Villa Mariani, House museum in Bordighera, Italy.
Villa Mariani is a two-story house in Bordighera featuring wooden balconies, a Doric column-supported entrance, and large windows that fill the rooms with natural light. The building stands on a one-hectare property with a substantial garden surrounding it.
Countess Fanshawe commissioned architect Charles Garnier to design the original cottage in 1885, which painter Pompeo Mariani bought and expanded in 1909. This transformation into an artist's residence gave the place its lasting character.
The villa holds an artist's studio called La Specola, where visitors can see Pompeo Mariani's original tools and furniture displayed as he left them. His collections of carpets, porcelain, and ancient weapons throughout the rooms reveal the tastes and interests that shaped his creative life.
The property is located on Via Fontana Vecchia and is managed by the Fondazione Pompeo Mariani, which offers guided tours through the house and gardens. Visitors should plan ahead since access is organized through scheduled visits to this residential property.
The gardens contain around 80 olive trees, some of which are between 200 and 400 years old. These ancient trees caught the attention of painter Claude Monet when he visited the property in 1884.
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