Abandoned Farmhouses and the Infinite City: Milan's Rural Heritage

Antonella Tarpino's essay, published on doppiozero, shifts focus from abandoned Alpine villages to the neglected periurban farmhouses (cascine) surrounding Milan, one of Europe's largest agricultural metropolises. These rural spaces, once integral to the region's agricultural identity, have suffered degradation and abandonment due to mid-20th-century modernization, agricultural mechanization, and a drastic reduction in farmworkers. The traditional system of marcite (water meadows) has been replaced by rice and maize cultivation, and many cascine have been converted into residential properties. Tarpino argues that these areas have long been treated as service spaces for the city, reflecting a broader pattern of rural decay and urban expansion. The essay, titled "Gli spazi rurali e la città infinita," was published on September 5, 2026, and is part of a series of reflections on fragile and semi-abandoned places. It highlights the historical and ongoing transformation of Milan's agricultural landscape, emphasizing the loss of rural heritage and the challenges of preserving these spaces amid urban growth.