Stezzano

Ever since its origin, the villa (a Latin term for an agrarian production centre, in stark contrast to the dwellings of the urban agglomeration) has had a close link with the context in which it was found.

Stezzano – a municipality in the southern plain of Bergamo that has always been a predominantly agricultural area – is an emblematic example in this respect, having as many as four villas on its territory: Caroli Zanchi, Grumelli-Pedrocca-Maffeis, Morlani and Moroni.
Villa Grumelli-Pedrocca-Maffeis, the current seat of the municipal offices, is located in the central piazza of Stezzano. Built during the 18th century, the structure was originally the country residence of the Grumelli-Pedrocca family. A cadastral register from 1787 indicates the family of the “Noble Counts Knights Pedrocchi” as the owner, who was succeeded by the Maffeis family in the 19th century.
Over the decades, in order to adapt to the style in vogue at the time, the appearance of the building underwent several changes. From an initial Rococo style, it transformed into the neoclassical, adding the two corner turrets to the main body of the structure and modifying the façade by replacing the window and door frames, which took on a geometric form.

At the back of the Villa is a park, originally designed according to 18th-century geometry. Historical documents also report the past presence of rows of trees, probably mulberries, fundamental for the cultivation of silkworms, as an extremely profitable activity that generated the wealth of these families.
The ceilings of the inner halls – especially those on the ground floor, which served as reception areas – are richly decorated with various thematic motifs with the exaltation of the virtues of valiant men through the depiction of busts of historical figures, exotic illustrations with bright colours used to depict animals and plants of oriental inspiration and neoclassical decorations with geometric motifs.
One of the rooms on the first floor houses a work by an important painter from Stezzano, Antonio Moscheni (1854–1905), who is also famous for having decorated the Cathedral of Bombay. The painting, present in the villa, depicts the ceremony of blessing of animals, which took place on 16th August during the celebrations dedicated to San Rocco. Set in the parish churchyard, the painting is an important testimony to the life and traditions of Stezzano.