“Cassina del Runch, “cé sa quanti ann la g’ha!”, (who knows how old it is!). It is reached via a partially “risciulada” (cobbled) road, originally built and maintained by the ancient Gadda owners. The “risciulada” served as a thoroughfare for the owner’s horses, mules and oxen for transporting goods. The cobblestones stabilised the ground and served to naturally slow down the animals’ hooves.
The last farmer who lived here until the ‘90s recalled that the south-eastern part of the farmstead dates back a century, while the north-eastern part was built in three stages. An inscription at the entrance reads: “Cassina Ronco fr. Garlate”. The exact date of construction of the first farmstead is not known. It is thought that a shepherd initially lived here, and a sure date exists in a stone along via Ronco, near the basin: 1859. Between the 19th and 20th centuries, the farmstead was inhabited by Giuseppe Milani, famously known as Burdunén (from the Burneda of Olginate). Later, in 1915, it was home to Casmiro Maggi, the forefather of the last inhabitants. Initially, the landscape here would have been dominated by oak, hornbeam, birch and locust tree forests.
Deforestation eventually favoured chestnut trees. The link with the region’s silk industry is apparent in the St. Job fresco adorning the façade.
Recently, the farmstead underwent a complete and meticulous restoration, aiming to preserve its original character to the extent possible. Today, it is home to the “Il Ronco” Agritourism. The surrounding land, partially cleared, now hosts crops used directly by the venue, including olive trees, fruit trees, berries and garden produce. The watercourses that feed the forests and meadows are the Cavalén, the Belana, the Mujaca and the Orco. This vantage point offers a truly priceless view of Garlate and its picturesque surrounds.