The development of the territory from ancient times followed the pattern of scattered to ever-centralising areas of power and population. At first the Church was responsible for ruling the country so it was divided among the abbeys Chiaravalle, Mirasole and Viboldone with the given centres. Later on, the land was taken up by castles such as Rocca Brivio, Melegnano, Bussero and Cusago that were ruling the country. In the meantime the city of Milan became more and more powerful, centralised and populated as well. Thus, the next step in the rural area’s development was that villas and flimsy housing started to spring up here and there. Rapid urbanisation, growth and industrialisation brought many problems of an ecological type for the citizens and slowly the idea of creating a preserved area around the city was born. This happened in the 1960s and a decade or two were necessary for the idea to become legally and instrumentally realised. Then, at the beginning of the 1990s the Southern Agricultural Park was officially established and the first steps towards its actual construction began.

The Southern Agricultural Park of Milan is not what one could call a typical park, but it’s more like a preserved area with all the pro’s and con’s of the situation. Also, the very location of the park makes it a half-ring surrounding the city more than just a green space in the south which proves right some statements that this is a Lombardy regional park and not only a Milanese one. However, the usage of the land for agriculture is far not exaggerated given that some 1,400 companies exert their activity of growing different kinds of crops, including rice, sunflower and soy. What is precious about the plants that are bred within the park’s boundaries is that they live in perfectly nature-friendly conditions that prohibit the utilisation of chemicals and other dangerous substances. The reason why the area is still used for agriculture originates both in its historical and the natural conditions- not only is the land rich and well supplied with water but also its position in close proximity to such a great trading centre as Milan made people develop it over the centuries.

Parco Sud Agricolo is a natural reserve where many native Lombardy species of the flora and fauna find a place to thrive . Also humid-area inhabitants are included in the variety of species as the Lambro River and many of its feeders pass through. Nevertheless, the park serves not only a recreational role but features other social functions as well. An example of those functions is the reconstruction of some of the old worn out buildings, such as Albairate, Assago and Buccinasco and turn them into educational or cultural offices that let the visitors know more about the peasant lifestyle, the architecture and many other curious facts. Some of the buildings house libraries or are the offices of ecological organisations that are active for the park’s further development. Perhaps the state of the Agricultural Park as a kind of reserve and its marginal situation according to the very city of Milan would make visiting the area seem like a safari but there is much more to discover in the adjacent territories (some of which are really shaped as parks) than can be written about and enjoyed in person.