Is there another royal palace hidden in plain sight? Take a good look at Villa Archinto Pennati. While it may appear as a beautiful Neoclassical building from the street, it holds a secret. This villa, tucked away on Via Francesco Frisi, was built to rival the grandeur of the Royal Villa of Monza. The Archinto family, a powerful dynasty in the 19th century, spared no expense to create their own grand residence. They commissioned Luigi Canonica, the renowned architect behind the Royal Villa’s park, to design Villa Archinto Pennati in 1829. Canonica’s masterful touch transformed the villa by 1840. He created a breathtaking English-style park hidden from public view. This secret garden unfolds behind the villa. It features a large artificial lake. It boasts a network of canals and an array of native trees. The main house itself boasts a captivating facade adorned with ionic semi-columns. It has a central tympanum and a lateral attic. Inside, the villa conceals six internal courtyards and exquisitely preserved frescoed ceilings. Sadly, Villa Archinto Pennati remains a private residence, subdivided into apartments. Imagine the grand gatherings and leisurely summer days that once filled this magnificent estate.
Chiesa parrocchiale di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola
“A church built in just a year?” you might ask, eyebrows raised. Yes, indeed! The Chiesa parrocchiale di Sant’Ignazio di