Please contact the estate directly for more information, questions or requests.
Castello di Brazzà
Udine, Italy
An historical estate from the 11th-12th century with an extensive botanical heritage and natural habitat, a park of spectacular trees and a recently restored Lombard Chapel of San Michele Arcangelo, built before 1,000 A.D.
The estate offers a private villa for rent as well as a unique museum.
History
This historical estate dates back to the 11th-12th Century and has remained in the Savorgnan family throughout. It is situated in a beautiful park created more than 120 years old by Cora di Brazzà-Slocomb. It was the original setting for the story of Romeo and Juliet as well as the starting point for the famous explorer and governor of French Equatorial Africa, Pietro di Brazzà Savorgnan.
The main villa has a chequered history. It became the headquarters for the Austrian army in WW1, who accidentally caused a fire in the villa in 1917. It was rebuilt in 1920 by the Palladian architect Provino Valle. In the Second World War the villa was occupied by Nazi forces, followed by the Allies (US Desert Force) at the end of the war, before finally becoming the residence of the commander of the Italian troops in the area.
The history of Castello di Brazzà and the Brazzà Savorgnan family has been described in various books, most recently in 2019, in ‘The Lost Boys’ by Catherine Bailey, a well-known British author.
Today the estate follows an extensive programme, the Habitat-Brazzà Project, set up by Carlos Otero, Director of the Instituto Iberico para el Medio Ambiente, to improve agriculture, the environment and the landscape, and is conducted by the owners Corrado Pirzio-Biroli and Cécile Cornet d’Elzius.
Rose Garden and English Style Park
The estate has a beautiful English Rose Garden and an English-style Park. In these gardens you will find an extensive range of English and German roses and in the historical 64 hectares park you may spot wildlife, such as deer, squirrels and hares along with a variety of birds. The nature reserve, the Stork Sanctuary, is nearby and is definitely worth a visit.
Private villa for holidays
The historical villa, built between the 15th to 17th centuries, and restored in 2011, is set in the private estate, with its own separate gated entrance and private rose gardens and swimming pool, access to the park and tennis court and spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. The villa is set over 3 floors and most of the bedrooms have their own bathroom. Around 22 guests can stay in this fully equipped villa which also has two kitchens and a pool table. For more information, please use the email address below.
Spazio Brazzà Museum
On the estate there is a private museum, ‘Spazio Brazzà’, describing in full detail the fascinating history of the families Savorgnan, Brazzà, Tirpitz, Hassell and Pirzio-Biroli. There is also an extensive exhibition of African artefacts and a permanent art exhibition by Štěpán Zavřel, a Czech artist friend, who is an illustrator and writer of children’s books. The museum also houses a bookshop with museum guides and illustrated children’s books by Štěpán Zavřel for sale.
Private Events
The villa also offers a good degree of privacy, which is perfect for large groups of friends, family reunions, get togethers or other special occasions. The villa has 2 fully equipped kitchens and 2 living rooms as well as ample outdoor space. There is also a large living room which can be converted into a meeting space for up to 40 people.
Surrounding Historical Sites
Nearby, historical sites that can be visited include Udine (20 minutes drive), San Daniele (20 minutes drive), Carso (WW1 museum), Gorizia (40 minutes drive), Trieste (1 hour drive) and Venice (90 minutes). Other cultural highlights in the neighbourhood are the medieval city of Venzone, Aquileia, where you will find mosaics and roman ruins, Cividale del Friuli, Villa Manin and Miramare castle.
Check out the Castello di Brazzà website for a list of forthcoming
events and attractions!
Contact
Please contact the estate directly for more information, questions or requests.
Address
Via del Castello 15
33030 Moruzzo
Italy