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Photo: Barberis, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Historic villa / palace
Villa Farragiana a Meina
Building in Meina, Italy
At a glance
- Coordinates
- 45°46′55″ N, 8°32′28″ E
History and description
The Villa Farragiana a Meina is a 19th-century Neoclassical-style rural palace located on the shores of Lago Maggiore, between the towns of Meina and Arona in the Province of Novara, region of Piedmont, Italy. This villa differs from the Villa Faraggiana at Albissola Marina in the Province of Savona.
History
Construction of the villa began in 1855 by Alessandro Farragiana, based on designs by Antonio Bussero. In the past, the villa and the grounds housed an eclectic collection of live and stuffed animals collected by Alessandro the younger, son of the former Alessandro's son, Italian senator Raffaello Faraggiana. These exhibits are now displayed at the Museum di Storia Naturale Faraggiana Ferrandi (Faraggiana Ferrandi Museum of Natural History) in Novara.
In 1949, the building was donated by the remnants of the family to the monastic order of Poverelle from Bergamo. The nuns use the site as an orphanage and hospice.
Description
The classic facade faces the lake: the centre has a protruding colonnaded portico with a balcony and a grand wide staircase. Below, adjacent to the street, are gates with crouching lion statues on pillars. Above the windows are eleven medallions with reliefs of illustrious Italians sculpted by Giosuè Argenti. The tympanum has an allegorical depiction of Fame. The villa is surrounded by ample gardens with exotic flora.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Villa Farragiana a Meina».
Getting there
MeinaTrain, nearest
1.4 km as the crow flies
Villa Farragiana a Meina
Meina800 m
Aeroporto internazionale Milano Malpensa "Silvio Berlusconi"22.2 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore historic villas and palaces in Piedmont
- UNESCO
- UNESCO
- UNESCO
- UNESCO
- UNESCO
- Free 1st Sunday
Frequently asked questions
Where is Villa Farragiana a Meina?
Villa Farragiana a Meina is in Meina, in the province of Novara (Piedmont), Italy. GPS coordinates: 45.78207, 8.54108.
What else is there to see near Villa Farragiana a Meina?
Nearby you’ll find: Museo Meina (100 m away), Villa Eden (500 m away), Sancarlone (1.3 km away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 1 photos
- Villa Farraggiana Meina sul lago Maggiore xilografia di Barberis — Barberis, Public domain
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences