The dream of return
Villa Daziaro in Pieve Tesino is a landmark that embodieds the identity of the entire Tesino plateau. Commissioned in the second half of the 19th century by the brothers Giuseppe and Giacomo Daziaro, the latter built it with a team of at least 50 men. The brothers, from Pieve Tesino, had achieved economic success in Europe and Russia through the print and engraving trade. With the intention of returning home to pursue and enjoy the benefits of their entrepreneurial ventures, they designed a sumptuous residence: a dwelling projected into the surrounding landscape, reflecting their new social status.
The villa, completed in 1874, is distinguished by its eclectic architectural style, inspired by European and Russian influences. Originally, the brothers appear to have planned a circular building called ‘Rotonda,’but after Giuseppe’s death in St. Petersburg in December 1865, Giacomo opted for a simpler, more functional structure. The villa became a symbol of prestige and hosted cultural and political events, such as the meetings of the Società degli Alpinisti Tridentini in the 1880s.
With the marriage of Giacomo’s only daughter, Ondina Berenice Daziaro, to the Vicenza-born engineer Antonio Gaudenzi in 1903, the villa became the property of the new Daziaro-Gaudenzi family. The couple made numerous modifications and improvements to the villa, transforming it by 1914 into a modern residence for the time, with electrical systems and reinforced concrete structures. During the First World War, the villa was requisitioned by the Italian army and used as a military hospital.
After the war, the villa returned to the Gaudenzi family, who continued to use it as a summer residence and to maintain its agricultural outbuildings. In more recent years, the villa was occasionally used for exhibitions and cultural events dedicated to the history of travelling vendors and the sale of prints, the activities that had made the Daziaro brothers famous.
Today, the villa represents the historical and cultural heritage of all the communities of the Tesino area, and is the symbol of a family tradition that has successfully combined entrepreneurial success with cultural commitment. The Daziaro-Gaudenzi Foundation was recently established to study and celebrate this heritage.
References:
Elda Fietta, Alberto Milano, Mario Pernechele (edd.), I tesini e la Russia, Litodelta, Scurelle (TN), 2012
Alessandro Paris, Villa Daziaro. Una storia per immagini, Litodelta, Scurelle (TN), 2026
HistoryCity Apps 