace that made the soil particularly clayey. Although in poor condition, it retains the classic appearance of the Lombard farmhouse, with a well in the center of the court bordered by rustic barns.
Occhiate
After Sant'Ambrogio, Aeclanum is the oldest farm in Brugherio, following Cascina Sant'Ambrogio. It stood in the place known Octavum, the name is due to the fact that it was at the eighth mile of road leading from Milan to Monza. Now that area is situated in the north-west of Brugherio, near the border with Cologno Monzese. The farm was manageed by the farmers, that obtained it from the monks of Saint Ambrose church, to make it a place of hospitality for the poor and pilgrims. The monks themselves with the fruits from the leasing and processing land of glances, handed out annually to the poor fifty bushels of wheat and ten amphorae of wine. Later the property passed to the church of Monza. In 1862 it became part of the municipality of Moncucco and in 1866 to the one of Brugherio. The farm is near the banks of the Lambro and has an ancient wheat, with two wheels operated by the Molinara irrigation ditch. The original structure was formed by pillars, wall bricks and wooden beams. Over the years the building has been extended up to the present structure. The mill is still in good condition and it is used to illustrate activities for educational purposes.Pareana
Cascina Pareana is located near the border with Carugate, in the territory that was part of Cassina Baraggia. It first belonged to the Counts Durini, then to Marquises Brivio, who still has it. It was built in 1730. Although split between different tenants, the original structure is fairly well preserved, with the well and the wood oven that arise in their ancient form.San Cristoforo
It takes name from a small church dedicated to St. Christopher that stood beside it in the ninth century, when the territory was part of the town called Ottavo, because it was at the eighth mile of road leading from Milan to Monza. The church was listed among the assets owned by the Cathedral of Monza and had been built "to remind travelers of then and now". It was demolished in December 1995. The farm, which is located in the north-west of Brugherio, dates back at least to the '500 and in 1751 was surveyed by the Teresian cadastre as "a house of a farmer called San Cristoforo", that had been property before the accounts Serbelloni, then of the accounts Alari of Milan.Sant'Ambrogio
Cascina Sant'Ambrogio is the oldest farm in Brugherio. It is next to the church Saint Ambrose, with which it shared the various owners. It is located in Via Dei Mille, which once was in open countryside in the town of Cassina Baraggia, but located sull'Itinerarium burdigalense. Commissioned by the bishop of Milan Ambrose as a summer residence, at his death it was ceded to the monastery of Saint Ambrose with usufruct to his sister Marcellina, who retired to the cloistered life. Villa, monastery, then mansion and finally farmhouse, it was restored in 1953, for will of the family Cavajoni, that bought the complex after the religious orders' Napoleonic suppression. The last renovation was done in 1995 by a special purpose company by four local businessmen, who used the apartment buildings preserving and recovering as much as possible of the original architectural elements.Torazza
Before the establishment of the municipality of Brugherio, in 1866, the town Torrazza belonged to Monza. Since the sixteenth century, the farm was isolated in the middle of the countryside owned by several noble families of Milan and was inhabited exclusively by stewards and laborers who cultivated the land.With the passing of time the territory is urbanized and the area has been transformed into a residential neighborhood, changing the character of the farmhouse. In 1963 it was built some features townhouses, while stables and barns have been turned into garages.