The Villa is an ancient noble residence whose history dates back to the 18th century, when it was built by the wealthy Mangini family, originally from Genoa. It was the home of the "bel mondo" of Varzese, inhabited by notaries, lawyers, judges, abbots and priests. The various family connections would lead us to call the residence Villa Leveratto Mangini Mazza Galanti, but for everyone in Varzi it is simply Villa Manini, in memory of the lawyer Cesare, who had it built in the second half of the 18th century.
Art and architecture in the noble villa of Varzi
It is located in Via di Dentro, in the direction of Torre Sottana. Although it is a private residence, its beautiful garden is open during the summer for cultural events. The Liberty-style manor house is three storeys high, with a terrace overlooking the Staffora stream and a garden of poplars and cypresses. Adjacent to the house is a medieval tower used for military control of the area.
During the Second World War, the villa was badly damaged by the Allied bombs that hit the town of Varzi. After the war, the villa was restored. Inside, unfortunately, there is little left of the original furnishings. But the structure of the walls themselves retains a certain life. The ceilings, painted in a relatively modern style, and the large windows testify to an undoubtedly refined taste. It is rich in staircases and luxurious rooms.
You can still see the tennis courts, which in the 1920s were the scene of competitions between the gentlemen who stayed there.
The top floor was used as an agricultural storehouse, where cereals and fruit were stored, while the rustic outbuilding once housed stables for horses.
Part of the building known as "Il Casone", which, like the tower, dates back to 1200, was probably the residence of the guard of the Borgo di Varzi and is now owned by the Municipality of Varzi.
