Lecco, Villa Manzoni

In this villa, which was the residential home of the family from 1612, Alessandro Manzoni spent his childhood, adolescence and early youth. The rooms on the ground floor have remained with their original furnishings from 1818, when the author sold the villa. Literary locality par excellence, the very famous opening lines of “The Betrothed”, “The arm of Lake Como…” describes precisely the view the author could see from his bedroom window. The Museum houses paintings,, prints, curios, autographs and the First Editions of Manzoni’s works. Well illustrated boards provide information on family events, Manzoni’s relationship with Lecco, his works, the iconography of “The Betrothed” and the birth of the myth of “Manzonian places”. The novel is set against the historic and geographic backdrop of Lecco society of 18th-19th century. The Chapel, with the “Paddle of Our Lady of the Assumption”, by the painter Carlo Preda, and the cellars with their winepresses and a wonderful “neviera” (snow ice box) are also part of the tour. The Villa also hosts the City Art Gallery which counts 400 paintings and 2000 engravings and prints from the 17th to the 20th century.