Villa Cazzaniga

Can you imagine a grand villa standing right on the edge of a canal? That’s Villa Cazzaniga, a beautiful building on the Naviglio Martesana canal between Vimodrone and Cernusco sul Naviglio. Imagine a small boat approaching, its owners stepping onto the little landing. They’re making their way to their home, this charming villa built in the second half of the 18th century. The building was originally U-shaped. One arm was demolished and today it has a L-shaped floor plan. This grand residence has a chapel with beautiful neoclassical decorations. A large portico with three arches supported by granite columns greets you as you step in. The villa’s interior, with its arched ceilings and elegant staircase with its wrought-iron banister, is a reminder of its 18th-century origins. The surrounding garden is filled with trees and flowers, including a centuries-old magnolia in the center. There’s even a small square garden across from the canal. And you won’t miss the stone balustrade along the canal, taken from a no-longer-existing church in Milan. It’s a testament to the rich history of the area. Villa Cazzaniga has changed hands many times over the centuries. Its first owner was Carlo Alberto Besozzi. The building became the property of Giovan Battista Mazzucconi, then Pasquale Bertarelli. In 1817, Antonio Rusca purchased the villa. In the 19th century, the villa was owned by Paolo Carrano, Rachele Bellani and ultimately the Cazzaniga family in 1902, from whom the villa gets its final name. Today, Villa Cazzaniga is a private residence. The stable wing is now a restoration workshop. Take a moment to imagine this fascinating interplay of history, architecture and nature at Villa Cazzaniga, a testament to the rich legacy of Milan.