Villa Visconti Borromeo Arese Litta

About the museum

In the second half of the 16th century Count Pirro I Visconti Borromeo transformed an estate used for storing farm produce into a villa of pleasure, a place of festivities and receptions that hosted writers and sovereigns passing through Milan. He had the architecture and decorations redesigned, created the garden, and commissioned from Martino Bassi the Ninfeo (nymphaeum), conceived to display paintings, sculptures and curiosities and to power the water games. The pebble mosaics are by Camillo Procaccini, and the illusionistic Mercury in the atrium is by Morazzone.

Until the 1720s the villa kept its layout; Giulio Visconti Borromeo Arese built the “Quarto nuovo” (new quarter), which closes the entrance courtyard and houses a ballroom. In the second half of the 18th century the marquis Pompeo Litta renewed the façades of the Ninfeo and began the scenographic redesign of the park with monumental fountains, entrusting to Giuseppe Levati the decoration of the dining room with stuccoes and frescoes. At the beginning of the 19th century Luigi Canonica added the English-style grove, the last major intervention in the garden.

In 1932 Alberto Toselli bought the property, began the first restorations and reactivated the water games. Since 1971 the villa has belonged to the Comune di Lainate (municipality of Lainate), which restored the Ninfeo after a long period of neglect. Today the complex is visited with guided routes to the Ninfeo and to the 16th- and 18th-century palaces, and it hosts events, exhibitions and concerts.

Highlights

• Ninfeo with grottoes, pebble mosaics, automata and water games
• Evening visit “Ninfeo sotto le stelle” (Nymphaeum under the stars)
• Palaces of the 16th and 18th centuries
• Sala del Levati with stuccoes and frescoes
• Historic park with an Italian garden and an English grove

Founded

1600

Operated by

Comune di Lainate

Visitors per year

approx. 46,000

Admission & discounts

Ticket for the Ninfeo with the water games: full price €12, reduced €10. Free admission also for accredited journalists and holders of the Abbonamento Musei Lombardia Valle d'Aosta and of Formula Extra; with MONDOPARCHI and VIVIPARCHI, one full-price and one free admission. Reductions also with a ticket for Villa Arconati, Villa Carlotta or Volandia. Buying online is recommended, also for the free categories (while places last): buying online gives a 10% discount in the bookshop, and booking is possible up to two hours before. The barcoded ticket must be shown 10 minutes before the visit. Telephone help for problems with online purchase: Monday–Wednesday 10:00–14:00.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

By car: from the A8 Milano-Laghi motorway take the exit “Lainate-Arese” (from Milan) or “Lainate” (from Varese and Como); alternatively the SS 233 Varesina and SP 109 or SP 101. In the village follow the signs for the centre and the villa. Cycle and pedestrian paths connect Lainate to the Garbagnate – Parco delle Groane station.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 200 guests.

Rooms on the ground floor of the 18th-century palace (up to 200 people), the Sala del Levati (90 seats), Sala di Enea, Sala delle Assi and Sala della Musica on the first floor, suitable for concerts and conferences; the Ninfeo and the Italian gardens are available for filming and photo shoots. Requests to segreteria@villalittalainate.it.

Plan your visit