The secrets of Villa Rusconi-Clerici, Art Nouveau style and wonderful views of the lake

Dear Fellow Travelers,

As Daniela Uslan, I’m thrilled to recommend the enchanting Villa Rusconi-Clerici for your next Lake Como adventure. This Art Nouveau gem offers a unique blend of history, art, and breathtaking views.

Key facts:
• Built in 1906
• Located in Pallanza, overlooking Lake Maggiore
• Designed by architect Giuseppe Sommaruga

The villa’s highlights include:
• Exquisite Art Nouveau interiors
• Lush botanical gardens spanning 7 hectares
• Panoramic terraces with stunning lake vistas

Don’t miss the guided tours, which provide fascinating insights into the villa’s history and architectural significance. For art enthusiasts, the on-site gallery showcases an impressive collection of 19th and 20th-century paintings.

Pro tip: Visit during spring or early summer to experience the gardens in full bloom.

For more information on Lake Como’s hidden treasures, check out my travel blog.

Wishing you a magical stay at Villa Rusconi-Clerici!.

La city of Verbania, nestled along the shores of Lake Maggiore, holds some splendid historic mansions that are all waiting to be discovered, with their enchanting flower gardens that offer their most beautiful show in spring. One of these is Villa Rusconi-Clerici, an architectural masterpiece in Art Nouveau style that today is mainly used as a location for private events and ceremonies. It is a wonderful place, surrounded by greenery and endowed with breathtaking views of the lake. Here is its history and secrets.

Where Villa Rusconi-Clerici is located.

Let’s face the shores of Lake Maggiore, at the westernmost point of the Gulf of Borromeo, where the Toce River mixes its waters with those of the lake: this is where the town of Verbania lies, a place full of surprises. While many are familiar with its splendid Villa Taranto, whose gardens are a real springtime tourist destination, there are many other historic buildings that deserve a visit. Among others, we cannot fail to mention Villa Rusconi-Clerici: it is located in the hamlet of Pallanza, from where it enjoys a lovely view, and is surrounded by a beautiful lush park.

Villa Rusconi-Clerici: the history and the owners

La history of Villa Rusconi-Clerici is closely linked to that of the city of Verbania and its most illustrious figures of the 19th century. It all began in 1859, at the dawn of the independence of the northern Italian territories from Austrian rule: at that time, Hungarian patriot and Garibaldi colonel Stephen Türr purchased the property of the small Bozzetti villa, which stood in an extremely scenic spot on Lake Maggiore. The man, an Austrian defector colonel who decided to enlist with Giuseppe Garibaldi to fight against the Bourbons, permanently established his residence there.

Türr immediately began landscaping the gardens around his villa, managing to complete only part of them. Particularly interested in the camellias, some specimens are still present and make a fine display in the park. In the late 1800s, the colonel returned to his homeland and died here in 1908. The Bozzetti cottage was then purchased by the Biffi family, who had it completely destroyed. Ferdinand and his wife Cristina, the new owners, opted for the construction of a much more impressive building: an Art Nouveau palace with neo-Baroque decorations, the design of which was entrusted to the Milanese architect Giovanni Giachi.

To the same period dates theextension of the gardens, with the creation of a winter garden and the renovation of the grounds overlooking Lake Maggiore. Thus, Villa Biffi and its park became a salon for intellectuals, artists and distinguished politicians, including Troubetzkoy, General Cadorna, the Pallavicino family and the Melzi d’Eril family. During World War II, the large hall on the ground floor of the palace was used as the headquarters of a Gestapo command, while the villa itself was in danger of being requisitioned by the military. Only after the end of the conflict did the property pass into the hands of the Rusconi-Clerici family, belonging to the local nobility.

The counts were able to keep the charm intact of what has since assumed the name Villa Rusconi-Clerici, both in its Art Nouveau exuberance and in the rich decorations that can still be admired in the park. After decades of prosperity, this charming building is now part of Piedmont’s architectural heritage: still belonging to the Rusconi-Clerici family, it is partly used for residential purposes. Its majestic halls and its enchanting garden, on the other hand, host private events and ceremonies-the perfect location for a dream wedding on Lake Maggiore.

The interior of Villa Rusconi-Clerici

Describing the beauty and majesty of Villa Rusconi-Clerici is not easy, especially if we try to imagine it at the time of its heyday. Arranged on three levels, the entrance opens along the road leading to Pallanza: once through the gate, an imposing stone staircase appears, leading to the lobby, where there is the grand Art Nouveau staircase made of green marble and fitted with an iron and wrought-wood parapet. The ground-floor gallery opens onto numerous rooms, including the study, the main hall (decorated in Baroque style), a central hall, and the dining room with a splendid wooden fireplace.

The second floor houses the richly furnished master rooms, with small terraces and a fantastic view of Lake Maggiore. The second floor, on the other hand, is dedicated to guest quarters, with all the services and amenities to accommodate guests. The kitchens are located in the basement, where the laundry, pantry, utility bathrooms and wine cellars, all rooms that were abandoned and now refurbished to function just as they once did-the kitchen is still where catering and lunches for receptions are prepared.

What makes the interior of Villa Rusconi-Clerici even more striking is the fact that much of the furnishings visible today are still the original ones: from the sofas to the woodwork and chandeliers, many items are symbolic of a bygone era characterized by luxury, elegance and refinement. There are also some outbuildings, which over the years have been transformed into apartments to receive guests: each of them follows different styles, colors and inspirations, united by names that recall the figure of Arturo Toscanini, who used to spend his vacations on the opposite Isolino di San Giovanni.

The wonderful garden on the lake

And finally, the wonderful open spaces of Villa Rusconi-Clerici, with theenchanting garden overlooking the lake. The park, which slopes gently toward the water, is home to several interesting areas: such is the case with the lemon grove, where citrus trees of various species have been housed for two centuries. Next to it, camellias flood the lawn with their intoxicating colors and scents. One area, on the other hand, is devoted to rhododendrons and a stunning globe-shaped magnolia, while all along the garden are flowerbeds decorated with numerous essences typical of the 1800s-including lavender, abelia, and yucca.

Descending toward the lake, along an avenue lined with roses, we encounter a small wooden pier and the dock: oleanders, brooms and privets sprout here. Finally, in the center of the garden stands a beautiful iron pavilion with extremely elegant forms, now used for outdoor receptions-it can accommodate 50 to 400 people. Immerse yourself in Villa Rusconi-Clerici and its lush park, from where you can enjoy a splendid view of Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands, remains an incredible and unique experience.