Sitting proudly in sloping landscaped gardens, this fabulous mansion, built in the sixteenth century as an elegant country estate, deserves to be better known. That it is known at all is due to the efforts of FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano), the Italian equivalent of the National Trust to which the building was donated in 1989. A must for devotees of stately homes.

 

Like all FAI properties, the Villa della Porta Bozzolo combines the natural beauty of parks and gardens with magnificent interiors and architectural features.

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Arriving from the SS394 main road, leave your car in the spacious car park and head for a  courtyard where you will find a bookshop and some magnificently furnished rooms.

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After buying your ticket, you might choose to first visit the Italian style secret garden, terraces and the climb to the belvedere; from the top of the belvedere, looking down over the valley, you’ll notice a huge factory in the distance. 

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Look out for the stables and the huge wine press, one of the largest in Italy.

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Returning to the villa, many of the rooms are magnificently decorated although not all the furniture was originally  in the villa. The kitchens are of particular interest.

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To do justice to  house and grounds you’ll need to dedicate a couple of hours, especially if you decide to climb up to the magnificent hilltop belvedere.

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There is also the option of a group guided visit but this is usually only available in Italian.