The old woman who discovers the baby in her cabbage patch is called Lolotta, and she raises Toto as her own son. She teaches him to be kind and compassionate, and he grows up to be a gentle and caring young man.
After Lolotta's death, Toto is sent to an orphanage where he is mistreated by the staff. He makes friends with a group of other orphans, including a boy named Rocco. Toto and Rocco support each other through tough times, but eventually Toto leaves the orphanage to find work.
Toto struggles to find a job in post-war Milan, but eventually he lands a position at a factory. When his supervisor learns that Toto is an orphan, he fires him. Toto is forced to live on the street, where he meets a group of homeless people. They invite him to join their community, and Toto becomes their leader.
The homeless people are concerned about their lack of shelter, so Toto organizes them to build a shanty town in a vacant lot. They work hard and create a lively community, but their happiness is threatened when a wealthy landowner decides to evict them.
Toto sees a vision of his beloved Lolotta, who gives him a magic dove that will grant him anything he wishes. Toto uses the dove to help his community, and the squatters unite to fight the landowner and his threats of eviction.
During the fight, the squatters discover oil in the land they occupy. The media and the government become involved, and Toto finds himself at the center of a political and economic struggle. In the end, Toto uses his magic dove to create a happy ending for himself and his community.