A half-mile private drive approaches the residence through landscaped parkland.

Villa Necchi Campiglio is on the market with Italy Sotheby's International Realty. Price is disclosed upon application with the listing agency.

Set in the hills above Lake Varese, the estate spans about 11 hectares (≈ 27 acres) of parkland.

Lake Varese is a part of the Italian Lakes in northern Italy, just west of Lake Como. Unlike the internationally recognized destinations of Como or Lake Garda, this area is more residential in character, with lower development density and closer proximity to Milan.

The villa follows a square plan organized around a central courtyard, with large windows bringing natural light into the principal rooms. The overall composition is formal and symmetrical, giving the house a classical character rather than a rustic one.

History

The property was built as a private lakeside retreat for the Necchi Campiglio family, whose fortune derived from the Pavia-based sewing machine manufacturer Necchi, founded in 1919.

Under the leadership of Vittorio Necchi, the company expanded during the interwar years and became one of Italy’s leading domestic sewing machine producers.

By the 1930s, Vittorio Necchi and his sisters, Gigina and Nedda Necchi Campiglio, were based in Milan. During this period, the family commissioned Tommaso Buzzi to design the villa in Barasso.

A pergola overlooks a swimming pool said shaped in the outline of Lake Varese.

Architecture

Buzzi was an Italian architect and designer active during the interwar period, known for refined residential commissions for Italy’s industrial and aristocratic families.

Unlike many historic villas in the Italian Lakes that evolved through additions and later renovations, Villa Necchi Campiglio was designed in its entirety at the end of the 1930s and combines classical proportion with restrained Art Deco detailing.

The villa follows a square plan organized around a central courtyard, with large windows bringing natural light into the principal rooms. The overall composition is formal and symmetrical, giving the house a classical character rather than a rustic one.

The principal floor spans about 1,000 m² (≈ 10,764 ft²) and includes formal reception rooms, a panoramic veranda, dining room, and a study. The architecture and interiors were designed by Buzzi, including fireplaces, integrated woodwork, and bespoke detailing throughout. Each of the five bedrooms includes a marble-clad en-suite bathroom finished in varying tones of green stone.

The lower level is about 800 m² (≈ 8,611 ft²) and was originally designed for staff accommodation and service functions. Today, it offers substantial secondary space suitable for wellness facilities, offices, or guest use.

Within the Italian Lakes, Lake Varese occupies a quieter position in Lombardy, approximately one hour from Milan. Here, the villa remains what it was built to be in the late 1930s — an architect-designed retreat defined by a single, unified vision.