Villa Gomes

Villa Gomes stands in Lecco's Maggianico district. Built in 1880–1881 for Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Gomes, the eclectic residence was originally called Villa Brasilia and preserves a distinctive connection between Lombardy and nineteenth-century Brazilian musical culture.

Why it matters

Gomes established himself in Italy after the success of Il Guarany at La Scala. His villa expressed his attachment to Brazil through decoration, collections and a garden originally populated with South American plants and animals.

What to notice

The original Venetian terrazzo floor bears the inscription PRO BRASILIA beneath a lyre and laurel wreath. Contrasting facades and a monumental staircase give the house a theatrical character. The extensive park provides its landscape setting, distinct from the compact streets of the surrounding district.

Context and history

Architect Attilio Bolla designed the residence. It subsequently passed to the Moldenhauer family, before the Municipality of Lecco purchased it in 1971. Restoration in the 1980s prepared it for a new musical role: in 1987 it became the home of the civic music institute named for Giuseppe Zelioli.