On an estate purchased in the early 1800s, Giovanni Antonio de Manzoni, a descendant of a Lombard family that had become wealthy through the management of the Agordo mines, commissioned the construction of a villa in 1835 designed by Giuseppe Jappelli (1783-1852), the most famous architect of the time, known especially for the eclectic Caffè Pedrocchi in Padua.
The building expresses a neoclassical language; the stylistic choices are characterized by sobriety and the distribution of internal spaces follows rational decisions. On the outside, the flattened surface of the facade is articulated by the central motif of the four giant order pilasters, while the smooth plaster is only slightly indented by the rustication and the windows have a clean cut, without frames. The architecture approaches that of a city palace at a historical moment when the villa loses its connection to agricultural activities, transforming into a place of leisure, far from the urban context.
Inside the villa, two important frescoes are preserved: The Struggle of the Spartans by Giovanni De Min (1786-1859) and Aesop by Pietro Paoletti (1801-1847). The turret features frescoes on the walls depicting Egyptian views and the ceiling shows the constellations of the zodiac likely taken from a drawing by the Belluno scientist and explorer Girolamo Segato.
In 1870, Giuseppe Segusini was commissioned to design the rustic wing in neo-Gothic style, which features fresco decorations with hunting trophies and geometric elements.
Additionally, the building houses the Museum of the 7th Alpini Regiment with materials that tell the story of the Regiment.
The villa is available for conferences, lunches and dinners, weddings, and exhibitions.
