Borgo San Gottardo

There is life in the courtyards.

Culture and artisanal workshops: the recipe for sustainable redevelopment in a corner of the city’s Naviglio Canal.

The cultural and commercial identity of a neighborhood can be enhanced through targeted urban care initiatives and activities developed in close partnership with the local community.
From these premises comes the project “San Gottardo – Via Meda, a village within the city,” whose aim is to regenerate an area rich in hidden treasures, both public and private – such as the magnificent courtyards of the burg de’ furmagiatt, which once connected the Naviglio canal to the main commercial road through the cheese-making supply chain. The association of historical shops and traditional businesses, led by Costantino Grimaldi, is the driving force behind this regeneration effort: shops, workshops, and small enterprises rooted in the area for decades become guardians of collective memory and points of reference for residents and visitors alike. The district responds as a cohesive whole, thanks also to the collaboration of local institutions. The Largo Mahler Auditorium, home to the Orchestra Verdi, provides spaces and cultural support; the Mosque and the parish churches – the Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Caravaggio and San Gottardo al Corso – ensure a strong social and community presence; and the Social Street, passionately animated by Fabio Calarco, fosters participation and coordinates moments of dialogue between residents and shopkeepers. Winner of the City of Milan’s Civic Crowdfunding program, the project operates on two fronts: the regeneration of public spaces – through cleaning, upkeep, and care for green areas – and the enhancement of neighborhood businesses, via meetings, guided tours, training programs, and shared initiatives in courtyards and along historic streets. San Gottardo – Via Meda thus emerges as a living village, where tradition, commerce, and culture work together every day to build a tangible form of participatory urban regeneration – both a catalyst and a model for the entire city.