Villa Puccini di Scornio

Visited by Fabio Bardelli

Villa Scornio, Interior.

PISTOIA/ITALY: In the first half of 19th century the notable Tommaso Puccini from Pistoia (no relationship with the musician Giacomo Puccini) built this Villa in a place named Scornio, in the outskirts of the town Pistoia, a Villa popularly known as “Villone Puccini”. 

Niccolò Puccini , a historic portrait

Later his son Niccolò, an eminent person in the town, built the magnificent romantic park designed by Luigi De Cambray Digny, a park which includes also a small lake, neoclassical temples, statues of famous people in order to enhance and show to the distinguished guests the creators of Italian and European culture.

From the Parc at Villa Scornio.

In fact the park contains statues of Dante, Michelangelo, and nearby there is also a column dedicated to Carl Linnaeus, the celebrated Swedish botanist and naturalist

. In the charming park were also built, according to the taste of “gothic revival” of that time, a small church and a miniature castle.

Villa Scornio, photo Fabio Bardelli

Niccolò Puccini (1799-1852) was an important person in the cultural world of Pistoia, a typical figure of Italian 19th century, a philanthropist and patron, very cultured, friend of writers men of culture and patriots
. He was popularly known by the nickname of “Gobbo Puccini” (Hunchback Puccini) for his physical handicap. 

Villa Scornio, entrance to the villa, photo Fabio Bardelli

However he gave a great contribution to the literary cultural and political environment of Pistoia at that time of which he was one of the most important representative. 

From the Parc at Villa Scornio.

Niccolò Puccini had epistolary correspondence with many important exponents of 19^thCentury Italian culture or he knew them personally, like Giacomo Leopardi, Massimo d’Azeglio, Vincenzo Gioberti, Giovan Battista Niccolini, Niccolò Tommaseo and many others. 

The really beautiful park surrounding the Villa is home to a wide variety of trees and flowers, while the historical Villa itself hosts in its richly adorned rooms the School of Music and the Academy of Italian Organ Music.

The town of Pistoia has been nominated “Italian capital of Culture” for the year 2017.

At Villa Scornio you also find a Concert hall.

Fabio Bardelli