An idea to discover Milan in an unusual and green way? Sleep in an old organic farm surrounded by greenery. You wake up with the scent of nature, explore the surroundings by bike or by foot, pick your own organic vegetable and eat local, then reach the pulsating heart of the metropolis by bus and subway.
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- Photo by Bert Kaufmann, via flickr
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- Photo by Welleschik, via wikimedia
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- Photo by Stefano Stabile, via wikymedia
Visit the beauties of Milan but starting from the countryside, immersed in the green of Nature, half an hour from Piazza Duomo. It does not seem possible, but it is.
In Cascina Santa Brera you can sleep long and quiet nights surrounded by the sounds of nature (scientific studies confirm the relaxing power of nature), wake up on a farm, leave the car and leave for an alternative visit of the metropolis. Here’s how to do it!
An organic farm in the South Park of Milan
In the heart of the Rural Park South Milan, about ten kilometers from the city center, you can spend a wonderful farm holiday, among vegetable garden’s scents and cycling tours. Cascina Santa Brera is a beautiful farm dedicated to sustainability. The accommodation consists of an old farmhouse restored with principles and materials of green architecture and 25 hectares of protected environment, cultivated with organic farming methods.
Irene welcomes you in the rooms and studios of the farmhouse, offering a total of 40 beds, and invites you to enjoy tasty dishes prepared exclusively with organic products grown on the farm or by other nearby producers.
Learning the biodiversity and adopting a vegetable garden
The accommodation usually organizes cultural activities and workshops for both children and adults: you can learn about agricultural life, organic farming, permaculture, you can learn to recognize and use the edible wild plants, to build houses in straw bales, while the children can take care of the animals, experimenting with earth the water, playing in nature.
Those who live near the farm can also take advantage of direct selling of eggs, mile, vegetables, meats, breads, jams and much more. You can also “adopt a garden“, it’s a beautiful project that involves the payment of a fee for the opportunity to access to the vegetable garden, and collect for yourself the vegetables for your own needs.
It is the right choice to get away from the city, but staying close to its comfort, and enjoy a holiday in nature, to discover the simplicity and richness of agricultural and sustainable living. An unforgettable farm holiday in a rural and welcoming environment.
By bike in the South Agricultural Park
The Agriculture Park of Milan embraces the city and comprises 61 municipalities. Country roads, cultivated land, farmhouses, but also castles and historical testimonies: the park is rich in treasures and surprises. This protected agricultural area is covered by numerous itineraries, both on foot and by bicycle, to represent the perfect out-of-town excursions.
Among the many trails that lead to the discovery of the park, we recommend Ciclovia del Naviglio Grande, to dive into the ancient Milan by pedaling along the left towpath and arriving in the suggestive Gaggiano.
Alternatively, the Via Lattea del Fai route is also very beautiful, created by the Italian Environment Fund: a 21km trail between farms, nature and historic buildings to discover Gaggiano and Cisliano.
Milan without a car is more beautiful
Who arrives at Cascina Santa Brera on foot or by bike is entitled to a 10% discount: an extra reason to discover Milan and its surroundings without a car. Thanks to buses, metros and the bike-sharing service, it’s really easy to move around and reach any destination. To get to the accommodation, you can take the Metro Line 3, either from the Duomo or Milan Central Station, towards San Donato Milanese, get off at the terminus and then take the Z420 bus to Melegnano until the La Rampina/Rocca Brivio station.
If you want to run Milan in Bicycle you can use BikeMi, the bike sharing service of Milan, that works both for traditional bicycles, as well as for electric bicycles or for children’s bikes.
The first 30 minutes of traditional bicycle use are always free!
BikeMi subscription (4.50 € per day) allows you to pick up your bicycle in a lot of stations in the city (at this link you can find the stations map with the information of the bicycles available in real time).