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Villa Il Boccaione stands on the plain of Bettona (PG). It was built in the second half of the XVIII century – with some alleged contribution by the architect Giuseppe Piemarini – on the remains of a previous building dating back to 1500 and owned by the ancient Crispolti family.
In 1818, the villa was acquired by Arcipreti della Penna Crispolti, then by the Bianconis and finally by the Iraci Mandolini Borgia family.

Severely damaged and sacked during the Second World War, the villa suffered some long abandonment and neglect until it was purchased, in 1993, by the Ministry for Architectural and Environmental Heritage – it was thus eventually restored.

Today, the main building, with a rectangular plan, has three floors, and its two orthogonal wings develop on two levels.
There are several gardens, with different formal styles: the Italian one, next to the main building, is stretched over three terraces; the lower part – the largest – is rectangular and divided into four geometric flower beds around a central basin. Two large sets of double-flight stairways lead to the second level, where another flight of stairs connects the first terrace, decorated with a large niche with a fountain and, on the right, by lemon groves.

The French garden, at the back of the villa, appears horseshoe-shaped and is connected to the English park, which used to feature a labyrinth and a theatre.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)