A fascinating mansion house surrounded by greenery and a wonderful panoramic point. Discover with us Villa Zara and its incredible history.
On the top of the San Venanzo hill, in Torre San Patrizio, stands the charming Villa Zara, surrounded by lush vegetation with three hectares of parkland, now open to the public. An unmissable destination and a fabulous panoramic point for the entire area. A mysterious villa, where stories and ghosts still live, which stimulate the imagination of all those who come to visit it for fun or curiosity.
Between centuries-old oak, elm, black locust and privet trees, enchanting paths open up in the woods, from here you can enjoy a view that ranges from the Sibilini Mountains to the blue expanse of the Adriatic Sea; on clear days the view widens and the Gran Sasso and Monte Conero can be distinguished. This house was chosen as the home of an English writer towards the end of the 19th century, who was inspired here and set her memoir, Our House on the Adriatic, which still today brings to life a picture of Italy after the Unification, seen through the eyes of a careful foreign observer.
Villa Zara and its Fairytale Park
Villa Zara, once Casa Venanzo due to the name of the hill of the same name, was an ancient, ruined chaplaincy (ecclesiastical building, with an adjoining priest's lodgings), in the hamlet of Torre San Patrizio. The mansion house is not accessible today, but its impenetrability makes it even more mysterious and seductive. Surrounded by lush vegetation, Villa Zara recalls the enchanted palaces of fairy tales; the two square turrets and the loggia, overlooked by arched shutters, are particularly evocative. The villa is surrounded by a park of about three hectares with many species of flora and represents a green lung for the entire surrounding area; it is equipped with a playground, a kiosk, life trails and in the summer, it hosts various cultural and entertainment events, such as the Beer Festival. The house dominates the entire hill and overlooks an unmissable panorama, the most beautiful in the entire area, even if the house is not accessible at the moment, its presence is very strong and you can't help but go and observe it from the outside imagining all the stories it was the protagonist of.
In 1873 it was purchased by Arturo Galletti di Cadilhac, son of the famous Garibaldian General Bartolomeo Galetti di Cadilhac, who participated in the expedition of the thousand and was also one of the heroes of the Roman Republic of 1849. Arturo purchased the house together with 200 hectares of land from the newly born Italian Government, which had confiscated it from the clergy and came to live there with his English wife: Margaret Collier. As soon as the new bride saw it, she wanted to choose it as her home, she wanted to transform the house into a British country residence. The result was a harmonious mix of styles in an imaginary twinning of Italy and England. In this house of absolute charm, lost in the countryside of the Marche province, Margaret wrote Our House on the Adriatic, a text that continues to inspire the imagination of new generations.
The Story of Villa Zara, Our Home on the Adriatic
The chaplaincy was called San Venanzo and was on top of a hill from which one could enjoy a fabulous panorama, from the Sibillini to the Adriatic, from Mount Conero to the Gran Sasso. Margaret arrived there on a cart decorated with beautiful drawings in bright colors, pulled by a pair of very white oxen, inside which a straw chair had been tied: the roads did not allow the passage of horse-drawn carriages…
Our House on the Adriatic is a diary, a book of autobiographical memoirs, which at times can recall the romantic atmospheres of the book A Room with a View by Edward Morgan Foster, but Margaret Collier's narration is much more truthful, what comes out is a realistic and profound description of a rural area in the context of post-unification Italy. Rereading this book after forty years takes you back in time, Margaret Collier can capture the reader, to whom she gives an objective and even ironic look at an important historical period, seen through the eyes of a foreigner.
This type of rural society has the power to invigorate the soul of those who are tired of living an artificial existence. The oxen trample the wheat, the women spin and weave their clothes from the flax that they themselves have grown and dyed with herbs…
The book Our House on the Adriatic was published for the first time in London in 1886, in Italy it arrived only in 1981, with a translation by the publishing house Il Lavoro Editoriale and an introduction by the writer Joyce Lussu, granddaughter of Margaret Collier. A new edition has recently been published thanks to a local publishing house, this book represents a powerful testimony of the various historical and cultural changes of Europe between the 19th and 20th centuries. Our House on the Adriatic is an unusual Grand Tour, a journey in Italy, that will make you feel emotional, discover the past of Italy and of this place, far from the routes of mass tourism.
Margaret Collier: The English writer who transformed Villa Zara
Margaret Collier was the founder of three lively generations of Anglo-Italian writers, travellers and activists. Margaret was born in London in 1846 into a family of noble origins and progressive ideas, she grew up in a cultured and open environment, the living room of her house was frequented by politicians and intellectuals, among others Virginia Wolf. Margaret's life is as fascinating and romantic as her writings, she soon fell in love with a young poet, the early and unexpected death of her beloved brought Margaret into a state of depression; this was precisely the reason that pushed the Collier family to send Margaret to Italy to distract herself and find serenity. In Rome she met the officer Arturo Galletti and it was love at first sight.
Although the union was not well regarded by the young woman's family, due to some scandals related to Arturo's parents, which had stained the family's reputation, the two married in 1873 and decided to buy an old rectory with 200 hectares of land attached. It is precisely at that moment that the narration of Our House on the Adriatic begins, when the couple moves into the house. The contrast between an upper-class Englishwoman, coming from an open, cultured and progressive environment and the archaic world of the Marche countryside of the late 19th century can be seen first-hand within the narration. In addition to Our House on the Adriatic, Margaret wrote other books, including Babel, also set in the countryside of Torre San Patrizio.
The Municipal Theatre of Torre San Patrizio: heir to the memory of Villa Zara
In 1879, Roberto Galletti de Cadilhac, son of Margaret Collier and Arturo Galletti, was born in Torre San Patrizio. Roberto studied engineering and graduated in Rome, he was a pioneer in the study of wireless telegraphy. In 1906-07 he devised a singular method to increase the efficiency of radiotelegraphic transmissions, which was tested in 1911 in Lyon and was successful.
The municipality of Torre San Patrizio, to honor his memory and that of his family who left the town a small treasure trove of testimonies, named the municipal theater after him, Teatro Roberto Clemens Galletti de Cadilhac, where theater shows are periodically held. Also recently on stage is the theatrical adaptation of the book Lino e il fantasmino di Villa Zara.
Villa Zara today
The recent redevelopment of the wonderful Villa Zara Park has allowed the villa to be reborn, becoming one of the places of the heart of Torre San Patrizio, both for citizens and for visitors from near and far who come to admire the fabulous panorama or use the playground, the kiosk, the life trails and the picnic area.
In the park you will find a suggestive literary path created with some extracts from the book Our House on the Adriatic by Margaret Collier, this is part of a larger urban regeneration project that includes the restoration of the ancient villa. When you visit the park, approach the old villa and imagine all the stories that have passed through it. The inaccessible homes exude a certain charm and a sense of mystery that unleashes the most varied fantasies.
Lino The little ghost and the mystery of Villa Zara
His thoughts began to whirl fast, fast like carousels. He saw in his head moments, sensations, emotions that he had completely forgotten
This is one of those adventures that kids like, but that basically anyone can like. It is the story of a friendship between a child, Margaret, a little gecko and a little ghost that wanders around the old villa. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, it is interesting to see the writer Margaret Collier again, who this time plays the role of a character in a book, a gripping and exciting story.
The work is clearly inspired by Margaret Collier and her book Our House on the Adriatic, but also by the legends surrounding the presence of a ghost that wanders around the ancient Villa, it is said to be the ghost of one of Arturo Galletti's lovers. These stories have the power to prolong the life and memory of a historical period. The play was performed in the municipal theater of Torre San Patrizio, the performers of the musical were all children between 7 and 12 years old, inhabitants of Torre San Patrizio, who had practiced with theater workshops throughout the summer. The play continues to be performed periodically in theaters throughout the area.
How to get to Villa Zara starting from the center of Torre San Patrizio
We have come to the end of our journey in the fascinating Villa Zara that we rightly call, Our home on the Adriatic, we hope we have intrigued you enough to come in person. If you are visiting Torre San Patrizio, you absolutely must plan a stop at Villa Zara, in the summer season it is preferable to arrive in these parts in the middle of the afternoon to relax in the greenery, perhaps in the company of a good book and wait for the sunset.
If you want to take a nice walk you can reach Villa Zara on foot starting from Torre San Patrizio, it is almost 2.5 km that you can cover in half an hour of good walking, surrounded by the splendid view of the surrounding countryside. By car coming from Torre San Patrizio it will take you only 5 minutes passing through the SP44. Alternatively, consider the bike, always taking the SP44, it is 15 minutes of pedaling. The bicycle could be a good means of transport also for moving around the town or perhaps an idea for planning a bike tour in Italy.
