The Chiesa di San Bernardino, located at the heart of the complex, is a site of profound historical and artistic significance. Once part of a Franciscan convent, the church has long been a landmark of both spiritual devotion and architectural beauty.
Villa Rezzola is a magestic home surrounded by a large and lush terraced garden. Documented as early as the 18th century, the Villa stands on medieval remains of military origin and was gradually expanded and remodeled over the next two centuries. In 1900 it was purchased by Helen Lavinia and William Percy Cochrane, who were responsible for much of its transformation. In 1935, the property passed to Countess Mara Braida Carnevale and then to her daughter Maria Adele, who lived here with her husband Piero Gualberto Miniati.
It was Piero and Maria who decided to bequeath Villa Rezzola to FAI so that it would be protected, enhanced and made accessible to many visitors.” The interior tells the untold and fascinating story of those who inhabited the villa: from the Ligurian nobles Orazio and Elisa Botti, to the wealthy English Cochrane couple, to German Captain Rudolf Jacobs during World War II, to Maria Carnevale Miniati, who lovingly preserved it until her death in the winter of 2020.
From the terraces of the house there is an exceptional view of the Gulf of Poets, which sweeps from Lerici to Portovenere and which, since the 19th century, has won the hearts of a large number of writers and artists, from Shelley and Byron to Lawrence.
2022 Restoration Project
Nestled in the center of historic Bergamo, Palazzo Moroni is a 17th century urban aristocratic palace.
Construction of the Palazzo began in 1636 following the wedding of Francesco Moroni toLucrezia Roncalli. It took nearly 30 years to build the palace, which consists of three floors and mezzanines and nearly five acres of floral and vegetables gardens.
The interior of the palace is rich with frescoes and reflects the tastes of the various generations who lived there. The first set was created by Cremasque painter Giangiacomo Barbelli, who decorated the walls and ceilings in the mid 1600’s.
A second phase of decoration took place in the 19th century, when Alessandro Moroni commissioned trompe-l’oeil stuccoes featuring fanciful subjects of the classical and exotic world. The palace is also home to an exceptional art collection, which is the result of generations of art lovers in the Moroni family.
2020 Restorations
In 2020, Friends of FAI chosen to support two projects: Casa Bortoli and Negozio Olivetti. Both in Venice, these properties were damaged during the 2019 flooding and required extensive repairs.
CASTELLO DELLA MANTA- CUNEO
2019 Restoration
This enchanting 15th-century castle, silhouetted against the majestic Cuneo Alps, is home to some of Italy’s most magnificent frescoes. Castello della Manta was originally a 13th-century fortress and was transformed into a lavish family home by Valerano, the ruler of the Marquisate of Saluzzo, in the 15th century. Donated to FAI by Elisabetta De Rege in 1985, Castello della Manta is colorful, elegant, historically rich, and brimming with frescoes that tell stories of courtly love, chivalry, and both aristocratic and village life in 15th century Italy.
2018 Restoration
The Abbazia di San Fruttuoso is located in Capodimonte, in a narrow bay that opens southward on the rocky coast of Mount Portofino. A small jewel with a very old story, the Abbey was generously donated to Fondo Ambiente Italiano by Frank and Orietta Pogson Doria Pamphili. In addition to its splendid natural and panoramic setting, the Abbey has noteworthy architectural and historical value – an admirable combination, in which nature’s work has complemented man’s.
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