Savona historical buildings I: Villa Zanelli

Piazza

First time I saw it, the day was cold and windy and we were walking along the beach: Villa Zanelli. 

It is so amazingly beautiful and breathtaking that you can just stay there and gaze at it. So it worth it to tell you its story:

La storia della Villa:

Villa Zanelli was built in 1907 as a residence of a sea captain called Nicolo Zanelli in the outskirts of Savona. This fabulous building was work of Gottardo Gussoni, a student of Pietro Fenoglio who was one of the most significant engineers and architects of the Italian Art Nouveau (Modern Style in UK). Now the Villa is also known as a "sea whale sanctuary" and a shining example of the Arte Liberty.

Zanelli's family lived in the Villa until 1933 when they sold it to Municipality of Milan. The villa had direct communication with the sea. Cement and stone flowers stood against the waves and the sea water filled the flowers' beds.

During the Second World War it was used as a field hospital. You can still see red crosses on its walls.

It functioned as a center for treatment of heart disease from 1967 until 1998. The degradation of the building led to collapse of one of the ceilings in the first floor. Since then the beauty has been staying abandoned.

Have a closer look:

On such an out-of-the-season day, when I took these pictures, the beach was almost deserted. A caterpillar tractor was hurrying to raise levees (a greeting for fans) on the beach. When I went back I saw that the levees blocked my way. A sad feeling might come upon you at such a moment. I really hope that debates on the Villa Zanelli's future will end at its full restoration and shine.