Credit: Atlas Obscura. 0000027954 00000 n (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({}); Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, One Hyde Park The Most Expensive Apartments In London, Goose Creek Tower The Alaskan Cabin That Never Stopped Growing. When he couldnt come up with the money, the Spanish government had the right to confiscate his home until building work was paid. 0000002024 00000 n In 2002, large boulders came falling down the mountain during an avalanche and stopped a few meters short of the villa, thus sparing it. Now, the home is used for small outdoor concerts, events, and celebrating local history with the public. From then it was left abandoned for the next 20 or so years. One night, in 1959, Dr. Harold Perelson murdered his wife, and planned to kill his three children in the middle of the night. Today, the current state of Casa Sperimentale remains a mystery, with only brief and incomplete records of its history. 0000047588 00000 n In 2011, a mysterious wealthy investor bought the hotel for just $1.9 million with plans to turn it into a hotel. 0000047319 00000 n The legal battle had gone on for so long, he was never able to enjoy his own property the way he wanted. Built as a summer house for Count Felix De Vecchi and his family, the stunning villa boasted priceless wall frescoes and 13,000 acres of land. And you know what? The Count put out a lengthy, unsuccessful search for his daughter, before committing suicide that same year. When the daughters grew older, they put Sunninghill Park on the market in 2006, and it sat empty. The family owned the home for decades until it was passed on to their son. It was then owned by a string of different aristocratic families until it was finally abandoned during the 1960s. However, the houses eerie history and inexplicable survival against all odds have cemented its place in local folklore, drawing thrill-seekers and curious visitors from all over the world. It dates back to the 1850s, when it was built to serve as a summer residence for . Nevertheless, the Count and his family made Villa De Vecchi their home during the spring and summer months, and by most accounts led an idyllic if brief existence. 0000003192 00000 n In 1997, Mobutu was pushed out of his position of power. 78 0 obj <> endobj It still waits for a potential buyer to come along. Clearly, this experience put a bad taste in Beckers mouth. At its peak in the 1920s, the reform school had over 200 students. 10. 0000021293 00000 n The building was abandoned after his death. But, it doesnt cost you anything extra. has a strange story. 0000008206 00000 n This unique manor called Kinmel Hall is an 1899s chateau called a calendar house. By the time the Count moved into the property, he was already a widower and was suffering from liver problems. Sadly, this wasnt all good, and the school houses many horrors. However, this has largely been debunked. From 1988 until now, a Russian artists purchased the property. The Count committed himself less than a year later, driven by the . 0000048019 00000 n 0000020310 00000 n In 1986, Liza inherited the house from her father. His luxurious compound was attacked by a rebel faction, and Zaire became the Democratic Republic of Congo. November 9, 1897, Count de Vecchj sat down to breakfast with his friend Dr. Daniel J. Kelly; the two men consumed platefuls of the mushrooms, believing they were eating Amanita caesarea. His wife had been murdered and his daughter was . Sadly, this wasnt all good, and the school houses many horrors. As the years went on, the mansion got worse and worse. Just east of Lake Como, nestled against the forested mountains of Cortenova, sits a house thats said to be haunted. Its backstory adds to the eerie atmosphere of the house: The architect died only a year after construction, and Count De Vecchi came home one day in 1862 only to find that his wife had been brutally murdered and his daughter had vanished. The property was commissioned by Count Felix De Vecchi, head of the Italian National Guard, and considered a patriotic hero for his role in the Five Days of Milan. Taryn Smee is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News, Join 1000s of subscribers and receive the best Vintage News in your mailbox for FREE, Epic Saga of the Greatest Samurai Sword Ever Made, Earth has Two More Hidden Moons Made Entirely of Dust, Police arrest a 72-year-old suburban grandfather suspected of being the Golden State Killer, Im not dead yet: some Buddhist monks followed self-mummification, Project Azorian: Howard Hughes secret mission, 1960s U.S. satellite that started transmitting again in 2013, The Walk of Shame in Game of Thrones historical inspiration, The only unsolved skyjacking case in U.S. history might have a break, Kurt Gdel became too paranoid to eat and died of starvation, Little Ease: One of the most feared torture devices in the Tower of London, The humble English girl who became Cora Pearl, Walt Disney softened the original Snow White story. 0000032211 00000 n From 1936 to 1941, De Vecchi acted as governor of the Italian Aegean Islands promoting the official use of the Italian language. True, its a haughty relic of the 1%, and theres enough politically charged graffiti to draw the cause-and-effect correlations. She offered to buy Lee a new condo, but she refused to leave, 6. For decades now, the historic, once opulent, building has been derelict, abandoned to total degradation. The mansion had a massive swimming pool, zebra carpets, crystal chandeliers, and more. The Counts palatial getaway was of an era we frequently romanticize but are seldom given the opportunity to step into, albeit in a more macabre fashion. After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 De Vecchi authorized German forces to enter the port of Piombino and forbade any act of resistance. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). 0000047427 00000 n Offer subject to change without notice. The property changed hands several times until the state bought it in 1978 and opened it to the public. And with the welfare system and child protective services now in place, fewer impoverished children were committing petty crimes like stealing food. The Truth About This Veggie Treat, Philodendron Mamei: A Must-Have Velvety Gem That Dazzles, Rare Chicken Breeds: The World's Most Fascinating & Unusual Poultry, Can Snake Plants Live Outside? 0000046783 00000 n He got out of the car and physically assaulted the other drivers. Two years later, the house sold, but Lee refused to move out. This is a ghost story, an urban legend. Upon returning home one day, Count de Vecchi found his wife murdered and his daughter missing. Liza stopped paying any bills, including the full staff Lee had helping her. Again, this got him in trouble with the law. Innamorato della Valsassina vicino al lago di Como, De Vecchi ordin la costruzione della villa tra il 1854 e il 1857 per farne la sua residenza estiva. Ormai da decenni, la storica dimora, in passato sfarzosa, abbandonata al degrado totale. According to the myth, the house became the site of satanic rituals performed by those wishing to channel the bad energy trapped within the walls of the house. Once he was removed from power, the palace was stripped of its wealth by raiders. . Today, visitors can explore the remains of Ha Ha Tonka, marvel at its stunning natural springs, and imagine what the mansion must have looked like in its heyday. But she was also a famous actress and singer in her own right. 0000004296 00000 n After the building was complete, Count de Vecchi returned home one day to find his wife murdered and his daughter missing. La gente del posto non sicura che sia stata una buona cosa. 0000048095 00000 n The house in Los Angeles where a tragic murder-suicide took place 20 Dr Harold Perelson murdered his wife with a hammer and tried to kill his children After killing Linda, he walked calmly into his. 0000001557 00000 n The Villa de Vecchi is considered to be one of the most haunted places in all of Italy. While the natural elements began their assault early on, the majority of the abandoned houses irreversible damage has been done by humans. Its also a surreal thing of beauty in a world that seems hell-bent on destroying any semblance of such. When the house first went on the market, the Jackson estate was asking an insane amount of. For decades now, the historic, once opulent, building has been derelict, abandoned to total degradation. Is it bad? This enigmatic piece of art is a mnemonic device from the early Renaissance. The Count surrendered to the failure and committed suicide. 0000021193 00000 n The villa was passed on to de Vecchi's brother, but has stood abandoned and silent for decades. They refused to actually move into the house, and used it for storage space. This epic lifestyle came to an end in 1992 when Tyson was imprisoned for sexual assault. Legend has it that sometime in 1862, the count returned home to find his wife brutally murdered and his daughter missing. Tysons life began spiraling downwards, and he began running into financial issues. De Vecchi, who was a well-read and well-traveled man, chose a blend of Baroque and Classical Eastern styles for his new home. An unusual resting place built into the hill with an amazing view of Lake Como. Spliced with aspects of truth and verifiable fact, sure, but ultimately spun from over a century of rumors and embellishments. Count Felix de Vecchi married Carolina Franchetti di Ponte in the year 1844. The Villa was passed to his brother and the family visited the home often until the 1940s. He became president of the Turin war veterans and head of the local Fascist squadre. In 2006, a family moved into the home. All rights reserved. Over the years, numerous legends are associated with the home. Do you remember Cocteaus La belle et la bte, how the Beasts castle was a living entity, watchful and shimmering just beyond Beautys waking vision? The walls and ceilings were adorned with painstakingly detailed frescoes and friezes, and a larger-than-life fireplace presided over the main parlor where a grand piano stood at the ready. The piano which people claim to have heard playing, despite being destroyed. Things started going downhill in 1996. He decided to get rid of the house, and sold it to a young couple in 2016 who decided to fix it up. Some of these abandoned mansions still stand tall in their beautiful antiquated glory and hold secrets and stories behind their demise. The property was. He bought with him a passion for the East which is reflected in the home he was about to create Villa de Vecchi. This Abandoned House In Arkansas Has Its Own Secret Tunnel, Dinton Castle The Abandoned Folly Dating Back To 1769, The Abandoned 46-Bedroom Manvel Mansion In Pearland, Texas, Carleton Island Villa The Abandoned New York Island Mansion. Stock Images by Depositphotos, Facebook: nature of home He was made Count of Val Cismon (in memory of the battles fought by his arditi on Monte Grappa in 1918). He died in 2009, and the house remained abandoned until 2015. The unique-appearing home featured both Baroque and Classical Eastern styles, as well as modern conveniences like indoor heating pipes and a huge fountain, reported Abandoned Playgrounds. v=Vice-Governor. 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Having trekked to the villa several times since moving to Italy,* the rare individuals Ive encountered were quiet, camera-toting, and disinclined to disturb anything; nonetheless, the blunt truth is that people have done their worst to Villa De Vecchi, and therein lies the real tragedy. Obviously, this home is so massive, its bigger than what most families can handle. After the police searched his property, they couldnt find any evidence, so he was acquitted. If you like Villa De Vecchi then take a look at Carleton Island Villa in upstate New York. So much so, it has become known as Italys most haunted house. Wherever the Count and his kin reside, I wish them the best of the beyond. Located in the mountains east of Lake Como, Villa De Vecchi, more commonly called "Red House", is a 19th century mansion built by Count Felice De Vecchi in the tiny hamlet of Bindo. Enamored of the Valsassina valley near Lake Como, he ordered the construction of the villa between 1854 and 1857 to serve as his summer residence. Now, when you see the photos of the interior of the mansion, it has been gutted. Nel 2002, grandi massi caddero gi dalla montagna durante una valanga e si fermarono a pochi metri dalla villa, risparmiandola. Photo by Jeff Kerwin CC BY 2.0 Attempts were made to sell to outside buyers in the following years, but . 0000000016 00000 n [4] In the following year he was appointed to the Grand Council of Fascism and on 25 July 1943, he voted in favour of Dino Grandi's order of the day which deposed Benito Mussolini of his role as Fascist Duce (leader). From 1923 to 1928, De Vecchi was governor of Italian Somaliland, a role which took him away from the centre of the Italian political scene. Martiri di Otranto - One of the famous haunted places in Italy cm=Commanders. Unfortunately, like a lot of professional athletes, Becker went through his winnings without making smart investments. These four mansions are a testament to the passage of time, standing as beautiful ruins that intrigue and inspire us to explore further, uncover their secrets and unravel the mysteries of their past. Italys Most Haunted House: Inside Villa De Vecchi Italy's Abandoned 'Ghost Mansion', The 1942 Genesee Hotel Suicide: The Story Behind the Photo Which Was Titled The Despondent Divorcee, The Lost Janis Joplin Topless Photos in Copacabana, Rio De Janeiro in the Summer of 1970, 30 Cool Pics That Capture Naughty Ladies of the 1950s, Victorian Postmortem Photography: The Myth of the Stand Alone Corpse, Vintage Album Covers Featuring Miss Dolores Erickson, Glamorous Photos of Janice Dickinson in the 1970s and 80s, 49 Old Photos of Men Staring at Women in the Past. Villa De Vecchi. Its degrading story started when the count found out that his wife and daughter had been murdered. . [1], In early October 1943 De Vecchi went into hiding with the help of the order of the Salesians of Don Bosco, who hid him from Mussolini's Italian Social Republic (Repubblica Sociale Italiana, or RSI), which condemned De Vecchi to death in absentia in the Verona trial in January 1944. c=Commissioners. Roberts vision was to create a European-styled castle on the property, and construction began in 1905. Despite the owners willing to give up the property for free as long as the property is restored, works on the house have been costed at around six million euros. Set within a 130,000-square-meter park, the great mansion boasted a blend of Baroque and Classical Eastern styles, and was outfitted with all the modern conveniences of the time including indoor heating pipes, dumbwaiters, and a large-scale pressurized fountain. It was built by Count Felice De Vecchi, the head of the Italian National Guard, who wanted a summer residence close to Lake Como. Once he stepped his foot inside the house, he initiated a . An avalanche in 2002 wiped out all of the nearby houses, while the villa remained untouched. By the time the newly-weds arrived back in Milan, the Count had become a celebrity for his romantic representations of the places he had visited. The mansion served as the familys summer home for the next few decades until one of Snyders sons fell on hard times due to land-rights lawsuits and was forced to leave. Unfortunately, with properties like this, the longer it stays abandoned, the worse it will get. Many considered him to be a hero. After returning to Italy in 1949, De Vecchi supported the neo-fascist Italian Social Movement (Movimento Sociale Italiano, or MSI) together with Rodolfo Graziani. . On 1 August 1943, he was promoted to Generale di Divisione and given command of the newly forming 215th Coastal Division in Florence. This mansion was so remote, its nearly 1,000 miles away from the capital Kinshasa. Thats because the school was only open from 1869 to 1902. Villa De Vecchi, alternately nicknamed the Red House, Ghost Mansion, and Casa Delle Streghe (The House of Witches), was built between 1854-1857 as the summer residence of Count Felix De Vecchi. Legend has it that a ghost lives in the villa and that it . Maybe this positive energy is why this house found a new home, while other houses with a darker past tend to stay empty for longer. Count Vecchis brother moved in with his family, and they lived in the mansion until they left the home in World War II. So he left it abandoned for over a decade. Id like to think whats left of the Count and his family is supernatural debris, without consciousness and uncondemned to the source of so much pain and suffering. Within a few short years of its completion the house witnessed an inexplicable string of tragedies that would forever cement its Gothic legacy. It was purchased and turned into a museum before it could become dilapidated, and they established the Hegeler Carus Foundation. 0000041526 00000 n Despite his desperate search, he never found her and ultimately. The house while in use, complete with water fountain. In recent years the Italian Environment Fund has created public awareness campaigns for the villa. The following day De Vecchi ordered the freeing of the Germans and returning their weapons to them, after which he signed the surrender of his Division to the Germans. Wyndclyffe Castle, Rhinebeck, New York. Le pareti esterne della Casa Rossa sono ora ricoperte di rampicanti, mentre all'interno, affreschi e arazzi sono stati danneggiati dallumidit o da atti vandalici. Some speculate that the structure fell into disrepair after the owners passed away, while others suggest that it may have been intentionally abandoned. This house is adorned with a serenade macabre from the Counter-Reformation period. Graffiti covers the walls, and anything capable of being vandalized has been given its due makeover. The villa was then passed on to Felixs brother Biago, whose later renovations oversaw the removal of much of the estates Eastern aspects. Learn more, https://natureofhome.com/author/natureofhome/, Minxiong Ghost House: An Affair With a Maid Turns Tragic, Ha Ha Tonka Mansion: Accident Kills a Dream, Villa de Vecchi: Bodies Not Found, But House Stands Tall, Casa Sperimentale: Brutal But Captivating, Step Back in Time: The Fascinating World of Abandoned Mansions Awaits, Can Chickens Eat Broccoli? Over the years, the house was bought by a few different families. However, they quickly decided they couldnt handle living there either, and put the house up for sale once again. However, it wasnt all fun and games in the house. After all of the scandal involving Andrew with Jeffrey Epstein, no one wanted to touch the property. Count De Vecchi was the head of the Italian National Guard and a patriotic hero for his role in the Five Days of Milan, an insurrection in 1848 that led to Milan's liberation from Austrian rule.