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"United to achieve success" OUR HEADQUARTER: Villa Greppi in Monticello Brianza (LC) In the 18th and 19th centuries land-owning nobility had impressive summer residences built in Brianza, and Villa Greppi is one of these. It is located near Casate Vecchio in Monticello, which dominates and embraces the structure with its rustic residences that act as a link between the Villa, her park and the actual agricultural terrain. Only fragments of its history are known to us, although the local land registry does give measurement indications of the original structure located there. In 1811 the Greppi family purchased the property and transformed it into a fashionable summer home for the family and venue for official receptions. Over the following century minor transformations and improvements to the villa and its grounds were regularly made. The Villa is built in a classical “U” shape and consists of a basement and ground floor that were originally designated for the household staff, with the exception of the entrance hallway and the chapel. The first floor was used for the more official functions and has richly furnished and decorated rooms and a library containing the family archives. On the second floor are the family and guest bedrooms. The park deserves particular note. Inside it there is an Italianate garden, an English landscaped garden complete with plant-formed architectural compositions, topiaries and grand trees. The last surviving member of the Greppi family donated the entire villa complex to the Holy See. In the early 1970’s the Consorzio per l'Istruzione Media Superiore e l'Educazione Permanente (known today as the Consorzio Brianteo Villa Greppi) acquired the property and halted its progressive downhill slide into total abandonment and ruin. THE GREPPI FAMILY Just like the haute bourgeoisie of Milan and other noble families during the 16th to the early 20th century, entire generations of the Greppi family, direct descendants of Count Antonio Greppi, enjoyed their holidays together here at Casatevecchio (today part of Monticello Brianza). The building, and its 17½ hectares (once 268 pertiche and 17 tavole) of surrounding terrain, were purchased in the times of Napoleon. The purchase contract, dated May 17, 1811, was between Cav. Giacomo Greppi, son of the then late Count Antonio, and a certain Cav. Galeazzo Arrigoni, both of whom were from Milan. Count Antonio was the founder of the family’s fortune. In a space of twenty years, from 1750 to 1770, he had amassed a fortune which kept five generations of Greppis in style, including tens of heirs and others, such as the fermiere, that is, Austria’s Empress Maria Teresa’s Imperial Estates Tax collectors. Although originally from Bergamo, Antonio Greppi became a citizen of Milan in 1776 and was then given the title of Count (of Bussero and Corneliano) and Commendatore della Corona Ferrea. In order to make a good impression, he settled in Milan and had a grand palazzo on via S. Antonio built by none other than Giuseppe Piermarini, the architect of the Teatro alla Scala opera house. After him, the Greppis consolidated their new noble status by intermarrying with members of Grandi Famiglie: the Opizzoni, Litta-Visconti-Arese, Durini, Somaglia, Taverna, Lupi di Soragna, Barbiano di Belgioioso, Trotti Bentivoglio and the Sormani-Andreani-Verri. The family owned other historical residences in the Brianza area. Cousin Luigi lived with his wife Paolina and their children at Casatenovo (bought in 1853), other members were in Lesmo with Gernetto of the Casa Somaglia and at Lurago with the Sormani. |
