The extraordinary Villa Della Porta Bozzolo in Casalzuigno
This extraordinary Villa Della Porta Bozzolo is located in Casalzuigno (Italy), open to the public and available for hosting events.
A few kilometers from Varese and Lake Maggiore, in the 16th century, stands the country residence of the Della Porta family.
Originally an agricultural estate with farmhouses, a wine press, and a cellar for wine production, as well as a silk mill for silkworms.
In the 18th century, it became a summer residence and was renovated for the wedding between Giovan Angelo III Della Porta and the Milanese countess Isabella Giulini.
In the 19th century, the villa was saved by Senator Camillo Bozzolo, leaving behind not only family memories but also a rich library.
Throughout its history, Villa Bozzolo has hosted important personalities, including the poet Vittorio Alfieri and the renowned writer Stendhal.
Additionally, the villa was a meeting place for prominent artists and intellectuals of the time, such as the neoclassical painter Andrea Appiani and the poet Ugo Foscolo.
Today, it has rediscovered its ancient splendor thanks to the restoration carried out by the FAI (Italian Environmental Fund).
It’s a wonderful opportunity to spend a beautiful day visiting the interior of the villa and its immense park.
The interiors of the villa
The interior spaces are entirely decorated, from the walls to the ceilings, even the doors painted on both sides.
There are halls, sitting rooms, bedrooms with original furnishings, canopy beds, and the gigantic library.
The kitchen corner features old stoves, a fireplace, and a bread oven, with pots and kitchen utensils hanging on the walls.
It’s a space lacking in modern comforts where the walls tell stories of a lived past.
The park and the rose garden
A spectacular Italian-style park with stone terraces and fountains, traversed by a monumental staircase that leads to the large lawn.
A steep path leads to the top of the belvedere where you can admire the villa and park from afar.
In the garden, there is a true collection of over 500 varieties of roses.
The layout of the garden and orchard reflects the documentation found in the Della Porta family archive.
In spring, the rose garden offers unparalleled blooms and scents.
The purposes of the FAI
The FAI, or the Italian Environment Fund, is a non-profit foundation established in 1975 with the aim of protecting, enhancing, and promoting Italy’s cultural, artistic, and landscape heritage.
It focuses on preserving and enhancing cultural and environmental assets of particular importance and beauty, which are often little-known or at risk of degradation or abandonment.
The foundation protects historic villas, castles, gardens, natural parks, archaeological sites, ancient villages, and landscapes of great artistic and cultural interest.
The FAI relies on numerous members and volunteers who are actively dedicated to the conservation and promotion of Italy’s artistic and environmental heritage.
Additionally, it organizes guided tours, cultural events, and educational initiatives, promoting awareness and education about cultural heritage among young people and the local community.
In summary, the FAI is dedicated to safeguarding and enhancing Italy’s artistic and environmental heritage through the preservation, promotion, and dissemination of these assets, involving civil society and volunteers in the protection of our cultural and natural heritage.
