Marcallo con Casone
Casone: a small village in the Po Valley
Casone, or Casón in Milanese dialect, is a small hamlet located in the municipality of Marcallo con Casone, in the province of Milan. The village takes its name from the main settlement and is located to the northeast of the town, towards Ossona, separated by the A4 motorway. Casone is characterized by a predominantly flat landscape, typical of the Po Valley. The area is mainly occupied by cultivated fields and the climate is mild.
Physical geography of Casone
Territory
Casone is a flat territory with few natural watercourses. The area is mainly covered by crops and the center of Milan is about thirty kilometers away. However, for services and importance, the center of Magenta is closer.
Geology and hydrography
The terrain of Casone is mainly composed of terraced alluvial deposits and travertines formed during the Pleistocene. In the Casone area, there is the "Oasis of Menedrago," an artificial body of water formed as a result of the construction work for the high-speed railway. This oasis is now one of the most important wildlife habitats in the area and is home to fish and water-related animals, such as herons and mallards.
Seismology
Casone has a very low seismic classification and has been classified as zone 4 (low seismicity) by the Italian National Department of Civil Protection.
History of Menedrago and the farmstead
Menedrago was a municipality of the sixteenth century that included the localities of Menedrago, Casone, Barco, Asmonte (now a municipality of Ossona), and Cascina Nuova. The town hall was located in Menedrago because there was a large farmstead dating back probably to the sixteenth century. The farmstead housed stables, barns, granaries, wells, ovens, porches, warehouses, and farm workers' houses, all collected in a single structure. In the center of the farmstead, there was a courtyard around which the agricultural buildings were arranged. The farmstead housed 24 families of sharecroppers, for a total of about 150 people. Two dirt roads branched off from the internal courtyard, connecting the farmstead to the villages of Barco, Marcallo, and the provincial roads.
Conclusions
Casone, or Casón, is a small village in the Po Valley, rich in history and natural beauty like the Oasis of Menedrago. The territory is predominantly flat and most of the area is dedicated to crops. The small hamlet is about thirty kilometers away from the center of Milan and represents an excellent destination for those seeking a break from the city and want to immerse themselves in the tranquility of the Lombardy countryside.
