Villa Cagnola
18th-century residence near Varese with the Cagnola Collection: gold-ground panels, ceramics, porcelain, tapestries and antique furniture, visitable with a guide.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Villa Cagnola stands on the hill of Gazzada, overlooking Lake Varese and Monte Rosa. It was built in the 18th century by the Milanese Perabò family, who around 1740 extended it in late-Baroque forms as a pleasure residence to receive distinguished guests; in 1744 Bernardo Bellotto painted it in a famous view now held by the Pinacoteca di Brera.
In 1838 the property passed to the Melzi d'Eril family and in 1850 to Giuseppe Cagnola. His son Carlo, a senator and financier, transformed it from 1856, to a design by the architect Luigi Clerichetti, into a romantic villa with an English-style park and in 1875 had a panoramic tower built. Carlo also began the collection of ceramics, tapestries, furniture and artworks, which his son Guido, a refined connoisseur, enriched with old paintings and pieces he chose personally.
In 1946 Guido Cagnola donated the villa and its collections to the Holy See, which installed the Istituto di Studi Religiosi (Institute of Religious Studies) there. After restorations at the end of the 20th century the complex reopened in 2001 and now also hosts receptions, conferences and cultural activities.
The art collection is among the most important private collections in Lombardy: it includes gold-ground panels of the Tuscan, Venetian and Lombard schools, works by Francesco Guardi, a rich series of European and Oriental ceramics, majolica and porcelain, Flemish and French tapestries, sculptures, bronze plaquettes and antique furniture.
Highlights
- Gold-ground panels from the 14th and 15th centuries, including works by Jacopo Bellini, the Vivarini and Ercole de' Roberti
- Paintings by Francesco Guardi
- Collection of European and Oriental ceramics, majolica and porcelain from the 14th to the 19th century
- Flemish and French tapestries of the 16th century
- Antique furniture, sculptures and bronze plaquettes
- 27-hectare historic park with monumental trees and views of Monte Rosa
Permanent exhibition
- Collezione Cagnola – Guided route through the rooms of the villa, among gold-ground panels, paintings by Guardi, ceramics and porcelain, tapestries, sculptures and antique furniture.
- Operated by
- Istituto di Studi Religiosi Beato Paolo VI
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Students & apprentices | €5With a valid university student card. |
| Groups (20+ people) | €8 per personGroups of 20 people or more. |
| Themed visit with tea and cakes in the villa | €15Special visits offered periodically in the events calendar. |
Admission is by voluntary donation, starting from €10 (standard), €5 (students) and €8 (groups of 20 people). The guided tour, led by volunteers of the VAMI, is included. The park is free of charge. Online booking is compulsory; cancellation is free of charge up to 5 days beforehand, with a 100% fee in the final days.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The main entrance and the car park are accessible for people with mobility disabilities, with ramps and accessible toilets; please give advance notice of your visit.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 7+
Children aged 7 and over are admitted to the rooms, because as a house museum there are no safe spaces or locations for the artworks.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Stazione di Gazzada Schianno · 650 m
Train to Gazzada Schianno station, about 650 metres from the villa.
By car
Parking available
Private car park of the villa in front of the entrance, with spaces reserved for people with disabilities.
- Accessible parking
From Varese follow viale Borri / SS341 towards Gazzada–Milano, then via Azzate and via Cagnola. From Milan leave the A8 motorway at Azzate-Buguggiate.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Villa Cagnola also houses accommodation and a restaurant; no services for visitors to the collection are listed.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The visit is always accompanied by a volunteer guide from the VAMI (Volontari Associati per i Musei Italiani). On request, visits are held in Italian, English, German and Dutch. Animals may not be brought into the exhibition rooms. |
