Villa Giulia

The history of Villa Giulia is closely linked to the events of the family Branca. In 1878 the Cav. Joseph Branca regains by General Müller the building built in 1847 by his father Bernardino Branca, inventor in 1836 of what will become one of the most famous Italian liqueurs: Fernet. The Cav. Branca decides to call the home "Villa Giulia," dedicandola to his wife.

Through the `land purchase adjacent property extends also extend to the lake. And this is progress towards the lake that creates some cruccio and economic cost to Knight as a first containment structure rovinosamente sinks into the lake in 1879 by dragging with it, inter alia, a grand staircase whose remains are still visible in periods to dry. A second attempt, edited by the Head of Civil Engineers Milan Ing. Gallizia, has more luck. They are made of the excavations on the bottom of the lake until reaching the rock sound from which they are made of the foundations on which is then built the wall of containment of the garden.

Meanwhile, the Cav. Branca entrusts all `architect Joseph Pirovano Milan drawing up the project for the reorganisation of the property. It is first created a `d` imposing gate entrance, following the dock is built on top of which system with a terrace and garden pergola and there are created artificial caves. At the great gate d `entrance to the villa was built a chalet for use porter later transformed into an elegant billiards room. The garden, formerly beautiful, is arranged according to the dictates of the English style. Finally, in 1882, puts the hands of the old family home. The building was expanded advancing the facade towards the lake ten meters and decorandola with arcades and columns at all levels to finish with a large circular terrace. This side pompejano style contrasts sharply with the facade towards the road that is austere and simple, almost medieval. " The interior of the villa provides large and spacious rooms, decorated with paintings of fields and Agnesotti.
In 1904 Giulia, widowed and risposatasi with Count Melzi d `Eril, achieves a first enlargement of the villa and interior decorations introduces elements of Art Nouveau much in vogue in this period.

In December 1932 Villa Giulia is purchased from the Company Autonomous Care, Living and Tourism in order to provide a Pallanza Municipal Casino and a more "house of meeting a stranger": Villa Giulia becomes the Kursaal, expanded in 1955 with the creation of two large halls, a basement and accessible from the garden and `other place at the main floor, dedicated to conferences, exhibitions and concerts.

In 1959 the dock is transformed in order to derive the local road plan to adapt to offices for `Corporate Autonomous. This intervention led to the elimination of `artificial caves created by Pirovano which ornament the garden and made impracticable the dock during periods of full lake.

In 1987, following the reform of `tourist organization and consequent removal of Companies Autonomous Tourism Council, the Piedmont Region has the transfer of Villa Giulia and its park to the town of Verbania.

Currently Villa Giulia and its garden are used for conferences, concerts and cultural events.

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