Ortica

Coordinates: 45°28′16″N 9°14′33″E / 45.470974°N 9.242399°E / 45.470974; 9.242399

Ortica 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").