History of Villa Magnani
Villa Magnani is a historic private residence, inhabited year-round by its owners. For decades, the park remained closed, marked by time and neglect. After years of careful and respectful restoration, this extraordinary place is now brought back to life: the park opens its gates only during the summer season , offering the opportunity to rediscover a long-hidden beauty.
Built in the second half of the 19th century by the renowned impresario Giovanni Magnani , the villa is immersed in an exceptionally elegant park, designed by the celebrated the Roda brothers, Marcellino and Giuseppe, gardeners to the Savoy family. It is the only building in the Biella area to bear their signature. Access is only possible during select periods, with private tours by reservation, for small groups and only outdoors: a discreet invitation to tiptoe into a place that time had silenced, to rediscover its soul, its care, and its beauty, shared with those who know how to listen.
Giovanni Magnani: Noble Construction Entrepreneur serving the House of Savoy at the time of Italian Unification
Giovanni Magnani was not only a local builder and benefactor, but also a figure of national importance. The construction of the La Spezia Arsenal, one of his most emblematic works, played a fundamental role in the process of Italian unification, contributing to the country's infrastructural and strategic development in the 19th century. This grandiose work represents a significant piece of Italian history, linking Magnani to the cause of unification and the progress of the Kingdom of Italy.
Magnani also distinguished himself by building major infrastructure projects such as railways, aqueducts, and other strategic structures for Italy. These projects were crucial in promoting the country's modernization, improving transportation, and ensuring essential resources for communities.
At the local level, Giovanni Magnani showed the same dedication, leaving an indelible mark on San Paolo Cervo with the construction of vital infrastructure such as the school, the town hall, the road connecting the valley floor, and a new aqueduct. His example of generosity, vision, and dedication continues to resonate today as a symbol of progress and love for the community.
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History and Beauty of Villa Magnani Park
The park of Villa Magnani is one of the most fascinating landscape gems in the Cervo Valley. Its history is closely linked to the Roda brothers, Marcellino and Giuseppe, renowned Turin gardeners in the service of the House of Savoy, chosen to design and maintain some of the most important noble gardens of the 19th century.
Among their works, the villa's park stands out, created with the permission of the King of Italy and conceived in the Romantic style of the era. The result is a harmonious environment, where nature and architecture blend in a refined balance: winding paths, panoramic views, dramatic trees, and water features compose what is still known today as the "Garden of the Rodas."
The Cave of Tomaso Bianchi
The park also features a charming artificial grotto, built in 1888 by Tomaso Bianchi of Varese, one of the most renowned Italian cave artists of the 19th century. This scenic structure, overlooking an ornamental pond, was designed to astonish visitors and offer a place of quiet and contemplation. The grotto is one of the park's most distinctive features and demonstrates the care with which the villa's green spaces were designed.
The Rebirth of Villa Magnani
Over the decades, the park underwent a period of progressive abandonment, losing some of its original magnificence. Today, however, it is at the center of a major restoration project that is bringing its history and beauty back to light.
The turning point came in 2018, when Villa Magnani was purchased by its new owner. With dedication, passion, and constant work, a painstaking restoration of the 19th-century park designed by the Roda brothers, Marcellino and Giuseppe, was begun. Statues, paths, rare species, and centuries-old trees are coming back to life, restoring the garden to its original harmony and transforming its ancient decay into a promise of the future.
This commitment was recognized in 2025 with the +Bellezza in Valle Award, which recognized the "Giardino dei Roda" as a place of enchantment restored to the community. A natural recognition for a project that successfully combined historical memory, landscape conservation, and vision.
During the summer season, Villa Magnani opens its gates for guided tours by reservation, offering the public the opportunity to discover the park's secrets and its history. Some special days are enriched with concerts and cultural events, transforming the villa into a stage of beauty and music, where nature and art meet in a unique experience.
“The Queen of the Cervo Valley”
Villa Magnani, the sleeping castle
Andrea Formagnana's article in Il Bielesse describes Villa Magnani as a place suspended between history and enchantment. On the heights of the Cervo Valley, the 19th-century residence built by Giovanni Pietro Magnani has dominated the landscape for over 150 years, perched on an artificial terrace that gives it the appearance of a sleeping castle. Around it, the hamlet of stone houses preserves the memories of generations and the authentic soul of the valley.
Since 2018, the villa has been managed by Domenico Iacaruso, a professor of art history, who considers himself not the owner but rather its custodian, bringing life and breath to a place that seemed dormant over time. The park, designed in 1883 by the Roda brothers, gardeners to the Savoy family, is a theater of emotions where nature and art blend in a romantic landscape. Statues, grottoes, and centuries-old trees create a captivating landscape that has been revived in recent years thanks to guided tours, concerts, and sensory walks. In 2025, the "Garden of the Rodas" received the +Bellezza in Valle Award, in recognition of its restoration and the cultural value it has restored to the community.
📖 Source: Andrea Formagnana, The Queen of the Cervo Valley, published in Il Bielesse – Biella Mountain Outdoor and Tourism.
“Il Biellese reports on the AMSAP event at Villa Magnani”
The local newspaper Il Biellese dedicated an article to the event organized by AMSAP – the Historic Motorbike and Car Association of Biella – hosted at Villa Magnani in August 2025. The initiative marked the conclusion of the first part of the Club’s ASI‑affiliated season and transformed the 19th‑century residence into a narrative journey exploring the evolution of transportation “from carriages to the present day.”
In the Villa’s historic park, visitors could admire some of the most emblematic models of the 20th century: from the 1921 Fiat 501 to the 1933 BSA 175, displayed in front of the Villa’s carriage collection, along with a selection of Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo vehicles from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, including a Fiat 508 “Faux Cabriolet,” a Balilla Torpedo, two Lancia Aprilias and a rare Lancia Augusta.
The article also highlights the preview presentation of the Ford Puma Gen‑E destined for the Biella Hospital, made possible through the collaboration between AMSAP, the Amici dell’Ospedale Association and Nuova Assauto. The vehicle will be used for the new Home Radiology Unit, scheduled to be inaugurated in September. The event was also attended by Leo Galligani, president of the Amici dell’Ospedale Association.
📖 Source: Il Biellese, 5 August 2025 – “Altri Sport / Biella” section.
“The imposing Villa Magnani”
Katiuscia De Pieri, in an article published in La Provincia di Biella, described Villa Magnani as one of the most evocative residences in the Cervo Valley. Built in the second half of the 19th century by Giovanni Pietro Magnani, a Biella-based building contractor and philanthropist, the villa stands on an artificial terrace, giving it the appearance of a castle suspended between history and landscape. It is surrounded by a romantic park designed by the Roda brothers, gardeners to the Savoy family, which further enhances its charm.
Journalistic contributions to this site include the article "The Impressive Villa Magnani," in which the author retraces the history of the residence and its connection to the Cervo Valley, highlighting the cultural and landscape value of a site that is now being brought back to life thanks to restoration and initiatives open to the public.
📖 Source: Katiuscia De Pieri, The imposing Villa Magnani, published in La Provincia di Biella.
Villa Magnani reopens its gates to the public: tomorrow marks the inauguration of the summer season.
In the summer of 2025, Prima Biella reported on the reopening of Villa Magnani as a major event for the Cervo Valley. Gianmaria Laurent Jacazio's article described the 19th-century residence and its romantic park as a place brought back to life thanks to the restoration work begun and continued with care and dedication by the new owner.
The season, which opened on June 1st, featured guided tours, concerts, and cultural initiatives that transformed the villa and its grounds into a stage for experiences. From sensory walks to musical performances, to the grand finale with composer Marco Benetti on the historic piano, each event intertwined art, nature, and history.
Today, Villa Magnani presents itself not only as a residence linked to the past, but as a place capable of welcoming the public with new opportunities for beauty and culture, restoring a living and shared heritage to the community.
📖 Source: Gianmaria Laurent Jacazio, Villa Magnani reopens its gates to the public: the summer season opens tomorrow, published in Prima Biella, May 31, 2025.