Villa Olmo

Villa Olmo owes its name to a magnificent centenary elm tree, today no longer existent. Built according to the Neoclassical style, the villa was committed by Marquis Innocenzo Odescalchi, whose family had given birth to Pope Innocent XI.

The construction began in 1797. Director of works was the eminent Swiss architect Simone Cantoni who funded the original project drawn up by his contemporary Innocent Regazzoni. Cantoni collaborated with Domenico, Carlo, Luca and Giuseppe Pozzi and the sculptor Francesco Carabelli.

Among the popular guests that must mentioned we can remember: Napoleon Bonaparte in 1797, and Ugo Foscolo in 1808. In 1824, with the death of Innocent Odescalchi, the villa passed to the Raimondi family, who took charge of arranging the square in front of the building.

The villa was a witness to other historic visits and meetings: in 1835 the queen of the Two Sicilies and Queen of Sardinia, hosts of the Raimondi family, the emperors of Austria, Francis Ferdinand and Maria Carolina, Prince Metternich, the marshal Joseph Radetzsky and Giuseppe Garibaldi.

The stay of Garibaldi in Villa Olmo is marked by a small medallion on a fireplace in one of the lounges on the ground floor.

In 1883 the heirs of the Marquis Raimondi sold the villa to Duke Guido Visconti Vimodrone, who decided to restore and improve the entire building. Under the guidance of Emilio Alemagna the stables were demolished as well as the porch that jutted into the lake and was built the little theater.

In 1924 the villa passed by the Visconti di Modrone to the city of Como. Thus began the fourth period of its existence, all under the sign of science and art.

In 1927 the villa was home to the International Exhibition, in the first centenary of Alessandro Volta, and later, several local events, congresses, conferences, symposia, performances. Since 1982 it houses the Center of Scientific Culture "Alessandro Volta", which organizes its international events in this unique scenario.