SHARRYLAND
Villa Cicogna Mozzoni in Bisuschio
A Renaissance jewel nestled in the greenery of Valceresio
Where is
What it is and where it is
The villa is located in the historic center of Bisuschio, in Valceresio, a town halfway between Varese and Porto Ceresio, and is surrounded by greenery. It is a mansion that dates back to the 1400s, at the height of the Renaissance period, built as a hunting lodge by the Mozzoni family when the Sforza family were the lords of Milan. Its Italianate garden opens to the visitor's gaze, and the loggia that surrounds it, embellished with grotesques and floral paintings, blends with the landscape.
Why it is special
Looking at the exterior structure so harmonious and graceful, it is impossible not to feel the desire to enter. Here, well-kept interiors and spacious halls with original furnishings envelop the visitor. Then one's gaze rests on the terraced garden, which ascends the hill behind it, interrupting it with a waterfall flanked by two flights of steps, all crowned by a panoramic temple. And it is at that moment that one realizes that one has now fallen prey to the charm of this enchanting place.
Not to be missed
The gardens are the most exciting part. The small fountains and basins bordered by the wall in which statues and busts are housed in small niches, the green grass, the romantic park, the view that can sweep to the mountains of neighboring Switzerland and to Lake Lugano-all give a sense of harmony and balance.
A bit of history
Following the Renaissance fashion, the Mozzoni nobles had the villa built as a hunting lodge in 1440 and embellished it with interiors frescoed by famous painters such as the F.lli Campi. The villa, which was also used as a meeting place for the nobility, has come down to the present day, keeping intact the frescoes of the loggia on the entrance floor, the wide staircase, the library and the reception rooms. The name Mozzoni Cicogna is due to the marriage between a Mozzoni descendant and the daughter of Pietro Cicogna. It was also the set of The Betrothed back in 1988.
Trivia
It is said that the owner was a cultured traveler and that during his trips to Tuscany and papal residences he found inspiration to build this U-shaped villa embraced by its gardens. During these travels, on a hunting trip, he apparently saved the life of Galeazzo Sforza, who had been attacked by a bear.
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