Centuries whisper from these walls. Welcome to Villa Baldironi Reati. This villa stands as a testament to the families who shaped its destiny. It is a typical Villa di delizia of Brianza in Lombardy.
The Baldironi family owned it from 1450 to 1897. Then, the Paleari family took ownership from 1897 to 1940. Finally, the Reati family owned the villa from 1940 to 1981. After that, the villa got its name. The Comune of Lissone acquired Villa Baldironi Reati in 1981.
Originally, Villa Baldironi Reati was part of a larger complex. This included a family chapel. The chapel later became the Oratorio dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of Maria in 1702. It now houses the Italian Association of Combatants and Veterans. A vast park once surrounded the residence. Sadly, it is now lost due to construction.
In 1855, the Austro-Hungarian cadastre showed a unified complex. It faced Piazza Piscina now Piazza Garibaldi. It also faced Via Baldironi and Via Fiume. Via Fiume served as the main entrance. It also provided passage to the south garden.
The Paleari family moved the entrance to Piazza Garibaldi in 1897. They gave the villa a more classical tone. They demolished the connection to the chapel. They also constructed service rooms.
The Reati family replaced the old staircase with a Liberty-style one after 1940. They built a shed laboratory in the courtyard. The ground floor became a glass factory. This caused significant damage to the frescoes. The first floor was reorganized into two apartments.
The municipal administration demolished the shed laboratory. They restored the roof in 1986. The restoration of the frescoes and ground floor rooms finished between 1997 and 2001. The noble rooms on the ground floor regained their original splendor. The restoration of the first floor was completed in early 2007.
Villa Baldironi Reati has two floors above ground. They total 650 square meters. The ground floor features frescoed rooms. The Sala delle Battaglie depicts mythological war scenes. The Sala dei Busti shows paintings of Roman busts. The Sala delle Colonne features painted columns. They create the illusion of supporting the ceiling beams. The Sala Marina presents mythological sea themes. An Atrium and a Liberty Staircase complete the ground floor.
During restoration, the damaged parquet floors were removed. The first floor mirrors the layout of the ground floor. The 2007 restoration revealed frescoed cornices with floral elements.
A small room on the staircase once led to a balcony in the chapel. This was likely a private access for the villa owners. A small staircase leads to an underground cellar. The chapel now has a false ceiling below the vault cornice. The original ground floor decorations are hidden. The decorations on the first floor are significantly damaged.
The frescoes are probably by Giovanni Ghisolfi from the Venetian school. He also worked at Palazzo Arese Borromeo. They create a stunning optical illusion.
Villa Baldironi Reati is a protected building. This is because of the significant artistic value of its decorations. The villa is used for civil weddings and opened to the public on special occasions. It is hoped that it will be part of a local tourist system soon.