Villa Saporiti Como

Visitare le ville storiche del Lago di Como: Villa Saporiti a Como

Beside Villa Gallia there is the neoclassical Villa Saporiti, alias La Rotonda, which is the seat of the Provincial Government of Como, too. It was built at the end of the 18th century, on a project by Architect Pollack, the author of the project for the Royal Villa of Milan.
The majestic front toward the lake with columns set at semicircle and topped with statues, characterize Villa La Rotonda.

VIP who stayed at Villa Saporiti in Como

In this villa sojourned many famous people, such as: Princess Amely of Baviera, wife to Prince De Beauharnais, Queen Isabelle of Naples, Prices Caroline of Brinswick, Emperor Alexander 2nd of Russia, and Napoleon Bonaparte, who when the rejoicing for his two sisters' wedding - Elisa & Pauline - at Duke Melzi D'Eril mansion at Mombello was over, he came to stay there with Josephine and his staff, there also receiving the visit of the Deputies of the town of Como in June 1797.

The villa of Napoleon Bonaparte's choice

To house Bonaparte and his staff, the Municipality of Como chose the Palace of Count Passalacqua at via Petri, but Napoleon entered it, from the balcony he hailed to the crowd and after a quarter of an hour he went out, mounted on his horse back and, escorted by his officers, he started off looking for a residence that better responded to his liking. He chose to stay at Villa La Rotonda that at that time belonged to Eleonora Villani Sforza.
At the end of the 19th century, during the Belle Époque, Villa La Rotonda belonged to Marcello & Camilla Saporiti della Sforzesca and at their death, the villa passed in heritance to the Resta Pallavicinos, who in 1950, sold it to the Government of the Province of Como.