A majestic cedar tree. Three hundred years old it stands tall. A silent witness to generations of the Deciani family. This is Villa Gallazzi. More than just a villa it’s a living testament to history.
Villa Gallazzi in Milan has a rich past. It’s a family home. It has belonged to the Deciani Counts since the late 19th century. The current owner’s grandfather married the last heir of the Counts Gallici. The villa itself is much older. It was built in the late 17th century. It stands on the ruins of a possibly medieval castle.
The Gallici family originally came from Bergamo. They moved to Friuli in the late 17th century. There they established a thriving agricultural business and a printing press. The Deciani family has an even longer history. Their roots go back to the 14th century. One famous ancestor was the jurisconsult Tiberio Deciani. His writings on criminal law are still used in Italian universities.
Imagine the villa in the 18th century. It was lavishly decorated. Beautiful stuccos and frescoes adorned its walls. The colours were delicate and elegant. The floors were exquisite terrazzo Veneziano mosaics.
The villa’s history is intertwined with Italy’s. It was damaged during World War I. It served as a summer residence until World War II. German and Allied troops occupied it. Then came a devastating earthquake in 1976. It caused significant structural damage. Countess Giulia Cattaneo Deciani a heroine of the Italian Resistance spearheaded the post-war restoration. Her determination is legendary. Letters from grateful soldiers she nursed on the Russian front and in Italy with the American Red Cross highlight her heroism. She was a true Florence Nightingale of her time.
The villa’s restoration was remarkable. It was completed to such a high standard that the family moved back in 1987. They continued renovations making it their permanent home. Today parts of the building and the park are open to guests. Villa Gallazzi continues to make memories for many generations. It’s more than a building it’s a family legacy a piece of Milan’s history. A story written in stone stucco and the rustling leaves of that ancient cedar tree.