By Alessandra Busacca @alessandra_busacca

Among the preferred cultural activities of the Gougous, one, in particular, deserves our attention: spending entire days wandering and visiting the Museums-Homes of Italy.

These places, rich in history, art, and inspiration, are timeless and fascinating destinations; the ideal opportunity to immerse oneself in the past, explore the lives of illustrious (and eclectic!) inhabitants, and admire artistic masterpieces otherwise inaccessible. Many collectors and influential figures who preserve and bear witness to immense archives, quirky collections, and stories have decided to transform the most extravagant and noteworthy houses into veritable museums open to the public. 

Palazzo Fortuny, hidden among the canals and labyrinthine alleys of Venice, is a museum house that celebrates the eclecticism of Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo, a Spanish artist of the 19th century.

The magical atmosphere that pervades the palace, in addition to its architecture, is created by the numerous works of art contained therein, the refined fabrics that the designer collected and loved to show to his circle of influential friends of the time—a true Gougou of the nineteenth century.

Gabriele D’Annunzio’s dream comes to life on the shores of Lake Garda: the Vittoriale degli Italiani is the enchanting residence of one of Italy’s most important poets of the 20th century. The residence boasts suggestive gardens, arenas, and even a ship, from which you can admire one of the most fascinating views of the lake, in total immersion in the creative mind of a mad genius—special mention to the Bagno Blu: a true salle de bain of desire for design-conscious Gougous.

In this villa, culture and beauty are indissolubly identified in neoclassical architecture. Surrounded by wonderful landscaped gardens, nymphs, caves of statues, and Liberty-style greenhouses, Villa Litta offers a privileged view of aristocratic life at the time, thanks to the internal rooms with original furnishings and art collections.

A tip for a sunny afternoon? Lose yourself in the lakes’ water games and the park surrounding the pleasure villa: the suggestive atmosphere will enchant you with its fin de siècle charm.

The Museo Poldi Pezzoli, in the heart of Milan’s golden quadrilateral, is more than just a museum; it is a cabinet of curiosités that enchants visitors with the art collection of Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli. 

Good old Poldi Pezzoli loved to collect, in his finely decorated rooms, porcelain, Murano glass, and rare archaeological objects from his countless travels. From the Yellow Room to the Dantean Study, passing through the Ancient Staircase with the neo-baroque fountain, the path of the house unfolds in continuous wonder, reaching its peak on the terrace, with breathtaking views of Milan’s rooftops. 

On the banks of the Po, Casa Mollino is an ode to eccentricity and the creative genius of Carlo Mollino. An avant-garde architect and designer, Mollino shaped every detail of this secret house, which never seemed to be inhabited. In short, it was a divertissement – and who can blame him? 

Here, you can breathe an atmosphere that is so surreal and esoteric, as if one were in a pyramid of symbols and mirror games, in line with the mind of an extraordinary artist.

Just beyond the hills of Bologna, Rocchetta Mattei  is an enchanted castle, the refuge of the visionary Count Cesare Mattei. The architecture is a mix of styles, from neo-Gothic to Moorish, and it feels like living in a fairy tale. 

Legends say that at the Rocchetta, a special alchemical potion was produced, a medicine called “Electrohomeopathy,” also used by tsars and emperors, nothing less than the most practised alternative medicine in the world between the end of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century. The castle was, therefore, a laboratory of scientific curiosities, art, and spirituality.

Here we are at the home of Sicilian Baroque. In Noto, the city of gold, Palazzo Castelluccio is an extraordinary example of this characteristic style.

The sumptuous rooms and gardens transport visitors to a villa with a thousand rooms decorated with majolica and frescoed ceilings, ancient vases of Greco-Roman appearance, and finely embroidered curtains, from the blue room of music to the stables. You won’t want to leave, even if it means being stuffed to stay inside. 

Casa Balla is a tribute to the dynamic art of futurism in Rome. The museum house, belonging to the futurist painter Giacomo Balla, is a triumph of colours, shapes, and movement.

The walls are animated by works that capture the essence of futurist art, and every object, from mirrors to colourful corridors, creates a unique perspective like the eclectic personality of its owner. 

In Palermo, a city with a myriad of cultures, the Camera delle Meraviglie is a secret testament to eclecticism and esotericism. Each room is a discovery, a journey through the history and mystery of recurring numbers, also reflected in the objects themselves, like the seven lamps painted on each side of the vault and the seven openings of the environment.

The blue room with gold and silver calligraphic inscriptions will leave you breathless; it is a “magic room,” a unique example in the Islamic occult world. 

In the municipality of Anacapri, on the enchanting island of Capri, Villa San Michele was the residence of the Swedish doctor and writer Axel Munthe, who aimed to create a light-filled home by combining Swedish style with Mediterranean tradition.

Today, the villa, rich in original archaeological artifacts and unique objects, can be visited along with the gardens that offer a spectacular view of the Gulf of Naples and host ancient Roman columns, fountains, and particularly distinctive sculptures.

In Varese, Villa Panza  is a clear example of an 18th-century villa, surrounded by Italian gardens, has been transformed into a house museum dedicated to contemporary art that is among the best known in the world. The collection, largely the result of Count Giuseppe Panza di Biumo’s passion, features works by internationally renowned contemporary artists.

Indoor and outdoor installations of contemporary art stand in stark but fascinating contrast to the villa’s historic architecture, with its greenhouse with large windows and the distinctive temple hidden among the trees atop a small hill.