2024 Luxury Expedition: Unveiling the Charms of Three Must-Visit Italian Villas
When architecture becomes art, here are three magnificent Italian villas that have become famous around the world.
Italy is home to many magnificent royal residences that have played important roles throughout history. These magnificent homes today provide a glimpse into the grandeur of past monarchies, allowing visitors to explore not only the villa interiors but also royal gardens and breathtaking parks. These include the Villa Reale in Monza, the magnificent Villa d’Este in Tivoli, and the Royal Palace of Venaria Reale in Piedmont. These places, among the numerous gems scattered throughout the Bel Paese, represent symbols of a glorious past and, today, provide the opportunity to immerse yourself in an experience fit for royalty from bygone eras.
Napoleon Bonaparte’s Villa Reale Di Monza
The Royal Villa of Monza, also known as the Royal Palace of Monza, is an architectural masterpiece and one of Europe’s most fascinating villas. Between 1777 and 1780, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria commissioned the villa, which is only about an hour away from Milan. The plan was to build a summer home for her son, Ferdinand of Habsburg, who was at the time the Governor General of Austrian Lombardy. Empress Maria Theresa of Austria entrusted the project to the imperial architect Giuseppe Piermarini, who was inspired by the pomp and grandeur of a luxury and power-driven era.
The villa is distinguished by its grandeur and neoclassical style, and it is surrounded by a beautiful garden and a vast 700-hectare park. The villa’s history is complex and fascinating, marked by periods of glory and transitions between dynasties. In 1805, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and Empress Maria Luisa of Austria moved into the Villa Reale of Monza, marking an important chapter in its history. Following that, in 1900, the villa was abandoned, which resulted in degradation and improper use during the war, causing extensive damage to the Royal Palace. Today, Monza’s Villa Reale is an imposing and elegant building that is also extremely important. Visitors can explore the villa’s rooms and garden after it has been restored, enhanced, and opened to the public. It also hosts significant exhibitions at events.
In addition to the villa, the complex includes the Royal Garden, which spans 40 hectares and houses the royal greenhouses and rose garden. Furthermore, there is Monza Park, a nature oasis with lakes and a path that you can freely cross. Monza Park, which spans 700 hectares, is open for free every day. Visitors can explore the Royal Villa of Monza in its entirety, from the interior rooms to the magnificent gardens and vast park. Visitors can explore each of these in various ways. A ticket allows for a tour of the villa’s 28 rooms, including apartments and halls. The villa is open to the public on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10:00 to 16:00, as well as Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from 10:30 to 18:30.
Villa D’Este: the Pearl of Tivoli
Tourists adore Villa d’Este in Tivoli for its opulent appearance and proximity to Rome. Among the terraced gardens, cascading fountains, decorated staircases, and a path of cypress trees, it is an Italian sixteenth-century masterpiece designed by Cardinal Ippolito d’Este. This residence was passed down from generation to generation to the d’Este family, who over time enhanced the villa with new fountains, including one by the renowned Baroque sculptor Gianlorenzo Bernini. It later passed into the hands of the Habsburgs, and after the First World War’s peace treaty, Villa d’Este became Italian state property.
The villa’s journey continues over the years, from degradation to restoration, until it is open to the public and designated as a UNESCO heritage site in 2001. Today, Villa d’Este exudes all of its history and provides an opportunity to enjoy a slice of paradise in Tivoli. In addition to the dream gardens with 255 waterfalls and 50 fountains, including the magnificent Organ Fountain, there is not the luxury you might expect inside, but there are ancient and valuable frescoes depicting Roman history, mythology, and religion. Despite being partially destroyed during WWII, they remain majestic and wonderful. The villa is divided into three floors, each of which showcases one of its most iconic rooms.
Among these are the Old or Upper Apartment, the Hall of the Stories of Solomon, accessible from the entrance hall, and the Lower Apartment, which is distinguished by the fresco of “Ercole Sassano” and the Salone della Fontanina. To visit Villa d’Este, you must first purchase a ticket that includes entry and access to the current exhibitions.
The Royal Palace of Venaria Reale
The Royal Palace of Venaria Reale, located near Venaria’s seventeenth-century historic center, is a true jewel of Piedmont, a UNESCO heritage site since 1997, and only 30 minutes from Turin. This imposing structure covers approximately 80,000 m2 and includes a 60-hectare park. With the intention of serving as a base for hunting expeditions in Turin’s moorland, Duke Carlo Emanuele II of Savoy commissioned architect Amedeo di Castellamonte to create it.
The visit to the Royal Palace of Venaria begins in Piazza della Repubblica and then transports you to a daydream. During the visit, visitors can admire the complex’s beauty, including the Great Gallery, one of the Palace’s most famous features; explore the former service rooms in the castle’s basement; and learn about the history of the Savoy dynasty and the Palace’s ancient inhabitants through an engaging multimedia exhibition. The Halls of Arts, which host temporary exhibitions, the Ladies-in-Waiting apartments, and Princess Ludovica. Leaving the imposing structure, you are immersed in the beauty of the French garden. It is spectacular and vast, changing colors with the seasons and taking hours to explore in its entirety.
Several paths lead around the castle within the expansive park area. The Fountain of Hercules Colossus, located in the Royal Garden of the Royal Palace of Venaria Reale, is a must-see. Individual entrance tickets to the Royal Palace of Venaria are available for purchase, as are group guided tours.