Cascina Cuccagna is Milan's most central historic farmhouse and a pioneering example of participatory urban regeneration. Built in 1695 and originally known as "Cascina Torchio detta Preganella," it belonged to the Fatebenefratelli Fathers who cultivated medicinal herbs for the Ospedale Maggiore.

After decades of abandonment following its closure in 1994, the farmhouse was brought back to life through the determination of local citizens, institutions, and businesses. Today, Cascina Cuccagna stands as a testament to what communities can achieve when they come together to reclaim and reimagine public spaces.

1991-1998: Local residents began dreaming of restoring Cascina Cuccagna and transforming it into a sociocultural center. They founded Cooperativa Cuccagna to promote the recovery project.

2005: Associazione Consorzio Cantiere Cuccagna (ACCC) was established after receiving a 20-year assignment from the Municipality of Milan to manage the renovation project.

2008-2012: Restoration work began with support from Fondazione Cariplo and concluded in April 2012, thanks to the generosity of citizens, institutions, and companies.

2012-Present: Cascina Cuccagna opened its doors to the public, becoming Milan's first example of participatory urban regeneration of a cultural heritage site.

• A meeting point for neighbors and visitors from across Milan and beyond
• A cultural hub offering free and accessible programming year-round
• An urban oasis with courtyards, gardens, and outdoor spaces
• A venue for events available for associations, businesses, and community groups
• A dining destination with a restaurant, bar, and catering services with un Posto a Milano
• A guesthouse welcoming tourists seeking an authentic Milan experience with Foresteria un Posto a Milano

Well-connected by public transport, Cascina Cuccagna is easily accessible and serves as a unique space where history, nature, culture, and community intersect.

Our Vision: To be a bridge between rural life and urban rhythms in the heart of Milan—a space where sustainability, culture, and community converge to create a more inclusive, participatory, and environmentally conscious city.

Our Mission: To operate as a permanent laboratory for civic participation, fostering intergenerational and intercultural exchange. We create opportunities for people to gather, share ideas, and actively shape the future of their community through culture, sustainability, and social innovation.

We are developing a replicable model of bottom-up participatory urban regeneration where the care of heritage sites is continuous and constant. Our approach goes beyond restoration: we believe that regenerated spaces must remain living, evolving community assets.

Through an increasingly innovative and participatory approach, we are committed to developing cultural, environmental, and social projects that benefit the entire city. Cascina Cuccagna demonstrates how citizens, institutions, and businesses can collaborate to transform abandoned heritage into thriving public spaces that serve the common good.

Our objectives:
- Create a replicable model for participatory urban regeneration
- Ensure ongoing community stewardship of heritage spaces
- Foster collaborative governance involving multiple stakeholders
- Develop sustainable financial models for long-term viability

We host a rich cultural program—"Quotidiano Cuccagna"—featuring theater, music, workshops, exhibitions, and community events, all free or low-cost and open to everyone. Culture is our engine for social connection, bringing people together across generations and backgrounds.

Our objectives:
- Promote a culture of sustainability and raise citizen awareness
- Encourage manual and creative activities as forms of expression and learning
- Foster active citizen participation in city life
- Use culture as a driver of social connection and intergenerational dialogue
- Preserve and celebrate the neighborhood's historical memory
- Bring outdoor living and rural traditions into the urban context

Highlights include:
- La Domenica Bestiale con l’edizione del sabato: Monthly community festivals with activities for all ages
- Theater performances, concerts, and live music
- Book presentations and author talks
- Photography and art exhibitions
- Creative workshops (pottery, illustration, textiles)
- Seasonal celebrations and neighborhood gatherings

As a true rural outpost in the city center, we promote sustainable lifestyles, conscious consumption, and environmental stewardship through hands-on experiences and educational programs.

Our objectives:
- Promote conscious and careful use of resources and reduce waste
- Foster responsible production and consumption and healthy eating habits
- Support environmental transition and decarbonization efforts
- Protect and promote biodiversity

Our activities:
- Weekly Farmers' Market (every Tuesday, 3:30-7:30 PM): Direct connection between local producers and urban consumers
- Educational Garden: Maintained by citizen volunteers, teaching urban agriculture
- Urban Beekeeping: Four beehives with 250,000 bees as a biodiversity project
- Food Hub Cuccagna: Fighting food poverty through circular economy and solidarity
- Workshops: Composting, zero-waste cooking, seasonal eating, permaculture

We believe in a city where no one is left behind. Through partnerships with social cooperatives and community organizations, we create pathways for inclusion, empowerment, and social justice.

Our objectives:
- Raise awareness about social vulnerabilities and bridge distances
- Welcome migrants and promote cultural integration, recognizing their dignity
- Bring services closer to citizens in a "15-minute city" approach, through listening and guidance
- Support social and professional reintegration of people leaving incarceration or facing addiction
- Promote equal opportunities for women

Our projects:
- Radici di Comunità: Job training in gardening and green care for young people with vulnerabilities
- Donne, Api, Libertà: Beekeeping training for women in post-incarceration programs
- Community Groups: Knitting circles (Magliando), solidarity purchasing groups (GAS Cuccagna), book clubs
- Social Services Hub: Orientation and support services in partnership with local organizations
- Spaces for associations working on integration, empowerment, and social justice