A historical place

"Spend your Saturday evening being treated to dinner and a private concert at the lavish Villa Medici Giulini"

An amazing villa in the Italian Campanella

Owned by the Giulini family for over forty years, the villa is not short of its fair share of surprises, offering the ultimate escape from reality.
‍Experiencing the villa truly starts out as a feast for the eyes. Built in Brianza in 1643 to accommodate the Milanese aristocracy seeking to escape the heat of the city in the summer months, the villa today boasts beautifully conserved seventeenth-century architecture. Set against a mountainous terrain, the golden hue of the villa’s outer walls glistens in the setting sun.

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Across the villa’s vast land, the respective Italian and English-style gardens convey their own distinct character. The hornbeam hedges of the Italian garden offer up their bold blossoms in the spring and summer months turning a gorgeous brown as autumn sets in. On the English side, winding paths are towered over by tall trees and adorned with pearl of the lake azaleas, bringing light and colour to every step.

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A historical building

Once inside, the true grandeur of the villa can be appreciated to the fullest extent. Each room of the main villa is ornately adorned with historic magnificence. The first floor living room boasts six landscapes of the surrounding hills painted by none other than Francesco Zuccarelli, permitting the spectator to step back in time and see the villa’s environs as they would have been observed over three-hundred years ago.

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A multisensorial experience

However, the true splendour of experiencing the Villa Giulini is found in the musical journey set out at your behest. The villa’s current owner, Fernanda Giulini, is an accomplished pianist, having obtained her piano diploma under the guidance of Italian classical pianist Bruno Canino. ‘However, her musical talent is not the only string in Fernanda’s bow; she is also an avid collector of all things related to keyboard instruments. . In fact, the Villa Giulini offers one of the most impressive keyboard instrument collections around.

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Madama Giulini : The greatest hostess

Fernanda Giulini's collection offers the unrivalled opportunity to hear what Bach, Mozart, Verdi and Debussy among other great composers actually heard when creating and first performing some of their masterpieces. As one example among many, one of the pianos she owns, an 1839 Pleyel fortepiano, is completely identical to the instrument on which Frédéric Chopin composed until his death. Yet, Fernanda insists that her collection does not only celebrate the past, but also looks to the future, hence the occasional electronic instrument at her disposal.

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The unique thing about this collection – Fernanda welcomes the villa’s guests to play the instruments on display and might even treat them to her playing as they take in all the villa has to offer. Fernanda’s collection has gained much attention, with individual instruments being lent to institutions such as La Scala for wider enjoyment.

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From mystery to life

The enchantment of the villa does not end as you step into the last room. Crossing the Italian garden, you reach a smaller building of the same golden shade as the villa: welcome to the Teatrino. The Teatrino was built under Fernanda’s guidance to offer an intimate place to hear her instruments be played in a concert-like setting. The spruce wood interior allows for the perfect acoustics for the sound of her instruments to gain full appreciation. Complete with a large panel presenting the myth of Orpheus behind the stage, the Teatrino brings the magic of the instrument to life in a fest of musicality.

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An amazing memory

It is no surprise that the Villa Medici Giulini has gained a legendary reputation in the classical music world. Often host to masterclasses from musical virtuosos, the villa is soon to welcome soprano Mariella Devia and flautist James Galway among others. The opportunity to explore the villa and enjoy a private concert at such a renowned location is truly unmatchable.