Villa San Martino

Villa San Martino is a noble manor house in Arcore that traces its roots to a 15th-century monastery building. The compound displays a U-shaped floor plan with wide wings surrounded by paved courtyards and old gardens that descend toward the banks of the Lambro river.

The Benedictines founded a monastery on this site in the 15th century, which passed into the hands of the Counts Giulini during the 18th century. This family carried out extensive renovations that gave the building its current form with symmetrical wings and a courtyard of honor.

The library grew steadily under Count Alessandro Casati's care, forming an important collection by the mid-20th century. The philosopher Benedetto Croce visited several times and held long discussions with the count in the rooms about literature and politics.

The estate opens its doors on weekends in September and October during the Ville Aperte event, when guided tours are available by advance booking. Reservation is made online through the official website, as spontaneous visits are generally not permitted.

The park preserves the original 18th-century planting scheme to this day, including several trees over 250 years old. Along the old access avenue stand plane trees planted by the Counts Giulini themselves, now shading the entire stretch down to the Lambro.