Casa ed Emporio Macchi
In Morazzone, in the province of Varese, stands Casa Macchi, a charming provincial mansion in the shadow of the bell tower of the church of Sant'Ambrogio.
The original layout of the Casa dates back to the 17th century and was owned by the Marquises Viani, one of the most prominent and powerful families in Morazzone. Between the 18th and 19th centuries, the Casa underwent modifications, extensions, subdivisions and amalgamations both architecturally and in terms of ownership.
At the end of the 19th century, historical plans show the presence of two distinct buildings belonging to two different families, the Sommarugas and the Bottellis. It was thanks to Adele Bottelli, the wife of accountant Giuseppe Macchi, that the house was merged into a single building and property. The house thus entered the twentieth century as "Casa Macchi", from that time onwards it did not undergo any significant changes and remained the property of a single family.
Casa Macchi is surrounded by an elegant garden that still retains the charm of the structure and details from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The exterior of the house conveys the typical atmosphere of the villas of the period, distinct buildings in the centre of the village, adorned with gardens. Adjoining the main building are rooms with an agricultural function, a coach house and stable, and a farm room once used as a hayloft.
The interiors of Casa Macchi, although marked by a long period of neglect, reveal an unexpected wealth of furniture, furnishings, objets d'art, textiles, paintings and prints. Significant is the extraordinary uniformity of style, which, from the furnishings, to the works, to the objects of daily use, presents itself as a coherently complete document of a precise period in the history of Lombard taste and living.
In 2015, Casa Macchi was bequeathed to the FAI and from then on became its property. It took four years to complete the restoration, from the roof to the floors, from the paintings to the furnishings, to make Casa Macchi available for public visits.
Casa Macchi has also had an Emporio overlooking Piazza Sant'Ambrogio since the 19th century. Since then, various businesses and handicrafts have followed one another inside: a pizzeria, a butcher's shop, a hairdresser, a tailor's workshop and a stationer's shop.
FAI decided to open a small village shop: an emporium of various goods at the service of the community, which breathes new life into the historic Casa Macchi shop, restored and refurbished with furniture salvaged from an old grocery store in Milan, which was forced to close its doors.
Here you will find food in bulk, to reduce waste and unnecessary packaging, local products that support the local economy, items made from recycled materials, second-hand books and ideas for DIY jobs.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS: Piazza Sant'Ambrogio, 2 Morazzone (VA)
OPENING TIMES:
Casa Macchi is open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Last entrance at 17:00
GUIDED TOURS
Guided tours on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Reservation recommended.
TICKETS:
Includes a visit to Casa Macchi on your own and the viewing of a multimedia video.
WITH GUIDED TOUR
Includes entrance ticket and guided tour of Casa Macchi.
AROUND HERE:
Only guide dogs and assistance dogs with a certificate for accompanying people with disabilities are allowed inside the Casa Macchi*.
*Information provided by the organisation. Please refer to the Cultural Site regulations for all requirements.
ATTENTION: FOR ANY TIME CHANGES AND REGULATIONS IN FORCE, PLEASE VISIT THE RELEVANT ORGANISATION'S ONLINE SITE.
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