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Villa Saporiti was built between
the 1790 and the 1793 for marquise
Eleonora Villani it belonged
to this noble family until 1858 when the heirs of the marquise sold it to marquis Marcello Rocca
Saporiti, whose name has been given
to the villa. Although some latest changes, the building deserves its original look, both in the structure and in most of the rooms. This villa is better
known with the name “La Rotonda” because
its lake-facing side shows a big central rounded body, divided by a sequence of half-columns and windows, that
are surmounted by medallions representing pagan water-related divinities. The inside offers a huge central elliptical hall, with an arched
ceiling, and a big staircase
sculptured by Luigi
Gagnola that brings to the first floor, a small drawing-room inspired to ancient Rome with a mosaic floor, the library, Corinthian columns and statues from earlier 800.
Many important people stayed in Villa Saporiti between
the end of the XVIII century and the beginning of the XIX century:
Napoleon was the first important guest, visting Como
lake in 1797.
In 1950 the Provincial
Administration of Como bought
the villa and, after some necessary restorations, choose it as its
headquarter.
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