Surprising visitors was the main goal when creating Parco Villa Litta. We are standing before a testament to the creative vision of Count Pirro the First Visconti Borromeo. In the second half of the sixteenth century, he transformed a simple agricultural estate into the Villa.
The count was fond of art. Pirro reimagined the architecture and commissioned the garden. He conceived the Nymphaeum. Martino Bassi designed it to exhibit a collection of paintings, sculptures, and curiosities. It was a place to bring to life famous water tricks.
Camillo Procaccini crafted mosaics with colorful pebbles. Morazzone painted the Mercury of the entrance hall with an illusionistic style. The dwelling quickly became a villa of delights. It was an ideal place for parties and receptions. It became a host to writers and monarchs passing through Milan.
Until the 1720s, the villa remained largely unchanged. Giulio Visconti Borromeo Arese, the dynasty’s last heir, decided to build the Quarto Nuovo. This addition closed the entrance courtyard with a ballroom on the main floor.
The Marquis Pompeo Litta, Giulio’s nephew, reinvented the Nymphaeum’s facades in the second half of the 18th century. He arranged the scenic park. It included fountains and monuments. Giuseppe Levati decorated the dining room with stucco and frescoes on the ceilings and walls. He was a prospective painter of the Academy of Brera.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the garden design saw its last significant change. Luigi Canonica included an English grove landscape, following the fashion of the time.
Alberto Toselli initiated the first restoration and re-activation of the water features. He bought the property in 1932. The City of Lainate acquired it in 1971. After a long period of neglect, the Nymphaeum was recovered. The surprises of the villa began to amaze visitors of all ages once again.
Parco Villa Litta stands as a reminder of the power of art. It highlights the enduring appeal of playful design. Its history is long. Its beauty is timeless. It offers something new to discover.