Villa Bernocchi, Art Nouveau building in Legnano, Italy
Villa Bernocchi is an Art Nouveau building in Legnano's center along Via Cavour, featuring two stories with ornate facades throughout. The exterior displays the flowing lines and decorative elements that define the style, including floral and botanical motifs.
The villa was built in the early 1900s for Antonio Bernocchi, a textile manufacturer whose family business the Cotonificio Bernocchi had roots in the late 1800s. In 1980, the Bernocchi family gave the building to Legnano's municipality, which converted it into a library.
The building functions as a public library that serves the community today and hosts local cultural activities. It connects residents to the town's heritage while providing modern services in a historic setting.
The building now houses the Augusto Marinoni library with different sections for public services and community use. Its central location on Via Cavour makes it easily accessible for visitors exploring the town.
The villa was once the private residence of a wealthy industrial family whose textile business shaped Legnano's economic development in the early 1900s. Its conversion into a library represents how local wealth was redirected toward cultural institutions.
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