Maggianico
The district of the Milanese Scapigliatura movement
Situated in the historic district of Maggianico, just a short distance from the city centre, Villa Gomes is one of the most fascinating and unusual residences in the Lake Como area. Originally known as Villa Brasilia, the house represents a unique blend of eclectic architecture and artistic passion, inextricably linking Lecco to the figure of the famous Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Gomes.
The Maestro’s history and Brazilian soul
Built between 1880 and 1881 based on a design by architect Attilio Bolla, the villa was conceived by Gomes as a profound act of love for his distant homeland. This visceral connection with Brazil is evident in every detail: the raised ground floor still preserves the original Venetian seminato flooring with the inscription “PRO BRASILIA“, decorated with a lyre and a laurel wreath. At the time of the composer, the house was a true museum of indigenous curiosities, filled with weapons and ornaments from Amazonian tribes, while the Brazilian flag flew proudly on the roof. Gomes, a protégé of Emperor Dom Pedro II, chose Lecco following the global success achieved with the opera Il Guarany.
The Park: the city’s largest green lung
One of the most prized features is the magnificent centuries-old park covering approximately 37,000 square metres, the largest in Lecco. Originally, the Maestro transformed the garden into an unprecedented exotic oasis, populating it with imported plants and South American animals. Between bamboo groves and large aviaries where parrots and colourful birds flew, the park recreated the sounds of the musician’s homeland. The building stands out for its eclectic-historicist style, with one façade facing the town and the other featuring a monumental staircase leading down towards the lake.
Today, the vast historic park is a council-owned area open to the public, offering visitors the chance to stroll freely among prized trees and enjoy evocative views toward the lake.
A hub of excellence: music, restoration, and research
Following a period of neglect after its sale to the Moldenhauer family, the villa was purchased by the Municipality of Lecco in 1971 and revived through a masterful restoration in the 1980s. Since 1987, it has been the seat of the “G. Zelioli” Civic Music Institute, an institution that welcomes over 400 students and honours the memory of the well-known composer who was the organist of the Basilica of San Nicolò.
The villa also houses the Specialised Music Library, a centre of excellence for research that holds the prestigious Giorgio Gaslini Fund and the Giacomo De Santis collection. This space provides scholars and enthusiasts with thousands of books, scores, and records, making Villa Gomes the beating heart of musical education and culture in Lecco.
