Villa Gallarati Scotti is a rural palace located near the town of Vimercate in the Province of Monza and Brianza, Italy. Built initially in 1685 by Giovanni Battista Scotti, the villa was known for its French-style gardens and was featured in books about contemporary villas di delizia. During the late 18th and early 19th century, architect Simone Cantoni reconstructed the villa in a Neoclassic style and added a large clock face to the facade.
The surrounding gardens feature a Nymphaeum of Neptune with a waterfall fountain, which was admired by the French scholar Montesquieu in 1728. While the gardens were originally based on a French style with statues and fountains, they were later enlarged and transitioned to an English style, featuring a large plain of grass surrounded by tall trees. The interior is decorated with 17th-century frescoes, most notably in the Hall of Alexander the Great, which depicts scenes such as Alexander taming Bucephalus and the Gordian Knot.
The villa has a storied history of service and restoration. During the first world war, G. Carlo, prince of Molfetta, made the villa available as a rehabilitation center for injured soldiers. During the second world war, the villa was confiscated for military purposes. Following the war, G. Giacomo Gallarate Scotti refurbished the property and completed the works to restore it to its former state.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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