Cassina de' Pecchi
Cassina de' Pecchi: a sustainable city
Cassina de' Pecchi is a municipality located along the Strada statale 11 Padana Superiore, about 16 kilometers northeast of the center of Milan. With its 13,960 inhabitants, it is part of the metropolitan city of Milan and the Martesana area. The municipal territory is the result of the annexation of Camporicco in 1841 and Sant'Agata Martesana in 1870.
In 1999, Cassina de' Pecchi received recognition as a "Sustainable City for Children", making it the first Italian city to join the international campaign "Sustainable Cities" promoted by UNICEF.
Physical geography
The territory of Cassina de' Pecchi is bordered to the east by the Molgora stream and crossed by the Naviglio Martesana, which divides the country into two recognizable parts, the Cittadino and the Piazza. Several ditches and channels are present, taking water from the canal and forming an irrigation network that covers the entire territory. The territory is completely flat and surrounded by the municipalities of Cernusco sul Naviglio to the west, Bussero to the north, Vignate to the south, Gorgonzola and Melzo respectively to the east and southeast.
History
Cassina de' Pecchi has a long history dating back many centuries. The municipality's symbol was bees, representing the Pecchio family of Milan, and the tree, symbol of the Serbelloni house, who were Feudal Lords of Cassina de' Pecchi. In 2015, the municipality was included in the homogeneous zone Martesana-Adda of the metropolitan city of Milan.
Society
Cassina de' Pecchi has seen a constant growth in population over the centuries. In 1751, the population was 228 inhabitants, and by 1871, it had already reached 1,619. As of December 31, 2010, the resident foreign population was 940 people, with the Romanian nationality representing 1.34% of the total.
Anthropogenic geography
The municipal territory of Cassina de' Pecchi includes several hamlets, including the hamlet of Sant'Agata Martesana, which, for geographical, historical, and cultural reasons, represents an autonomous town compared to the capital. Sant'Agata was an autonomous municipality until 1870 and is still an autonomous parish today, but the constitution of a pastoral unit including the three parishes of the municipality is underway.
From a historical and cultural perspective, Sant'Agata Martesana has its own celebrations and a calendar of events that attract people from neighboring towns to participate in religious functions in honor of the patron saints Fermo and Rustico and to attend the fireworks display that closes the festival.
Cassina de' Pecchi is a small municipality but has an important history and culture. Crossed by the Naviglio Martesana, it offers charming landscapes and a healthy and sustainable environment. The city is an example of good practice to promote sustainable development and to ensure a better future for children.
