To go on a journey of discovery in the park of this villa, means to enter a world full of evocative atmosphere and deep emotions.
The villa is situated on the Castagnola hill, exclusive lookout point over Lake Maggiore. This fortunate blending of architecture and landscaping is the fruit of the passion of two lovers who wanted to make their "dream garden" here.

It was created at the beginning of the 20th century by the marquis Silvio della Valle di Casanova, a Neapolitan poet and musician, and by Sofia Browne, an Irish painter, in order to contrive a place were artistic shapes and natural beauty could gracefully live together. The two cousins, close friends when they were children and then passionate husband and wife, had cherished this dream since their childhood. This is perhaps what allowed them to realise a place so full of significance, conceived to represent and recall special feelings and moods, a fantastic succession of environments and spaces so different but at the same time so close to each other.
Flights of steps, paths and narrow passages, with unexpected panoramic views of the magnificent lake, lead to the garden of Hours, the remembrance of a happy past, the garden of Joy, colourful and lively homage to felicity, the Garden of Sadness, a shadowy representation of melancholy, the garden of Memories, a symbol of nostalgia for the past, and the garden of Sighs, magic cradle where one's soul melts into the surrounding environment. Without forgetting the quiet atmosphere that inspires meditation of the Hortus Conclusus, where stands the 12th-century Romanic church of St Remigio, which gives its name to the villa.

Also of great interest are the statues, decorations and ornaments enriching this park with majestic plants and variegated species of trees, some of which are rare.

The building now houses the offices of the province of Verbania, and visits to the gardens are by appointment. For information: tel. no.: (+39) 0323-504401.