Visited in June 2018 with Becci (Ninja Kitten) & Kat (Obscure Serenity). WE had been forewarned that this is a risky place to visit as the neighbours/passers by often call the police of they see people going inside the villa. Additionally there is the dog out the back of the villa which barks incessantly and isn't to be approached.

So, we arrived one sunny evening and made our way to the front of the villa marvelling at its Neoclassical exterior looking albeit tired and in need of restoration.

  

Once inside and becoming increasingly annoyed at the dog which true to its reputation did not stop barking for a second all the time we were there. As we made our way to the front balcony passers by looked up so we had to hide until all was clear and sprint across the balcony to the other end to enter the inside of the villa. Such a faff!

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It has to be said, inside is beautiful yet we didn't feel comfortable. I certainly didn't. As a result, we only spent 45 minutes inside, quickly photographing the interior before leaving rapidly to the safety of the car. I'm still perte rbed I didn't get a good external from the front gates. Maybe an excuse to return!

Sometimes whilst inside abandoned buildings one can just feel uneasy which spoils the occasion. Past experience has served me well that an uneasy feeling is a bad sign. 

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A Liberty-style staircase snakes upwards, twisting round until it reaches the 2nd floor, its white marbled shell giving the villa its nick name Villa della Conchiglia. Huge expansive rooms are adorned with stunning frescos which also cover the ceilings giving a 360O  view of majestic Italian craftsmanship.

Its a shame we didn't stay longer to explore the rest of the villa we missed including the servants quarters, kitchens and workshops. 

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From the first floor can be seen the adjoining theatre. The theatre is adorned with neoclassical decorative designs with its wooden seats still in situ albeit slightly rotten. It would have been nice to go inside the theatre but tackling the dog wasn't on our agenda, so we skipped it. 

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Since 1959 the Villa, owned by an anonymous Swiss company, has been uninhabited and has no furniture. For several years it has been declared a National Monument.

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Dating back to the early 1600s, the villa was refurbished in the later half of the century by the Marquis Gaspare G. de la R. Further renovations took place in the late 18th century. 

In 1939, the villa passed into ownership of Count R. of M. until 1959 who undertook restoration work to how it looks today. Since 1959 the Villa has remained abandoned, left to suffer its fate to the elements and owned by an anonymous Swiss company. Now, it is deemed a National Monument.