A Room in the Garden

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Villa della Pergola Alassio

Villa della pergola Via Privata Montagu, 9 Alassio (SV) The history of the Villa is strictly related to those English who first came to Alassio on their winter holidays. In 1875 two Scottish gentlemen, George Henderson Gibb and General William Montagu Scott McMurdo were the first British who spent a whole year in Alassio together with their families. The next year they decided to buy two huge pieces of land on the hill above Alassio: the parks “Fuor del Vento” and “Molino di Sopra”. The first building to be built by General McMurdo on his property was the “Villino della Pergola”, which was called “Casa Napier” at that time. It

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reflected, better than the Villa itself, the taste of its creator; it was, in fact, designed according to Anglo-Indian architectural style of the English who had lived most of their lives in India, serving as officers, government officials or businessmen. After The Hanbury family completed the gardens of the Villa, enriching them with a great variety of exotic plants, brought in from the botanic gardens of the “Mortola”. GARDEN It is a 22.000 square meter area, rich in Mediterranean and exotic flora. Plants from many climatic zones of the world are sheltered here in a harmonious ensemble. Romantic pergolas of roses and glycines connect the different levels of

the park, where delicate water-lilies float on the surface of ponds and fountains. Our guests will be delighted by the colours and sweet perfumes which fill the air at any time of the year.

Surroundings Sanremo Genova Santa Margherita Nizza Portofino Alessandria

37 miles 62 miles 79 miles 67 miles 83 miles 89 miles

Racconigi

105 miles

ACCOMMODATION The “Villa della Pergola” , also known as “Villa Hanbury”, and the “Villino della Pergola” are two ancient residences built , at the end of the 19th century, on the first hill above Alassio. They were home, for more than a hundred years, to three noble British families: the McMurdos, the Dalrymples and the Hanburies. The two villas are surrounded by a huge park with a surface of 22.000 square metres, rich in Mediterranean and exotic flora, ponds, fountains and pergolas. The inner rooms, after accurate restoration works, have regained their extraordinary charm of Victorian period. The Villa will impress our guests with its massive fireplace made from Finale Stone, its ancient oak door, its antique furniture and a collection of pictures, books and objects owned by both the British families housed here and the British colony living in Alassio for over a century. The stay at the “Villa della Pergola” and the “Villino della Pergola” is not just the best way to enjoy the Italian Riviera in every season of the year. It is also a good chance to go through the Italian and English history. Each room is dedicated to a different character who played a crucial role in the history of the Villa and that of Alassio itself. Guests will be also delighted by a magnificent view of the Bay, opening from Capo Santa Croce to Capo Mele while looking out over the silhouette of the Gallinara Island.

Rem arkable ex p eri ence

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