Villa Ottolenghi

In the Alto Monferrato hills near Acqui Terme, Villa Ottolenghi brings architecture, decoration and garden design into one twentieth-century estate. The villa, the Tempio di Herta and the landscaped grounds express the artistic patronage of the Ottolenghi–von Wedekind family.

Why it matters

The complex belongs to the ambitious artistic culture of the interwar period, when patrons commissioned architects, painters, sculptors and craftspeople to shape a complete environment. Marcello Piacentini, Federico D'Amato and Ernesto Rapisardi contributed to the architectural project, while Ferruccio Ferrazzi provided interior decoration and designs for the mausoleum's mosaics.

What to notice

The relationship between villa, family mausoleum and garden is more important than any single feature. The Tempio di Herta gives family memory an architectural presence within the estate. Decorative metalwork by the Ferrari smiths and woodwork by the household's carpenters show how craftsmanship contributed to the ensemble. The garden associated with Pietro Porcinai connects the buildings with their hillside setting.

Context and history

Work began after the First World War, and the principal complex was completed in 1953. The long development involved several designers and different phases of landscape work. The estate's garden history is associated with Giuseppe Vaccaio and Pietro Porcinai, whose contribution continued beyond the completion of the buildings. In 2011 the park received the European Garden Award, recognising the significance of this modern designed landscape.