The Villa
Main Villa - Casino principale
Once defined for its beauty as “the Pianciani Delight“, the Villa is a large construction characterized by a harmonious and scenographic main façade, of great breadth, framed by the exedras of the forecourt. A most refined architectural vision relates the interior spaces with the exterior ones, creating an ensemble of great pleasure that combines suggestions of Roman Baroque with references to French architecture contemporary to its construction.
At the rear, the building develops without the same symmetry as the façade, opening towards the summit of the hill, the sunset and the chapel behind it.
The Interiors of the Main Villa
Inside, the same interpenetration between architecture and nature that characterizes the entire complex is reflected. In the three rooms where the wall paintings are preserved, representations of the external world appear, with the intent to symbolically break down the architectural boundaries and open the view towards the surrounding landscape. On the ground floor, the main entrance hosts an evocative depiction of the pergola gazebo with ancient statues, actually present outside. The main Hall, today known as the Red Hall, originally corresponded to the “Chinese room”: although the decorations have not been preserved, sources attest to a garden-inspired setting, probably enriched with oriental figures in fantastical landscapes. Subsequently the room was reconstructed with the insertion of large original doors from Palazzo Pianciani, thus maintaining a material and symbolic connection with the family’s historic residence in Spoleto.
QR Code n. 6
Main Villa
In the vestibule of the piano nobile, members of the Pianciani family are depicted in scenes of life in the park: Alessandro Pianciani and Costanza Collicola, their son Giovan Battista with his tutor Emanuele Gil, and Pompilio D’Ottaviano, known as the “boschettante” (woodsman), who accompanied them on hunting expeditions at Terraja. Around them also appear laborers and farmers of the estate, giving life to a pictorial narrative that celebrates the family and rural dimension.
Also on the piano nobile, the so-called Napoleon room, now severely damaged, preserves remains of decorations depicting scenes of life in a Napoleonic encampment, a clear reference to the Jacobin movements of the late eighteenth century.
The interior decoration was not limited to frescoes: elegant ornaments on the ceilings and in some rooms (such as the Gallery) are still preserved today, while in the past all the walls of the piano nobile were covered with precious fabrics, French papers and engravings applied directly to the surfaces. The result was an effect of extraordinary variety and refinement, testimony to the taste and elegance that characterized the Villa.
The building is arranged on three levels: ground floor, mezzanine and piano nobile.
- Ground floor: a large hall, a sitting room, a decorated entrance hall, the dining room with fireplace, a double equipped kitchen, bathrooms, storage rooms and services, as well as a large internal courtyard.
- Mezzanine: located along the north-west axis, it houses the billiard room, small libraries and part of the services.
- Piano nobile: in addition to the two decorated entrances, there are many bedrooms, a large terrace overlooking Spoleto, a long balcony facing the exedras and the park design, the Gallery exposed to the sunset and various furnished sitting rooms. All rooms enjoy spectacular views and are equipped with services.
The Exteriors
Questo edificio, di impianto più lineare, è disposto sul lato nord ovest della collina, con un magnifico affaccio al tramonto sulla valle verso Montefalco e Assisi.
L’Annesso, tradizionalmente chiamato il Casino delle Vecchie Cucine, è un edificio autonomo di tre piani dove originariamente si trovavano le antiche cucine e gran parte dei servizi della Villa.
The Interiors
Questo edificio, di impianto più lineare, è disposto sul lato nord ovest della collina, con un magnifico affaccio al tramonto sulla valle verso Montefalco e Assisi.
L’Annesso, tradizionalmente chiamato il Casino delle Vecchie Cucine, è un edificio autonomo di tre piani dove originariamente si trovavano le antiche cucine e gran parte dei servizi della Villa.
The Swimming Pool
Questo edificio, di impianto più lineare, è disposto sul lato nord ovest della collina, con un magnifico affaccio al tramonto sulla valle verso Montefalco e Assisi.
L’Annesso, tradizionalmente chiamato il Casino delle Vecchie Cucine, è un edificio autonomo di tre piani dove originariamente si trovavano le antiche cucine e gran parte dei servizi della Villa.
