FAI Spring Days - Villa Biraghi

A hidden treasure in the medieval village of Vogogna

The FAI Spring Days are Italy's largest event dedicated to cultural and landscape heritage. Every year, the FAI - Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano opens hundreds of sites to the public that are usually closed or rarely accessible, thanks to the efforts of thousands of volunteers. In Vogogna, a small town in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, in Piedmont, the star of the show is Villa Biraghi, overlooking Piazza Pretorio in the heart of one of the best-preserved medieval villages in the Ossola valley.

Villa Biraghi: history and architecture

Villa Biraghi stands in the historic center of Vogogna and currently houses the Val Grande National Park Authority. The original core of the building dates back to at least 1510 and was later purchased and expanded around 1650, taking the form of a stately home with numerous rooms. Its windows with colored leaded glass brighten the interiors, while monumental fireplaces, coffered ceilings, and portraits of the families who lived there tell centuries of Ossola history.

What to visit

During the FAI Days, a set tour route leads to the discovery of the large inner courtyard and some of the most representative rooms, which are not normally open to the public. The visit is also an opportunity to get to know the village of Vogogna, with its Visconti Castle, the Palazzo Pretorio, and the characteristic streets of the historic center, and to understand the deep bond between the villa and the territory of the Val Grande National Park, the largest wilderness area in the Alps.

A national FAI campaign

The opening of Villa Biraghi is part of the major national FAI Spring Days campaign, which involves hundreds of cities and thousands of volunteers across Italy. It is an awareness-raising and fundraising initiative: admission is by voluntary donation, and proceeds support FAI's mission to protect the country's artistic, historical, and natural heritage. Visiting Vogogna on this occasion means combining the discovery of a historic residence with the pleasure of strolling through one of the most evocative villages in Piedmont.