Consider this a journey through time. We are standing before Villa Santa Maria Molgora. This villa whispers tales of pilgrims, counts, and the relentless march of history.
Villa Santa Maria Molgora has a rich history. In 1248, this site hosted a convent and hospice. It was called the Ospitale di Santa Maria alla Molgora. Pilgrims found refuge here.
Fast forward to 1570. Count Aloisio Melzi purchased the hospital with its land. He built a residence here. The Melzi family owned it until 1925. Luisa Melzi di Cusano was the last of the line. She was the wife of Marchese Lupo Meli Lupi di Soragna. The current owners are her great-grandsons Camillo and Stefano Paveri Fontana.
Sadly the villa’s detailed history is fragmented. The family archive was destroyed in a bombing during 1943. It was stored in their Milan home. Reconstructing its story is difficult.
The villa’s structure dates back to the 16th century. It has undergone many changes. Neoclassical adaptations in particular shaped its current form. The central and rustic courtyards were defined then. The central courtyard was finished in the mid-19th century. The avenue was created in the early 20th century. The central atrium was opened beneath the terrace at the same time.
Today Villa Santa Maria Molgora has two floors. A central courtyard is surrounded by granite columns. The northern facade features two projecting structures. They flank an atrium also adorned with granite columns. A balustrade tops this atrium.
To the west lies the old rustic courtyard. It features brick columns. Beyond this courtyard is the farmhouse. The villa was the heart of agricultural activity. Until the mid-19th century the land cultivated grapes, fruits, cereals and livestock. Later silkworm farming became prominent. From the mid-20th century cereal crops were mainly cultivated. Twenty families lived in the farmhouse until 1970. It stands uninhabited since 1990. The owners now manage the land directly. Restoration work is underway on the farmhouse. It will be converted into housing.
The garden features an avenue lined with statues and hornbeam hedges. A classic Italian garden surrounds the villa. Look out for the parterres, boxwood, privet hedges, lawns and gravel paths. The English-style park boasts mature trees. You can see beeches, oaks, hornbeams, and cedars.
The main facade has a three-arched portico. It has granite columns. A balcony sits above. The white plasterwork and grey granite window frames add elegance. The loggia has a tripartite balustrade of grey granite with stone decorations. A small structure with a broken triangular tympanum stands on the central axis. It houses a clock.
Villa Santa Maria Molgora stands as a testament. It shows the transformations across centuries. It displays architectural styles. It connects generations of owners. It reminds us of the lives lived within its walls.