At the turn of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, a number of noble families from Bergamo decided to build country residences in Stezzano, then a small village not far from the city.
Thus arose, amid the silkworm farms and spinning mills, several villas of remarkable beauty, which gave a new face to the village.
Villa Zanchi, Villa Morlani, Villa Grumelli-Pedrocca, Villa Moroni: discover with us these splendid mansions that dot the historic center of Stezzano.
Villa Caroli-Zanchi is one of the best-known historic mansions in Lombardy, thanks to the harmony of its architectural design, which combines the neoclassical style of the façade with interiors in eclectic taste.
The villas of Palladio, the great Veneto architect, were the inspiring example.
If you look beyond the large stained-glass windows you will see the crystal chandeliers, mirrors, paintings, tapestries and gilded frames that adorn the rooms.
Surrounded by a 4-hectare park, it is further embellished by a pretty pond with a Neptune fountain, fountains and artificial grottoes.
Villa Morlani is located immediately outside the historic core.
The original nucleus dates from the fifteenth-fifteenth century, but the building is composed of several portions that have been added over the centuries.
You will also find a small church, named after Santa Elisabetta, already mentioned in historical sources in 1575 about a visit to Stezzano by Carlo Borromeo.
In a more secluded location than the other historic residences, Villa Morlani is a hidden jewel waiting to be discovered: an imposing staircase, the neoclassical decorations that adorn the Hall of the Stuccoes, the Empire-style Hall and the Round Drawing Room, and the back garden.
If Villa Moroni reminds you of the Villa Reale in Monza, it means that Count Moroni fulfilled his intent.
In fact, in the early nineteenth century, he relied on a student of Piermarini to substantially modify the first core of the palace, demanding that it resemble the royal residence in Monza.
Here, too, the facade responds to the neoclassical taste, sober and elegant.
Finally, Villa Grumelli Pedrocca- Maffeis now houses the Town Hall offices and the Municipal Library.
Dating back to the 18th century, it was modified and enlarged over the next century, with the addition of geometric decorations to the doors and windows and turrets in the corners.
As you enter, you will be struck by the rich decorations, geometric designs and coffered ceilings.