Ortica ( lmo, Ortiga ) is a district (''
quartiere'') of
Milan,
Italy, located within the
Zone 3 administrative division. The district used to be a ''
frazione'' of
Lambrate when the latter was an autonomous ''
comune''; after Lambrate was annexed to Milan, in 1923, Lambrate and Ortica came to be referred to as distinct districts.
The name ''Ortica'' comes from ''orto'', referring to a small
market garden, as the river
Lambro, traversing both Lambrate and Ortica, has been long used for the
irrigation of small cultivated areas.
Ortica housed a railway station, called ''
Stazione di Lambrate'', from 1896 to 1931; the station was later moved to another location in Lambrate proper (now Lambrate district).
Enzo Jannacci, the famous Milanese singer-songwriter, mentions Ortica in his song ''Faceva il palo'' ("he was the lookout"), dedicated to some "Gang of the Ortica" (''banda dell'Ortica'').
The
deindustrialization
Deindustrialization is a process of social and economic change caused by the removal or reduction of industrial capacity or activity in a country or region, especially of heavy industry or manufacturing industry.
There are different interpre ...
that began in the 1990s significantly transformed the working-class neighborhood, which nonetheless managed to maintain its vibrant local identity. This resilience is evident in the conversion of the former Ginori factory into a large residential complex with around 500 lofts, serving as homes, artist studios, and spaces for culinary and gastronomic endeavors.
Another major initiative started in 2015 involves the creation of 20 large murals as part of the Or.Me. project, which narrate the neighborhood's history and memory.
[https://orticamemoria.com/
Il murales dei diritti.jpg, The "mural of rights" in Milan's Ortica neighborhood.
] The project continues to expand and has also inspired independent street artists. One of the latest murals, completed in 2023, is the "Mural of Rights," a tribute to 200 extraordinary individuals who have challenged social norms and made significant contributions to human and civil rights.
References
Districts of Milan
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