Villa Bernasconi, Art Nouveau house museum in Cernobbio, Italy
Villa Bernasconi is a residence built in the modern style, distinguished by geometric forms and colorful ornamentation throughout. The rooms with varying heights contain wall friezes made of bricks and ceramic tiles in multiple hues, creating a cohesive visual work.
The house was designed and built between 1905 and 1906 by Alfredo Campanini, a respected architect of the period. Its construction documents the wealth and modernization of the region during the economic growth of the early 20th century.
The name honors Davide Bernasconi, a wealthy textile manufacturer whose business shaped the region. Today visitors walk through rooms where Art Nouveau decoration reflects the taste and prosperity of that era.
The house sits on a central square and is easy to find, with good accessibility for walking. Plan your visit on the weekend when longer hours are available, giving you more time to explore at your own pace.
The house functions as a talking museum where narrative elements are woven directly into the architecture to guide visitors. This approach transforms the visit into a conversation with the space itself rather than simply viewing objects.
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