INSPIRATION
Villa de Vecchi
“Art is never finished, only abandoned.”
Leonardo Da Vinci
Felix De Vecchi, a Count who had traveled many parts of the world and been a soldier came home to Italy. He bought with him a passion for the East which is reflected in the home he was about to create Villa de Vecchi.
Only in his thirties, it was a time of travel and romance. I imagine him wandering the area near Lake Como and deciding on the perfect place to build his summer house.
He chose the architect Alessandro Sidoli, and work progressed. The many innovations included are well documented, such as the use of heating tubes within the walls similar to those used today. Serving hatches were used to bring food from the kitchens to the upper floors, and the fountain was able to shoot into the air using pressure from the slope of the mountain.
It was a home created with passion and imagination. Extensive gardens and parkland were planted, a keepers house built, parties held, and many summers were spent living a charmed life.
Exquisite decorative fresco’s covered the walls and ceilings, in the hall there are the remains of a grand piano and a huge fireplace in the next room. We can only begin to imagine how glorious it must have been.
Villa de Vecchi was a stunning work created from the imagination of both men.
That it still brings forth such a response so many years later is a fitting testament to the creative genius of these men.
Sadly Alessandro was not to see the final result, he died a year before completion.
The count and his family were said not to live a full and happy life together at the Villa. It’s been reported that one day he returned home to find his wife murdered, her face disfigured and his daughter missing. He searched the woods for weeks without finding a trace. Distraught he killed himself. I do not in any way say this story is the truth but it is the popular story of what happened.
It was 1862, he was only forty six years old.
After his death the house was passed to his brother Biagio, who at the end of the sixties completely removed the Eastern influence from the keepers house replacing the dome and decorations with stone. The Count’s family owned Villa de Vecchi and spent many summers in it’s beauty till the early forties.
Abandoned for the next twenty years it was sold and has had a number of owners.
This glorious dream a young man began so many years ago fell into decay, the pipes that had been so innovative helping in it’s downfall as they slowly broke within the walls. Vandals and time began the process which continues today.
The urban legend grows with talk of ghosts and tragedy.
Even as I look at these images I can picture Felix De Vecchi strolling through the grounds notebook in hand, dreams in his heart. Those who fell in love with the house and it’s beauty are attempting to save it. The process is complex yet I can only hope it succeeds.
Perhaps the legacy of Felix De Vecchi and Alessandro Sidoli will live on, with help not only from those close by but from all over the world. His story and that of Villa De Vecchi will one day be fully told and shared.
Please note every effort has been made to verify the above information for Villa de Vecchi, if you are able to update, correct or give any further information I would be very happy to hear from you. ciao lisa
images ~ 1 ~ 2 ~ 4 ~ 5 ~ 7 ~ 8 ~ 9 ~ 10 ~ 11
further resources ~ Valsassina News ~ Salviami the Villa (fb) ~ Flickr Jeff Kerwin
and the gang x
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I’m incredibly interested in this house if it’s for sale how would i find out how much it’s going for if i wanted to purchase. A contact to who i could purchase it from would be great!?
Dear Tiffany, dear all, I am italian from Milan and I was like you interested to buy this house and restore it. The actual owners are some shareholders of a small factory that produces mechanical parts near the town Cortenova. In the last 12 years the villa was put in auction 3 times, but no one has made any bid at all. No one wants to buy it because it is forbidden from the Italian Government to restore it. This because the entire area is under hydro geological medium – high risk level of landslide. Also simply touch the walls is forbidden. The authorities of the area refuse the authorizations to the owners for any kind of intervention, as some metallic mezzanines, in order to support and save what it is still standing up. So no chance to save it. It seems a paradox but this is the real actual situation till the area will not pass to good hydrological conditions (and this will never happens). Hope to have clarified the situation, Marco.
Moreover, I suggest you to check the italian magazines in a period included from the end of last century and the first years of 2000 and you will find the tragedy happened in this area around all the villa. Some big landslides are happened in all around the house and on the highway gallery below. Many people dies. As a miracle, the villa was not touch for about a couple of meters… This is why the area is now considered dangerous. Please look to North Italian Magazines, pubblished in Lecco city area.
Wikipedia Italy has an article on him. Felice De Vecchi. No murder, no daughter. He was a widower with two young sons when he began the villa. He lives in it with his boys and died of poor health when they were 12 and 16. He was actually a well known Italian artist.
Oh never found that story, I”m much happier to think of him living with his sons and being an artist! Thanks for filling me in xx lisa
Beautiful structure, and sad story he’s gone too soon and left behind 2 teenagers son. Hope will be restored💖asap.
I am a De Vecchi
Wow! That’s awesome!
Just from reading the story, I believe Felix’ brother Biagio made unreciprocated advances toward his brothers wife, she laughed at him, so he angrily murdered her. The daughter was collateral. She is probably buried near. Try ground penetrating equipment. Sorry. He & his family sounded Terrific.
Please reply. Thank you
I’m so sorry I really don’t know any of the history of the family other than what is in the post.
I’d love to hear if you find any further details, you could try contacting the commune in the town where Villa De Vecchi is situated.
xx lisa
Wow, is this villa for sale do you know?
Bongiorno Lisa,
Try: 1990 Bindo di Cortenova. pdf.
Lots of hot chocolates Lisa. Coldest July here in 40 years, but no snow. YET!
I have spoken with a dear Italian friend of mine and asked her if we could travel to Italy together. I would love her company. She has visited Italy and met her rellies on 2 trips now. Here’s hoping.
Ciao,
Ann.
Hi Lisa,
I went searching for the Architect, Alessandro Sidoli, and I found the architectural plans to the Villa. Very detailed & interesting. what is the weather like in Italy at the moment? It is freezing in South Gippsland!!! but we are keeping warm. Ciao, Ann.
Oh I’d love to see them is there a link you could send? It’s very warm here in Italy we are having a heat wave. Beautiful summer days and warm nights, have a hot chocolate for me lol xx
This is Wow! A manuscript has been found that records Count Felice de Vecchi’s travel’s in the East! There is to be a full ceremony and cutting of the Red Tape at an Expo in Lombardy on the 5 October, 2015. Wish I could be there!
Article:
http://www.arte.it/calendario-arte/milano/mostra-giornale-di-carovana-il-manoscritto-ritrovato-l-oriente-attraverso-gli-occhi-di-un-patriota-milanese-dimenticato-felice-de-vecchi-4835
There is a photo of the Count himself!
( I translated this article to get the details).
Tanto amore a tutti voi.
Ann.
Oh I’d love to see them is there a link you could send? It’s very warm here in Italy we are having a heat wave. Beautiful summer days and warm nights, have a hot chocolate for me lol xx
Ciao Lisa,
February last year since I visited here. Your email re “new comment” started me on a fresh look at the Villa. There are some amazing photos in Flickr. I just cant get over the exquisite beauty and fine detail of the Fresco’s. Even after all this time, you get it. I found a photo showing a bath that was made in a wall. Complete with tap! State-of-the-art for back then. I imagine it would take a fortune to restore it now, to its former glory, particularly with the decay in the walls from the pipes. I found an article which has a photo of Count Felice de Vecchi. did you get the link? A little more history.
Looks like you are having a wonderful time in Italy. I hope I can travel one day soon.
Grazie, Ann.
It is still fascinating to me and I hope one day to at least see it in person. I know the Flickr photos are beautiful and thank goodness someone recorded the house as it is slowly taken over by nature. Oh I’d love to see a photo of the Count, I’ll look for the link, where did you send it? Hope to meet you one day and catch up, much love lisa x
Ciao Lisa, I hit reply to the email you sent me with “new comment”. Does that work? It should have gone back to your Renovating Italy email address? Let me know if you cant find it and I will resend.
Ann.
Ann,
I would love to see photos of the count as well. Would you mind sending me the link? My email is gina.vecchi@yahoo.com.
Thanks!
Hi Lisa, what an incredible house! I loved reading all the information you have and seeing the photos, not sure I’m going to be able to stop thinking about this place now. Do you know who owns the property now? Is it a large property, does it have a lot of land connected with it still? I have a miĺlion questions i’d love to ask…..but I will try and restrain myself… ☺
Ciao Kathrine, I’d love to visit the house one day, I am yet to see it in person. I really have no idea who owns it now but you can find a page for it on facebook and other links I put in the post. It seems to have touched so many people. xx
For weeks now I have been dreaming of and – I guess you could call it – craving to buy and old mansion that is in dire need of repair. A sort of fix-er-upper mansion. I am in no position financially to do this as I have been very ill for quite some time. So, I chalked this up to some sort of odd thing that will pass. The last few days I have been frantically trying to figure out why I have this impulse and trying to find out if there is in fact a place that exists that looks like what I have been “thinking” of.
Today, for no real reason, I decided to google myself. Guess what came up. A picture of this Villa De Vecchi. It is the exact building I have been “seeing”. I find it VERY odd that it has my name on it. I am a little freaked out. I don’t know what this means or what I am supposed to do about it.
Anyway, I just wanted to share that. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.
Gina that is so bizarre, Villa de Vecchi has lived in my heart since I first saw the photo a few years ago and fell in love with the story. Maybe you could join in the efforts to save her. She has such a story and my friend Jeff who took the photos has been a few times to visit. I know they have a fb group I think I included the link. I’m so happy you found this post and now have a small connection to Villa de Vecchi, what a lovely twist to the tale. xxx
ciao ciao lisa
Hi Lisa
Like you I’m fascinated by the story of this family and how little information is actually available about them.
I suspect that perhaps Felix was not the first name of the De Vecchi patriarch. (Being a VERY un Italian name for the 1800’s) despite what has been reported. If in fact his name was Felix, it’s unlikely he was a native Italian and so his last name may not have been De Vecchi but was adopted for the villa. Lake Como has been an attraction for overseas residents long before George Clooney discovered it 🙂
His interest and influence by eastern architecture is very interesting considering a De Vecchi family were involved in silk trading in India in the 1800’s. They were Italian and the business was very influential. The villa would have been a very expensive project so I imagine he came from great wealth and of some social standing. If that was the case it seems impossible that all records of him and the ‘murder’ would have disappeared.
I’ll be digging a little deeper about this and let you know what I find
I look forward to whatever you find out, Anna.
We are both hooked right Jeff xxx
I searched for ages looking for information but not speaking Italian made it difficult. I’d love to know the real story and if you find out anything would be fascinated to hear and share.I would think he came from wealth and considering how innovative the house was for it’s day then maybe it would be easier to track the architect and then the owner. So wonderful to hear from you and to find someone else in love with this story and it’s characters. My friend Jeff Kerwin is also in love with the story and went to the Villa in person xx
ciao ciao lisa
Greetings Lisa. I have, only today, found this Villa and amazing story quite by accident through websites and this Forum. There are no words, just a chasm in my heart.
Thanks for digging. What you say about the Italian? de Vecchi family, in India makes a lot of sense. I am sure that most of that is verifiable, as you say. Just to get a sense of the sheer scale, beauty and ingenuity of this once magnificent Villa would have required an incredible amount of wealth. I also get a feel of insane jealousy perpetrated through the horrific murder and disappearance of his wife and daughter and the taking of his own life! No I am not psychic, its just that why would someone want to do that to such love and beauty. One thinks maybe he unjustly created some enemies quite unbeknown to him, somewhere in his travels.
Lisa, I do hope I might be so lucky to hear from you in the future if you find out more of this hauntingly beautiful tragedy.
Kind regards,
Ann.
South Gippsland,
VIC, Australia.
Ciao Ann, it’s so nice to hear from you and know that others are as moved by this story as I am. I’d love to further research this family and the story of the Villa. They must have had incredible vision back then to create something of such beauty. I’m really not sure how much of this is fact and how much myth but I could imagine his grief and anguish and the loss of wife and daughter must have been horrific. ciao love lisa xx
I pray to God is can be saved. I wonder if there was someone who would be willing to be a private donor to save the sight. I wish I was rich enough. I saw someone mentioned that a few questionable people owned this house. You can find out who owned a building by looking into ownership records which could be found at town hall, I have no idea how that would translate in Italy, but records should be there and open to the public. That might help 🙂 I love this house so much, I pray that it is saved.
It seems that the Villa has many passionate people looking to save it, I hope they can prevail. I’m not really interested in the ‘questionable people’ rather those who had a dream and saw it realized. The story has always struck me as romantic and finally tragic…..if any spirits really do exist at Villa de Vecchi I wish them peace and rest x
La villa e bellissima. Com’e, che nessuno l’ha comprato fino adesso ?
Non e per vendere ? Fra poco sara rovinata completamente.
They are trying to save it but I fear that it is in vain x
Grazi mille Lisa for such a lovely view of the Villa de Vecchi. I lived in Firenze for some time and heard so many stories about this home. I was also told there was at one time a “reward” for staying overnight in the home to report on what was haunting this place and then the government put a stop to it. Do you know if there is any truth to this? My son-in-law in the Caribiniere told me about this place. He told me he didn’t really know if any of this information was true and it was much talked about when he was young. Again, Mille grazi for this fascinating piece of Italia.
Hi Kelli, It seems the stories are various and I like to think that if the house is haunted it is with the spirit of those who built it and created it with love. It seems from what I’ve read that the house was taken over by some creepy people at one stage. I wonder how to find the truth, I looked for some time and tried to go back to old newspapers etc just didn’t know where to start. It is such a fascinating story and the house seems to capture the imagination of all who see it! thanks for letting me know you liked the post, ciao lisa x
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ALMOST feel has if I have seen it.DOVE questa Bellisima CASA?
Ciao Ciao, the Villa is at Cortenova, Lecco Italy and if you follow the fb links you can join in on the campaign to save the property. It is stunning and certainly haunting ciao lisa x
I have been restoring heritage homes all my life but this one takes the cake, when I look at the photo’s I still see a life in this house even in it’s dilapidated state, it has a living quality about it, would love to restore this one, such stories it could tell us. Thank you for sharing .
I will be visiting Italy for the first time in September 2013 and would dearly love to visit this house in my 6 week stay. ciao.
Hi Michael,
I totally agree with you on this one, it would be fantastic to see it restored to all it’s glory. You will certainly have lots to see when you get to Italy especially as a first timer. If you do happen to get to Villa Di Vecchi get in touch with the photographer Jeff Kerwin whom I mention in the other post about the villa I’m sure he could give you some info on how to find it and who to talk with.
ciao and look forward to hearing how your trip goes!
lisa
What an incredible house and history. Even in it’s current state, it’s beautiful.
I imagine it slowly being engulfed by nature until it is no more, a beautiful dream to restore. ciao lisa
Oh Lisa, I’m gutted by this story, even though it’s so old. I can’t imagine this poor man’s grief, pain and loss. 🙁 How I hope that some loving soul will come along and restore love and happiness to this place. XO
Hey Krista we really are big softies aren’t we! I was also moved by this story and wanted to create something that told a reflection of the truth (as I could find it).
I still don’t know the entire truth of the Count’s story but hope to keep uncovering those with the knowledge of the real story.
ciao love lisa x
Dear Lisa….thank you. This story brought me close to tears. Like an Italian Wuthering Heights or Rebecca. Such a wonderful post and your own passion for the subject and the story shines through in every word. I also love these types of typically Italian initiatives in local communities where pride and passion can really make the difference. Meanwhile I hope all is well with you. I think of you often on your journey. Janinex
Hi Janine, yes this story haunted me for a few nights. I couldn’t get it out of my head and wondered what happened to the family. I hope to get some more information soon, I find it sad that the main posts about this incredible story seem to focus on the urban myth rather than the simple story of the family who lived, loved and passed through this house.
I do get passionate when reading up on a story and spend days (my hubby despairs) researching, taking notes, and working it all out before putting my own spin on it.
I hope the community can somehow save this building, it would be nice to think of it restored against all odds.
Can’t wait to meet up some day
love lisa x
Hello Lisa, Thank-you for your support and Thank-you for sharing the mystery surrounding the Villa.
Could we chat further via email?
Ciao,
Larraine
Hi Larraine, I’d love to chat further via email, just shooting you something off now x
What a sad story. Such a beautiful house that I do so hope becomes restored to it’s original glory.
I can’t help but also think that as much as I like beautiful things they are so not the most important thing to set our hearts on.
The thing I love about the house and it’s story is that a single image can touch so many people and in some way speak to something within them. Although not the most important thing, I think the gift of Villa de Vecchi will be to have us realize what we let slip away in our lives. love lisa x
Lisa,
It seems you had already seen my Villa de Vechi photos. And yes, I visited some other abandoned places on this trip. I mentioned having been in Lazio where I visited a couple of long-abandoned towns, both of which are on nature reserves. One was Galeria Antica, a town whose population was mostly wiped out by malaria in the late 1700s, I believe. There is a glorious bell tower ruin there that I fell in love with! Another was Monterano, destroyed by the French in 1799. The highlight here is a spectacular ruin of San Bonaventura church and monastery. You can find shots of these places here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/triptorome2006/sets/72157629477476508/with/7115333793/
While in Naples I also visited the ruin of a former aristocratic palace, Villa d’Elboeuf, built in 1711 and designed by the great Neapolitan architect Ferdinando Sanfelice – he designed several very unique and wonderful buildings in Naples. This place is along the sea in Portici, a suburb of Naples:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/triptorome2006/sets/72157629665785153/
Feel free to share any of my pics if you’d like. And no, I am not a “real” photographer. Although I’m kind of passionate about it, I don’t possess much technical knowledge and so I’m strictly an amateur. Many have told me that I have a “good eye” though!
I envy your life in Italia. Enjoy. -jeff
Hi Jeff, I am always surprised at the number of incredible photographers who don’t think they are. Imagine what you could do with some technical training, the gift of a photographers eye is something that can’t be taught. I love your images and will include some in the story as they just tell so much more about the Villa. I’m off to check out the places you mention, and loved your Naples images!! When next you visit Italy I hope we can meet up, I have another friend on fb (Doug Porter from Fresco Images) who is building his folio and you might be interested to take a look.
ciao for now,
lisa x
How wonderfully impressive, beautiful beyond belief. Thank you for sharing
Hi Lisa,
I wonder what those walls could share ~ if only they could talk 🙂
That is one incredible story about a house that should still be in use. Its gorgeous. I wonder if there spirit of the count and his family can be felt in and around the house? It would be so beautiful to see it restored once again.
Thanks for sharing this gorgeous story.
I wonder about the daughter and if she was ever found, how old she was…what really happened. I don’t think it’s
impossible to restore just so much red tape and expense. It survived a landslide, years of neglect, and vandals it
would be lovely to be able to give it another chance.
ciao lisa x
Thank you for the background Lisa – fascinating. Sad to see it so overgrown it looks like its sinking into the greenery.
I have pages and pages of notes which took a while to translate. Much has been made of the haunted side of the story which wasn’t the story I wanted to share. I wasn’t able to find images of the owners or further information about the tragedy that befell them. It seems that red tape has kept the house from being restored over the years. ciao lisa x
WOW! Thanks for researching and sharing Lisa. A Tragic, yet interesting story indeed. Well I do hope for their spirits, oneday their whole story will be told and that the villa will become someone else’s dream…. all fulfilled. 🙂
Susan isn’t it just a wonderful story, and I feel I have only touched the surface. I have so many unanswered questions.
ciao love lisa x
Kewl Lisa – I hope you find some more stories and info:-).
Susan the stories are never ending ….like the SBS ad’s 6 million stories and counting.
lisa x
Thank you for the story behind this tragic beauty – amazing. F x
Most welcome Francesca, once I start I just can’t seem to stop and went to bed dreaming of the story.
ciao lisa x
I hope it does succeed so sad to see such places in decay.
Well I like to think that anything is possible and perhaps with an increased awareness of the plight of this house something will be done.
ciao lisa x
Hi Lisa,
I really enjoyed this article, as it filled in some serious gaps in knowledge I had about Villa de Vecchi. I knew it had a dark and sad past, but did not know the real story. I first saw a photo of the villa a few years ago, and sometime last year learned where it was. So on my recent trip to Italy in March (I live in the U.S. and have been vacationing in Italy each year for several years), I made a trip up to northern Italy from Lazio for a couple of day, largely to pay a visit to Villa de Vecchi. I spent at least two hours there, taking photos and reveling in its haunting beauty. I will never forget it.
How wonderful Jeff, and just knowing that you made the journey especially to visit the house shows what kindred souls we must be!
It took some time to find information yet the more I searched the more I found, so many incredible images shared through flickr but they are
of course all copyright so I didn’t like to share.
I’d love to hear more about your time at the villa and see your photos. I could include some here with credit to you if you like.
have you visited other abandoned places, it is a bit of a passion of mine, ciao lisa x
Wow Jeff, I had seen your photos and they are just beautiful! I’d love to record these abandoned places. Are you a photographer?
What a memorable journey it was for you, ciao lisa x