Perhaps surprisingly, right here in Sesto San Giovanni stands Villa Visconti d’Aragona. It is a noble villa from the 16th century. Today, let’s explore its history.
Villa Visconti d’Aragona began as a manor house. Historical records show a house with a courtyard, garden and well in 1532. The villa’s ownership changed hands several times. In 1601, the Selvini family acquired it. Later the Malombra family owned the villa.
In 1654, Count Carlo di Belgiojoso transformed it into a country residence. The villa even housed silkworms and a wine press. The Parravicini family took ownership in the mid-17th century. Giovanni Antonio Parravicini enhanced the villa’s cultural significance. He commissioned exquisite frescoes. He also established an art gallery.
An inventory from 1721 lists paintings of landscapes and still lifes. Works by Flemish, Dutch and Italian artists were included. Cesare Da Sesto and Caravaggio were among them. The Parravicini’s collection eventually dispersed. It was sold to cover family debts.
The Visconti d’Aragona family acquired the villa in the early 18th century. Later the Visconti-Borromeo family owned it. After that, the Ottolino-Visconti family possessed it before it returned to the Visconti d’Aragona family.
In 1867, financial difficulties forced the Visconti d’Aragona to sell the villa. The De Ponti family, their estate managers, purchased it. The De Ponti family divided the villa into three sections. One part was for rent. Another served as the family’s residence. The third section became a filanda or silk mill. It was one of the first industries in Sesto San Giovanni.
The Municipality of Sesto San Giovanni acquired Villa Visconti d’Aragona De Ponti in 1964. Architect Amedeo Bellini led a restoration project in 1980. The villa was in poor condition. Humidity damaged the interior plaster. The frescoes were removed. They were restored and reinstalled.
The villa’s structure features an asymmetrical design. An iron gate leads to a portico with Doric columns. The courtyard has two-story and one-story sections. The main building faces the entrance. It features a colonnaded space. Originally arcades surrounded the courtyard.
Inside, the villa boasts rich decorations and frescoes. The staircase has wrought iron railings. Its ceiling features an oval dome adorned with quadrature. A private chapel, now an office, is accessible from the staircase. The chapel includes a trompe l’oeil pergola.
The ballroom is the largest room. It has windows overlooking the courtyard. Although the wooden coffered ceiling’s painted decorations have faded traces of frescoes remain on the walls. These depict landscapes and allegorical figures. A black swan indicates the frescoes were commissioned for the wedding of Giovanni Antonio Parravicini and Francesca Castiglioni in 1681. Agostino Santagostino is credited with painting them.
Another intriguing room is the alcove. It features baroque frescoes with ruins and classical statues. A unique depiction of the Adoration of the Magi is present. The Magi pay homage to the Holy Family amid a dilapidated classical building. On the opposite wall, collapsing columns symbolize Christianity’s rise over the pagan world.
Today, Villa Visconti d’Aragona houses the Central Library. It is also home to the Civica Fototeca Nazionale Tranquillo Casiraghi. Additionally, it hosts the Department of Culture of Sesto San Giovanni.
So, next time you visit the library or attend a cultural event remember the rich history within these walls. Villa Visconti d’Aragona stands as a testament to Sesto San Giovanni’s evolving heritage.