Alassio - Villa Il Mare Alassio - Villa Il Mare (1914) by Pietro Fenoglio, Gottardo Gussoni, and Gottardo GussoniItalia Liberty
History
Villa Zanelli was built in 1907 in Liberty style in Savona. It was commissioned by Nicolò Zanelli to the architects Pietro Fenoglio and Gottardo Gussoni as a summer residence and dedicated to his girlfriend Rosa. The villa is located in via Nizza 71 in Savona.
The architects
As stated by Andrea Speziali, the greatest Liberty art expert in Italy, the villa Zanelli project was signed by Gottardo Gussoni (Turin, 1869 - Villastellone, 1951) for the architect Pietro Fenoglio (Turin, 1865 - Corio, 1927) which the latter largely designed.
Savona - Villa Zanelli Savona - Villa Zanelli (1910) by Pietro Fenoglio, Gottardo Gussoni, and Gottardo GussoniItalia Liberty
The style of the villa
Villa Zanelli in Savona represents with its colors, decorations, high ceilings, the park full of exotic plants and shapes inspired by nature, the maximum expression of the Liberty style in Italian architecture of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The owners
Until 1933 the villa was owned by its client, Captain Nicolò Zanelli. Later the Municipality of Milan bought it and transformed it into a camping site and an international colony. Since 1967 the structure has been acquired by the Liguria Region, A.R.T.E. still owner.
Villa Zanelli (2016) by Leonardo ErcolanoItalia Liberty
Sculpture
The Savona artist Leonardo Ercolano on the occasion of the award ceremony of the "Italian Liberty" photo contest held at the Corallo hotel in Riccione created a terracotta depicting Villa Zanelli in Savona. Only two copies exist, the cast was destroyed.
Marine colony. Villa Zanelli (Savona) Marine colony. Villa Zanelli (Savona) (1960)Italia Liberty
The complaint
In 2015 the Facebook page "The World Art Nouveau" published a photo of Villa Zanelli in a state of decay. In ten minutes the post goes viral reaching about 500,000 people considering the page's only two thousand followers, unleashing the ire of the public with comments.
Visit to the Zanelli cottage in Savona with Andrea Speziali Visit to the Zanelli cottage in Savona with Andrea Speziali (2018)Italia Liberty
The sequel
All the front pages of the regional newspapers talked about it, up to the news, raising interest in the public good. Andrea Speziali proposes a fundraiser for the restoration organized by the Italia Liberty association. The community becomes active.
Alassio - Villa by the sea Alassio - Villa by the sea (1914) by Pietro Fenoglio, Gottardo Gussoni, and Gottardo GussoniItalia Liberty
The proposed purchase of Villa Zanelli
In the meantime Speziali opens a purchase negotiation as mediator between a private collector and the property of the property, Liguria Region. In exchange he exchanges a work of art.
Visit to the Zanelli cottage in Savona with Andrea Speziali Visit to the Zanelli cottage in Savona with Andrea Speziali (2018)Italia Liberty
The restoration project
The intervention contemplates the redevelopment of the park with botanical interventions and the arrangement and recovery of the external areas and paths. The two small existing service volumes, leaning against the boundary wall towards the beach, will be partially recovered.
Alassio - Villini Liberty Alassio - Villini Liberty (1914) by Pietro Fenoglio, Gottardo Gussoni, and Gottardo GussoniItalia Liberty
Liberty in Liguria
the Art Nouveau in Liguria as well as the example of Villa Zanelli in Savona is also located in Alassio with Villa Massara and Villa Il Mare that can be seen in postcard. We immediately recognize the Fenoglio style to which we also attribute Villa Il Mare, now demolished.
Villa Zanelli museum of Liberty?
The proposal of the Italia Liberty association is to give a new life to the villa by transforming it into a Museum of Art Nouveau. A different identity than the previous ones ranging from USL headquarters, school, camping to hospital.
Visit to the Zanelli cottage in Savona with Andrea Speziali Visit to the Zanelli cottage in Savona with Andrea Speziali (2018)Italia Liberty
The turret
The most beautiful and romantic point in Savona is certainly the turret of Villa Zanelli which sees the whole panorama of the city. It was once the office of the USL director.
Visit to the Zanelli cottage in Savona with Andrea Speziali Visit to the Zanelli cottage in Savona with Andrea Speziali (2018)Italia Liberty
Guided visits to villa Zanelli
The villa in the period of abandonment was the scene of an extraordinary opening to the public with a guided tour organized by the Italia Liberty association. To register for guided tours on Liberty in Savona, contact Italia Liberty.
Visit to the Zanelli cottage in Savona with Andrea Speziali Visit to the Zanelli cottage in Savona with Andrea Speziali (2018)Italia Liberty
The mysterious fresco
The work was attributed to De Carolis, even if there are no clear traces of the fresco in its total splendor.
Visit to the Zanelli cottage in Savona with Andrea Speziali Visit to the Zanelli cottage in Savona with Andrea Speziali (2018)Italia Liberty
Visit to the Zanelli cottage in Savona with Andrea Speziali Visit to the Zanelli cottage in Savona with Andrea Speziali (2018)Italia Liberty
The decay of Villa Zanelli
About twenty years have passed since Villa Zanelli closed its doors, until 2022 when it reopened after a meticulous restoration. Striscia La Notizia also dealt with it in 2012 where the correspondent Brumotti denounced the deterioration. Today a new chapter opens.
Visit to the Zanelli cottage in Savona with Andrea Speziali Visit to the Zanelli cottage in Savona with Andrea Speziali (2018)Italia Liberty
The prize
Always the Italia Liberty association which in the spirit of Art. 9 of the Constitution monitors, protects and disseminates the Art Nouveau heritage rewards the Region and the Municipality for their excellent work.
www.italialiberty.it
Andrea Speziali, Savona Liberty. Villa Zanelli and other architectures, Risguardi 2016
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