650 m² Villa Liguria

Villa Natta-Soleri – Il Castello di Bussana Nuova Does your dream of Italy include a historic Riviera villa where the architecture, history and setting are all something quite out of the ordinary? High above the Ligurian coast stands Villa Natta-Soleri, locally known as Il Castello di Bussana Nuova. The villa was built around 1892 for Raffaele Natta-Soleri in the years following the devastating earthquake of 1887, when much of old Bussana was destroyed and the new settlement of Bussana Nuova began to develop. The story of the house is closely connected with this event. Raffaele Natta-Soleri wanted his new home to preserve the memory of the castle that had been lost together with much of the old village, while reinterpreting the idea of a castle as a modern and elegant late 19th-century residence. The result was therefore not a reconstruction of a medieval fortress, but something new: a villa combining monumentality and historical memory with the architecture and comforts of its own time. Above the monumental entrance, the Latin inscription can still be seen: VENTURIBUS EXACTI NON IMMEMOR AEVI The words may be translated approximately as: “For those who come after, without forgetting the age that has passed.” It is a particularly fitting phrase for the villa – a new home created with its eyes on the future while remaining consciously rooted in the memory of the past. Among the surviving historical documents is an original architectural drawing signed by Ing. Enrico Schalk. The drawing shows the plans and sections of the building as well as the main façade, monumental tower, staircases and numerous architectural details, creating a direct documentary connection between Schalk and the original design of Villa Natta-Soleri. Architecturally, the villa belongs to the late 19th-century Italian Historicist tradition, with clear Renaissance Revival and Classical influences. Profiled window surrounds, substantial cornices, balustrades, medallions and the massive natural-stone base recall the traditions of Renaissance villas and palazzi. The monumental tower, however, gives the otherwise ordered composition a more romantic and almost fortified character. More than any other element, it connects the building with the memory of the lost castle of Bussana and gave rise to the name by which the property is still known locally: Il Castello di Bussana Nuova. Inside, the story continues. After the property passed out of the Natta-Soleri family's ownership in 2017, later wall coverings and layers of old wallpaper were removed during restoration work. Beneath them, extensive decorative wall paintings from the late 19th century began to emerge. Flowers, birds, branches, landscapes, bamboo and other naturalistic and Japonist motifs had remained hidden for generations. Their rediscovery became an important starting point for the subsequent restoration, carried out together with local craftsmen and an experienced decorative painter. The ground floor forms the representative heart of the villa. Here are the principal salons and dining room, with high ceilings, parquet floors, decorative fireplaces and the rediscovered wall paintings. Wide openings and long sightlines connect the main reception rooms, while the adjoining terrace and mature Mediterranean garden form a natural extension of the interiors. The first floor has a more private character and contains several generously proportioned bedrooms and other family rooms arranged around the central hall and main staircase. Large windows provide abundant natural light, while the rooms facing the coast enjoy views over the Ligurian Sea. At the top of the building is one of Villa Natta-Soleri's most characteristic spaces: the tower room, with an impressive ceiling height of approximately 4.40 metres. According to Cav. Raffaele Natta-Soleri, great-grandson of the original owner, the room was used as a private salon and reception room for the family and their guests. From here, they could look out over the garden, the surrounding coastal landscape and the horizon of the Ligurian Sea. On the same level are four smaller rooms traditionally associated with household staff, meaning that traces of the original social organisation of the house can still be read in its architecture. The lower level contains garage space, storage and technical rooms as well as a separate apartment for the property's caretaker. According to the existing drawings, Villa Natta-Soleri extends to approximately 821 sqm over four levels, in addition to terraces, the mature garden and other outdoor areas. Villa Natta-Soleri is far more than simply a historic villa on the Italian Riviera. It is a house in which more than 130 years of family history, architecture and art can still be read directly in the building – while its story reaches even further back through its symbolic connection with the lost castle of Bussana Vecchia. The original drawing signed by Ing. Enrico Schalk still provides the documentary link between the villa as it stands today and the architectural vision from which it emerged. And above the entrance, the words remain as something close to a motto for the entire property: VENTURIBUS EXACTI NON IMMEMOR AEVI Looking towards those who come after, without forgetting what came before. Not quite what you are looking for? Contact us and tell us what you have in mind. We work with properties throughout Italy and also have access to homes that may never be advertised publicly. A little about us For more than 20 years, Casa Italia has assisted international buyers purchasing property in Italy. We act as the buyer's adviser and guide our clients throughout the process, from the initial search and viewings to negotiations, purchase agreement and handover. Contact Anja on +39 340 300 9256 or Kasper on +39 347 588 4575. #Liguria #Sanremo #BussanaNuova #HistoricVilla #ItalianRiviera #HistoricProperty #CasaItalia