History of the Villa d'Agliè
Villa d'Agliè is one of the few estates on the hills near Turin that have remained almost entirely intact.
The first official documents of the villa date back to 1606 and attest to the ownership of Duke Carlo Emanuele I, son of Emanuele Filiberto and Margherita di Valois, when Carlo Emanuele I purchases the land and Villa Emanuella (adjacent to where Villa d'Agliè would be built). Villa Emanuella was given by Carlo Emanuele I to his daughter Margherita, while the nearby land was probably transferred (or sold, but there are no documents to prove this) to an important lawyer associated with the Savoy court: Gaspare Bellezia. Gaspare Bellezia's son, Giovanni Francesco Bellezia, inherits the villa from his father in 1612, and in the will, the villa is described as:
The first official documents of the villa date back to 1606 and attest to the ownership of Duke Carlo Emanuele I, son of Emanuele Filiberto and Margherita di Valois, when Carlo Emanuele I purchases the land and Villa Emanuella (adjacent to where Villa d'Agliè would be built). Villa Emanuella was given by Carlo Emanuele I to his daughter Margherita, while the nearby land was probably transferred (or sold, but there are no documents to prove this) to an important lawyer associated with the Savoy court: Gaspare Bellezia. Gaspare Bellezia's son, Giovanni Francesco Bellezia, inherits the villa from his father in 1612, and in the will, the villa is described as:
[...] the ancient Vineyard left to me by my late Lord Father lies halfway down the road between Turin and the aforementioned Vineyard of S. Mauro and furthermore is excellently arranged with civil and rustic buildings, with delights, chapel, and every other convenience, in which I am certain to have spent more than three thousand Ducatons in buildings, fountains, and leveling of the land.
Throughout the 17th century, it was the summer residence of the Bellezia, an illustrious family connected to the Savoy. Giovanni Francesco Bellezia was an important mayor of Turin, as well as an advisor and treasurer to the Duke. Bellezia was famous for leading the city of Turin during a severe plague epidemic, without leaving the city. The current shape of the garden in front of the house and the retaining walls on the north side are due to him.
Immediately after the siege of Turin, the villa was transformed into a palace by a renowned banker: Franco Colomba, who was in close contact with the Savoy court, and it was thanks to Colomba that the villa became more prestigious, enriched with statues and decorations that still characterize the facade and the garden today.
Later, the villa became the property of Princess Del Pozzo della Cisterna, then of certain Barnabite Fathers who installed a 'galenic chamber' in the central tower. In the first half of the 18th century, Count Ignazio Demorri of Castelmagno further enriched the central hall with stuccoes by Martinez, representing the four elements, and the garden with marble vases and statues.
From the end of the 18th century, the villa was owned by Benedetto Maurizio, Duke of Chiablese, the favored youngest son of King Charles Emmanuel III, who made some modifications using the architect Caselli.
Immediately after the siege of Turin, the villa was transformed into a palace by a renowned banker: Franco Colomba, who was in close contact with the Savoy court, and it was thanks to Colomba that the villa became more prestigious, enriched with statues and decorations that still characterize the facade and the garden today.
Later, the villa became the property of Princess Del Pozzo della Cisterna, then of certain Barnabite Fathers who installed a 'galenic chamber' in the central tower. In the first half of the 18th century, Count Ignazio Demorri of Castelmagno further enriched the central hall with stuccoes by Martinez, representing the four elements, and the garden with marble vases and statues.
From the end of the 18th century, the villa was owned by Benedetto Maurizio, Duke of Chiablese, the favored youngest son of King Charles Emmanuel III, who made some modifications using the architect Caselli.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Sir John Foster, the British Ambassador, transformed the Italian garden into a romantic garden according to the fashion of the time, planting Lebanese cedars, sequoias, and horse chestnuts.
In the middle of the 19th century, the villa was purchased by the Pilo Boyl of Putifigari, a noble family of Sardinian origin.
At the beginning of the 20th century, it was again owned by foreigners, the Swedish Reynius, then it was purchased by the current owners. Some scenes from Luigi Comencini's film 'La donna della domenica' (The Sunday Woman) from 1975 were shot at the villa.
In 2007, the garden of Villa d'Agliè was included by the Piedmont Region in the official list of historic gardens and of botanical interest.
From 2015 to 2023, the Villa was the headquarters of the innovative startup Enerbrain, and from 2023 it is used as a venue for private events.
In the middle of the 19th century, the villa was purchased by the Pilo Boyl of Putifigari, a noble family of Sardinian origin.
At the beginning of the 20th century, it was again owned by foreigners, the Swedish Reynius, then it was purchased by the current owners. Some scenes from Luigi Comencini's film 'La donna della domenica' (The Sunday Woman) from 1975 were shot at the villa.
In 2007, the garden of Villa d'Agliè was included by the Piedmont Region in the official list of historic gardens and of botanical interest.
From 2015 to 2023, the Villa was the headquarters of the innovative startup Enerbrain, and from 2023 it is used as a venue for private events.
