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The first part of Villa Borromeo was built in 1765 by Giuseppe Piermarini. The layout of the villa is linked to the Lombard style of the late XVII and early XVIII centuries. The residence is made of 142 rooms and a series of organized areas of about 5.980 square yards.
The monumental court of honor eventually leads to the hall of honor, the ballroom, the grand staircase ( used for representation and as a hallway), and a covered porch (which offers shelter from the bad weather). On the sides of the main building, there are the service wings, used for stables, kitchens, and the servants’ quarters.
Then, there’s the vestibule with the staircase, and, finally, the more functional minor stairs, which link the structure to the front garden.

THE GARDEN

It features an Italian layout, with geometric patterns. Giuseppe Piermarini gave it a strong neoclassical look with well-defined areas, in order to create a perfect match with the main facade of the building.
The ground floor main features were built with uncut stones, later carved into decorative moldings (bossage) and it’s enlivened by the entrance portico with four columns resting on a simple, five-step staircase which respects the axis of symmetry with a slight circular movement in its center.

The garden lies beyond an XVIII century gate decorated with three rings, symbolizing one of the many coats of arms granted by the Sforzas to the Borromeos. The gate is also surmounted by the Borromeo insignia, which was added when the last member of the D’Addas married of the noble Borromeos, offering the villa as a dowry.
In the rear part, the building overlooks a large park of about 17 acres, with a natural style and rich in centuries-old tall trees including lindens and hornbeams (Carpinus betulus) – they’re mostly arranged on an avenue around a large lawn.
This villa was inherited by the Borromeos from the D’Addas at the end of the XIX century.
Until the outbreak of the Second World War, it was used as a holiday and official reception facility, often attended by several members of royal families.
During the last war, the Villa had to undergo, like several other buildings in Cassano d’Adda, the military occupation of Canadian and Italian military units.

A local chronicler, Milani, in his “Annals of the village and parish of Cassano”, recalls that on November 25, 1807, Napoleon I and Gioacchino Murat were among the guests of Villa Borromeo.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)