New Villa d'Este
Built on beautiful Lake Como in Italy in 1568 by architect Pellegrino Tibaldi
as a private residence for Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, the villa had passed to
Domenico Pino, one of Napoleon's generals. In late August of 1815 the widowed
countess Pino sold Villa del Garrovo to Caroline
of Brunswick (1768-1821), estranged wife of England's heir, the Prince Regent.
Princess Caroline named the property New Villa D'Este--to differentiate it from
the Villa d'Este at Tivoli--after her remote ancestor one Guelfo d'Este. By
this time, the family of Bartolomeo Pergami dominated her household. His former
commander General Pino had recommended Pergami to Caroline as a courier for
her trip into Italy. The tall dark and handsome 33 year old former Austrian
Army officer soon received the gift of an estate in the south of Sicily that
came with the title of baron from the 47 year old Caroline. As a nobleman, he
could now be appointed the Princess's chamberlain. In November 1815, while the
villa was being enlarged, the Princess fitted up a polacca, a three masted trading
ship, and sailed to Tunis, Athens, Constantinople, Acre, and the Holy Land.
She returned to the Villa September 16, 1816. New Villa d'Este had been redecorated
and a library and theater had been added to the building. Caroline placed the
famed statue Venus Crowned by Eros attributed to Canova
in her suite. While Princess Caroline lived a life of scandalous and ill advised
self indulgence the Regent's Milan Commission gathered evidence against her
for divorce proceedings.
Henry Brougham was negotiating a divorce agreement for her when George III
died. Caroline injudiciously returned to England where she was tried for adultery
before Parliament in a failed attempt by George IV to divorce her. Though no
divorce was granted, Caroline's reputation was ruined by the testimony concerning
her relationship with Pergami. George IV repulsed Caroline's attempts to be
included in his July 19th of 1821 Coronation. She died on August 7, 1821 of
an unknown gastric disorder. Speculation included everything from poison to
a tumor to the mysterious illness of her Uncle George III. Vittorina, the daughter
of Pergami was to inherit the estate according to the Princess's will, but she
had been forced due to her debts to place the deed of the villa in the hands
of her banker Giovanni Torlonia
of Rome (He was also Napoleon's banker.), when she left Italy. Princess Caroline
intended to redeem the deed with the settlement she received from George IV,
but this was not to be.
The Villa d'Este (The word new was dropped.) passed through a number of owners
until it was renovated in 1873 and turned into a luxurious hotel. The hotel
has a collection of sixteenth-century paintings and sculptures. A large park,
with caves, fountains and statues, surrounds the Villa. The late Kate Ross mentioned
Lake Como and the villa in her mystery The Devil in Music.
© S.W.
This site last updated August 2002 by
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