Villa Annoni
Villa Annoni is a historical, 19th-century villa located in the Cuggiono municipality, in the greater Milan urban area. Since 2007 the building houses municipal public offices and a museum.
| Villa Annoni | |
|---|---|
 Façade of Villa Annoni, in the Cuggiono municipality | |
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| General information | |
| Status | In use |
| Type | Renaissance Villa, used as a public office and museum |
| Architectural style | Neoclassic |
| Location | Cuggiono, Italy |
| Address | Piazza XXV Aprile |
| Coordinates | 45°30′15″N 8°49′00″E |
| Current tenants | Public building |
| Named for | Alessandro Annoni |
| Construction started | 1805 |
| Completed | 1809 |
| Renovated | 1987 |
| Owner | Municipality of Cuggiono |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Leopoldo Pollack Giuseppe Zanoia |
History
The neoclassic Villa was commissioned in the late 1700s by Alessandro Annoni, a wealthy Milanese who owned a sizable amount of land in the Cuggiono town. As it was common at the time for families not belonging to the Nobility, the Annoni family sought to rise in social prestige by displays of grandeur and beauty, a means to which was the construction of "majestic" Villas.
The Annonis descended from Paolo Annoni, a wealthy banker who lived in the 17th Century, and conceived of their residence in Cuggiono as the ultimate showcase of their wealth. In keeping with the neoclassic style, the villa was built with great pomp and in monumental scale.