Villa della Porta Bozzolo-Bene Fai (Casalzuigno, VA) invites you to participate in a special guided tour to discover its spectacular eighteenth-century garden, a few kilometers from Lake Maggiore.
The sculpted terraces, the flowerbeds, the panoramic viewpoint and the many botanical essences make it one of the most beautiful in Lombardy. Guided by Marco Foghinazzi we will discover the secrets of the Villa's garden and the projects undertaken to enhance it.
The delightful parkland was designed in the very early 18th century, taking its inspiration from the many templates of baroque landscaping to be found at that time. The task of coming up with the design was entrusted to the ''painter and engineer'' Antonio Maria Porani, who was already working on other aspects of the villa. Due to the limited amount of space in front of the building, Porani elected to arrange the grounds lengthwise from the bottom to the top, in parallel with the villa's facade, thus contravening the established design norms according to which the garden should have been in line with the main reception rooms.
As such, four large terraces were created, on different levels, connected by a majestic staircase with balustrades, statues and fountains made using Viggiù marble. Later years saw the addition of the ''theatre'', perhaps the most innovative element of the gardens: a large sloping lawn closed off by a sizeable fish pond and a steep path (perhaps once flanked by cypresses), surrounded by woodland and stretching out on the Belvedere hill right to the edge of the estate.
The visit will take place on the following dates: February 16, March 9-29, April 12, October 26 and November 23.
The sculpted terraces, the flowerbeds, the panoramic viewpoint and the many botanical essences make it one of the most beautiful in Lombardy. Guided by Marco Foghinazzi we will discover the secrets of the Villa's garden and the projects undertaken to enhance it.
The delightful parkland was designed in the very early 18th century, taking its inspiration from the many templates of baroque landscaping to be found at that time. The task of coming up with the design was entrusted to the ''painter and engineer'' Antonio Maria Porani, who was already working on other aspects of the villa. Due to the limited amount of space in front of the building, Porani elected to arrange the grounds lengthwise from the bottom to the top, in parallel with the villa's facade, thus contravening the established design norms according to which the garden should have been in line with the main reception rooms.
As such, four large terraces were created, on different levels, connected by a majestic staircase with balustrades, statues and fountains made using Viggiù marble. Later years saw the addition of the ''theatre'', perhaps the most innovative element of the gardens: a large sloping lawn closed off by a sizeable fish pond and a steep path (perhaps once flanked by cypresses), surrounded by woodland and stretching out on the Belvedere hill right to the edge of the estate.
The visit will take place on the following dates: February 16, March 9-29, April 12, October 26 and November 23.