Stunning Mansion in Brianza, North Italy

The history of Villa Beldosso, whose foundation dates back to the early sixteenth century, spans at least five centuries. It is not surprising to find such a long span of time, since its story originates from the relative economic prosperity of the late Sforza's age, which saw the "beautiful landscape" of the Italian villa establish itself also in northern Italy - quoting Emilio Sereni. The original dwelling has come down to us somewhat modified in form and layout, conditioned by subsequent interventions of adaptation to the needs of different owners. Radical was perhaps the one undertaken at the end of the nineteenth century by Count Andrea Sola, married to the marquise Antonietta Busca Arconati Visconti. At that time dates back the neo-baroque imprint derived from the decorative contribution on the facade facing south, in fact predominant, even if the main access is on the opposite side, as well as the window frames with gables and shells and the composition modulated on three partitions with ashlars. The intervention culminated with the construction of the monumental external staircase with two mixtilinear ramps, climbed to connect a panoramic terrace bordered by stone pierced balustrades. In 1821 was built at the north-eastern vertex of the villa the neoclassical oratory with a circular hall, preceded by a colonnaded prothyrum and an upper tympanum, designed by Simone Cantoni. In the last decades the villa has been purchased by Luigi Galli, an antiquarian of European fame, who took care of the restoration, the constant maintenance and the organization of the exhibition spaces of period furniture in the sumptuous halls.