Villa Necchi, Milano

Villa Necchi was built by Piero Portaluppi between 1932 and 1935 for his wife Gigina Necchi, a high middle-class family of Lombardy. The Villa hosts two beautiful collections, the Alighiero ed Emilietta de’Micheli and Claudia Gian Ferrari that features Italian art of the 20th century. It is now under the patronage of the FAI (Fondo Italiano per l’Ambiente), the Italian Fund for the environment, that also governs many other monuments and villas around Italy.

For more info, visit http://www.fondoambiente.it/beni/casa-necchi-campiglio-beni-del-fai.asp

Il Palazzo dei Filangeri Principi di Cutò, Sicilia

Built in the 17th century, it has been partially reconstructed due to the earthquake of 1968, gives a clear picture of what the Summer residence of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s family, the “Il Gattopardo”’s author - one of the most representative works of Italian literature, must have been like. Today the Palazzo has become the Gattopardo Museum. You can easily recognize some of the rooms described in the book by Tomasi di Lampedusa.

Pompei, Campania

It is not one but many villas that you will find in Pompei, Campania, one of the most unique places in Italy. In the autumn of 79 B.C. Pompei suffered a cataclysmic a volcanic eruption of the Mt. Vesuvius. The whole city was covered with over 3 metres of ash that preserved the city exactly as it was at the moment of the eruption. The date of the eruption is known thanks to the letter of Plinio the Youngest. Here you will find many astonishingly conserved villas, including furniture and mosaics. Plan an entire day for the visit. Info: http://www.scavidipompei.it/

Villa Garzoni in COLLODI, Pescia, Tuscany

The first written record about Villa Garzoni dates back to 1633. The villa is worth a visit if only for its beautiful Baroque garden. With geometric structures and statues, the park of the villa is incredibly lush. If you have children, you can delight them with a visit to Pinocchio. The Villa is open all year round and is just 20 minutes from Montecatini Terme and Lucca. 

Villa Adriana, Rome

Built from 117 B.C for the Emperor Adriano (76-138 B.C.) as an imperial residence it is the most important and complex Villa in Italy. It is located in Tivoli, in the province of Lazio. It is composed by the Complex of Pecile, a huge square with columns; a structure called Canopo; Piazza d’Oro, an octagonal room with a dome; the Maritim Theatre, one of the first things that were built for the Villa Adriana complex; the Terme (Ancient Spa - Big and Small). For more info: http://www.villaadriana.com/indexflash.html

Written by: Elisa della Barba