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Last edited by RiccardoD.LIUC (talk | contribs) 48 seconds ago. (Update) |
| Castello di Fraccaroli | |
|---|---|
 Main facade of the Fraccaroli mansion | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Status | Never completed |
| Type | Castle |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Location | Vicenza |
| Address | Via Libertà, 219, 36013 |
| Town or city | Piovene Rocchette, VI |
| Country | Italy |
| Coordinates | 45°45′23″N 11°25′47″E / 45.756321295269984°N 11.429694162566108°E |
| Current tenants | Currently abandoned |
| Year(s) built | 1853 |
| Demolished | Partially, during the First World War |
| Owner | Noble Alessandro Fraccaroli and his wife Lucia Verlato |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Antonio Caregaro Negrin |
| Known for | The legend of a ghostly child |
Villa Fraccaroli, often referred to as "The Castle of Spirits," is a 19th-century villa, located in the central area of Piovene Rocchette[1],in the province of Vicenza, northern Italy. This imposing structure, currently abandoned and privately owned, was originally conceived as a grand residence by the Fraccaroli family, composed by Paolina Carlotta Fraccaroli and Francesco Dalla Negra, who were prominent landowners in the region. Due to its connection with the adjacent Villa Verlato, ownership passed through various hands; however, no attempts were made to reconstruct or reinhabit the property. Nowdays the castle is often associated with mysterious events, including the tale of a ghostly child.
Fraccaroli's Family
editThe history of this family begins at Villa Verlato which has been documented for years. The property belonged to the Verlato's family until their daughter, Lucia, married a member of the Fraccaroli's family, Alessandro. From this union, Paolina Carlotta was born. In 1853, the parents decided to have the Villa built for her, later Paolina became the sole owner of old family property. Carlotta married Francesco Della Negra, and together they were supposed to live in their new house. In the same year, she gave birth in Arzignano where Francesco owned some lands.[2]
Location and Surroundings
editPiovene Rocchette was a small village of around 3.000 inhabitants where Villa Fraccaroli resides along Via della Libertà. It sits on a slope overlooking the rural landscapes and surrounding mountains, including Monte Summano.[3] The original configuration of the structure can be traced to its initial form, comprising a central block with two symmetrical levels, featuring a portico on the ground floor, a loggia on the noble floor, and an attic at the top. Flanking the central section are two polygonal towers, which impart to the entire composition the character of a villa-castle. Partially secluded among dense vegetation and overgrown flora.
History
editVilla Fraccaroli gets its name from the once influential Italian Fraccaroli family of Vicenza. In 1853 Lucia Verlato, of the Verlato family, married Innocenzo Fraccaroli and the two gave birth to Paolina Carlotta Fraccaroli. The villa was ordered to be constructed for her and so a renowned architect at the time, Antonio Caregaro Negrin, was commissioned to build it. The plan was laid out so that the villa would have three stories, numerous windows, two towers and would stand out for its elegance.
The villa was only partially completed likely due to the family relocating from Vicenza to Arzignano where Francesco Della Negra, Paolina's husband, had land. Additionally, the mid eighteenth century in Italy was a tumultuous time and it is likely that the family fell victim to this economic and political instability further contributing to the villa's unfinished state. After Paolina Carlotta Fraccaroli became a widow, she is rumoured to have moved to Vienna according to the historian Giovanni Mantese.
The villa was sold in 1870 to Franceschi Lucia and Paolo Ballarin and later, in 1875, passed down to their son Giacomo Ballarin. In 1891 it was once again passed down to Giacomo's sons of which we only know by name Francesco Ballarin. In 1909 the villa was purchased by Filippi Antonio and Domenico who's half was later passed to his wife De Pretto Margherita. At their passing, the property which had been split into different parts years prior, was inherited by the Filippi brothers. The last known inheritors of only two parts of the villa were Filippi Antonio and Giuseppe together with Pojer Olivia Caterina in 1955 and 1956.
In 1917 the city of Piovene Rocchette was bombed and consequently the villa was severely damaged. The strategic position of Villa Fraccaroli was a precious asset during the First World War. The villa was reconverted for military and logistical purposes as its structure provided both shelter and a high vantage point. Comparing the initial project of Villa Fraccaroli with the subsequent destruction caused by the first war, there were several parts that collapsed.
The Legend and Mysteries
editThe legend of Fraccaroli Castle originates from the nearby 16th-century Villa Verlato, a property of the influential Verlato Family. The story begins when the heiress Lucia Verlato married a nobleman from the Fraccaroli Family, their union brought forth Paolina Carlotta. In 1853, Paolina's parents commissioned the construction of a new Villa in her honor. Paolina Carlotta Fraccaroli, wife of Francesco dalla Negra, landowner of Arzignano, commissioned the villa to one of the preeminent Venetian architects of the time, Antonio Caregaro Negrin. According to the legend, Francesco, deeply interested in esoteric practices, intended the villa as a place to pursue studies in the black magic. [4]
Inside, stone shelves are supported by statues with grotesque features, designed both as structural buttresses and as a symbolic guardians intended to ward off evil spirits.[5] According to the legend, during the villa's construction, a little girl was tragically struck by a beam and then died, and her restless spirit is said to wonder the villa's room in search of peace. Despite having been commissioned from one of the most esteemed Venetian architects of the times, the villa remains an imposing but unfinished ruin.[3]
According to other sources, however, the plan to dedicate the villa to the dark arts was halted by Francesco's wife. Several theories attempt to explain why the villa was never completed, including the family's relocation due to the plague epidemic, potential work commitments elsewhere or due to the imminent arrival of a child. Fraccaroli ultimately requested that the architect incorporate talismans throughout the villa to guard against the malevolent spirits believed to pursue him. Among these protective symbols are stone shelved upheld by grotesque statues, which, through primarily structural buttresses inserted with the aim of supporting and reinforcing the walls. [5]
Biography of the Architect
edit
Source : A Manual for "Nuova Schio"
Author : Unknown Author
Antonio Caregaro Negrin is the architect of Villa Fraccaroli. He was born in Vicenza on June 13, 1821, and died in the same place on December 26, 1898. Despite his classical education, he became very interested in modern trends, becoming a precursor of the Liberty Style (Art Nouveau). He began his career with a technical drawing course and later continued to study architecture more deeply. He carried out several restoration projects for important Vicentine families, such as Villa Trevisanato, Villa Stucky, Villa Gazzotti and Villa Tavazzano. In 1847, he also restored the scenery of the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, becoming an Olympic Academician. An honorary title given to individuals who become members of the Olympic Academy of Vicenza, one of the oldest and most prestigious cultural academies in Italy. His legacy can be found at the Bibleoteca Civica Bertoliana in Vicenza, where drawings, projects and publications are kept. In 1853, Fraccaroli and his wife asked architect Negrin to design and build this Villa for them.[1]
The architect's influence extends beyond his built works, with writings such as Scritti sui giardini (Writings on Gardens), which examines the relationship between architecture and nature and has contributed to discourse on landscape and design philosophy. [6] His speech Nella commemorazione del 10 giugno 1848 sul Monte Berico: parole pronunciate (In Commemoration of June 10, 1848, at Monte Berico: Words Spoken) reflects on the 1848 uprising and illustrates his engagement with the social and political context of his time.[7]
Architecture
editThe architectural style of Villa Fraccaroli is neoclassical, characterized by structural references related to the great buildings of the ancient Greeks and Romans. When completed, the villa was to represent an unmatched level of elegance and magnificence. It was to consist of three floors and two turrets. The special feature of this villa was the numerous windows on each floor. The front facade of the Fraccaroli mansion, above the arches of the three gates, features stone corbels supporting statuettes with demonic likenesses. They are buttresses for the walls, which then over the years have taken on different meanings.[8]
The interior plan of the ground floor, the only completed one of the villa Fraccaroli, consisted of a central hall connecting the entrance door to the other rooms and to a door facing the back garden, two polygonal rooms, symmetrical to each other, that were part of the two turrets positioned respectively to the right and left of the main entrance, two other rectangular rooms and prominent bodies with curved facades that extended to the right and left. The staircase started from the center of the atrium and then divided into two parts which would rest on the wall. The stairs had a circular design. The villa is extended more in width than in depth and should have had a large outdoor garden developed on its front facade. The second floor, that would have been symmetrical to the ground one, and would have housed the sleeping accommodations.
The building materials used in the construction of the villa were rough stone and terracotta, which, by stylistic choice of the architect, was left visible. The windows were decorated with corner pilasters and floral patterns or with bricks placed in rays.
Villa Fraccaroli Today
editToday, the building stands beautifully preserved, surrounded by an enchanting garden, extended more in width than in depth with a succession of prestigious halls. The side turrets and numerous arches lend the facade a majestic and imposing presence. The property is enclosed by a gate, to prohibit entry to the most curious, waiting for the night to wander though the rooms in search of ghosts.
The owner's family affairs was unable to complete the villa, even if it is probable that the construction had been completed up to the roof level and that the ground floor was fit for habitation, and subsequent owners lacked the resources and commitment to take on such an ambitious project. The villa remains abandoned however with great potential for future predicts.[4]
During the First World War, the castle was used for military purposes and since the village of Piovene Rocchette was very close to the war, the villa was bombed, and the left wing of the castle was completely destroyed and it has never been rebuilt.[5]
The FAI initiative, "Fund for the Italian Environment", which has included Villa Fraccaroli among the places to be saved, on the recovery project and since 2016, Villa Fraccaroli has been listed among the FAI's Places of the Heart, recognizing its cultural and historical significance. [9]
Gallery
edit-
View of the Villa, Piovene Rocchette -
The main entrance of Villa Fraccaroli
References
edit- ^ a b AltoVicentinOnline; Altovicentinonline, Giornalisti (2023-08-25). "Piovene Rocchette. Palazzo Fraccaroli e la leggenda dello spirito della bambina". AltoVicentinOnline (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ Verlato; (2021-1-2) La grande Famiglia Verlato. La storia di un cognome in Vicenza. (in Italian) Retrieved 2024-11-15
- ^ a b Lampedecchia, Pamela (2016). I misteri d'Italia [The Mysteries of Italy] (in Italian). Lulu.com (published 5 May 2016). ISBN 9781326646752.
- ^ a b "Villa Fraccaroli, il Castello degli Spiriti di Piovene". Love Velo d'Astico (in Italian). 2018-04-13. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ a b c "Piovene Rocchette, Villa Fraccaroli: il mistero della bimba fantasma". VicenzaToday (in Italian). 2018-01-28. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ Negrin, Antonio Caregaro (2005). Ricatti Tavone, Bernardetta (ed.). Scritti sui giardini. Fonti e testi inediti e rari per la civiltà delle ville venete. Torino: Allemandi. ISBN 978-88-422-1320-8.
- ^ Negrin, Antonio Caregaro (1873). Nella commemorazione del 10 giugno 1848 sul monte Berico parole pronunciate (in Italian). Biblioteca di storia moderna e contemporanea, Rome: Tip. reale G. Burato.
- ^ La dolce vita di Fraka. 2020. p. 512.
- ^ "Villa Fraccaroli: il castello stregato degli spiriti – Pensiero spensierato" (in Italian). 2014-05-24. Retrieved 2024-11-12.