Villa Giulia e parco pubblico

Villa Giulia is a neoclassical villa on the Pallanza shore of Lake Maggiore. Built for the Branca family, it later became known as the Kursaal and is now municipal property, with its historic garden forming part of the lakeside landscape.

Why it matters

The villa connects the history of Lake Maggiore tourism with the industrial history of Fernet-Branca. Bernardino Branca, creator of the liqueur, built the first house on the site in the mid-nineteenth century. Its later use as the Kursaal reflects Pallanza's development as a resort and social centre.

What to notice

The villa's lake-facing elevation has neoclassical loggias and columns, while the street-facing façade is more compact and severe. The grounds include mature trees, a semicircular terrace at the lake and views across the Golfo Borromeo toward the Borromean Islands. The contrasting façades reflect the work of architect Giuseppe Pirovano.

Context and history

Bernardino Branca commissioned the first house around 1847–1848. His son Giuseppe repurchased the property in 1880 and named it for his wife Giulia. Architect Giuseppe Pirovano enlarged and remodelled the villa and grounds. In 1932 the building passed to the local tourism authority and became the Kursaal, including a casino and dance hall. The Municipality of Verbania later acquired the complex and adapted the villa for civic and cultural use.