From water to land – between traditions and crafts
The Lombard farmhouses along the Navigli were far more than simple rural homesteads: they were true centres of life and work, forming the backbone of a rural economy that prospered through ingenuity and the abundance of water.
Agriculture formed the foundation, with fields irrigated by a dense network of canals producing cereals and forage. Water was essential — for irrigation, for powering mills, and for transport. The farmhouse supplied milk, meat, and fertilizer.
Many traditional crafts also flourished here, such as that of the farrier, vital for shoeing horses. Other key figures included the “camparo” (guardian of the waterways), the innkeeper (who managed resting places for travellers), and the “sciostraio” (storekeeper).
The farmhouses were self-sufficient centres of social life, where tradition and innovation merged, leaving an indelible mark on Lombard history and landscape.
Discover 360° content
Click and explore
Push and explore
Cascina Castello (Castle Farmhouse)
Settala
Cascina Castello is a working farm still in operation. This farmhouse complex is laid out around a large courtyard that includes a farmyard, residential buildings, a modest castle, a chapel, and several barns. The castle — from which the farmhouse takes its name — and the adjoining chapel now house the Ethnographic and Historic-Agricultural Centre for Farming Crafts and Rural Traditions.
Cascina Pagnana (Pagnana Farmhouse)
Gorgonzola
A typical example of a rural farmhouse built on dry land, Cascina Pagnana is a large enclosed quadrangle. Today, it has been restored by the “Pagnana Solidale” Social Promotion Association, which not only inhabits the site but also fosters and supports community-based initiatives.
Cascina Gogna (Gogna Farmhouse)
Bussero
Cascina Gogna – currently undergoing conversion into an accommodation facility — is a 16th-century farmhouse originally built as a stately country residence. Between the late 18th and early 19th century, it increasingly took on an agricultural character, with a rustic courtyard, a portico, and stables.
