History
Villa Angelica - A Journey Through the Centuries
Nestled among lush gardens, surrounded by centuries-old trees, and accompanied by the gentle murmur of the Albola stream, Villa Angelica stands as a place filled with stories, lived epochs, and indelible memories. But before its walls were erected, before its gardens bloomed and its windows caught the sunlight, this place had already witnessed a long-forgotten world.
A Journey Back to the Iron Age
It is said that more than two thousand years ago, long before the first stones of the villa were laid, people lived, worked, and dreamed on this land. During the Hallstatt period (c. 800–450 BC), this region was inhabited by early cultures that had made iron their most precious resource
At the beginning of the 20th century, ancient iron artifacts were discovered buried in the earth around the property. These finds are not only silent witnesses to a lost civilization but also proof that right here, where the majestic Villa Angelica now stands, there once existed a settlement.
The Birth of Riva Paper
Time passed, kingdoms rose and fell, until the fate of these lands changed once again. In the 14th century, as the winds of the Middle Ages swept through the valley, one of the first paper mills in Trentino was built along the Albola stream. It was the year 1360 when the sound of mill wheels, powered by the wild waters of the stream, became the heartbeat of San Giacomo.
What was produced here was more than just paper—it was a symbol of knowledge and progress. By the 15th century, Riva paper had become so renowned that it received its own watermark in the shape of a crown, a symbol that still lives on in the logo of Villa Angelica today
And so, this paper became the canvas of history: between 1490 and 1520, during a time of upheaval, reformation, and the awakening of new ideas, the famous Bible of Martin Luther was printed on sheets originating from Riva del Garda. Printers, bookbinders, and artisans from all over Italy gathered on the shores of the lake to take part in this wonder, and from here, the famous “Arcense paper” began its journey across the world—even reaching the Far East.
Even today, centuries later, the art of papermaking in Riva is still alive, whispering tales of the past, of masters and their workshops, of books that changed the world.
The Villa
The Birth of a Villa
But like everything in life, this story, too, changed with time.
Alla fine del Cinquecento, una famiglia destinata a lasciare un segno indelebile nelThe History della villa fece la sua comparsa: i Fiorio. Alvisio Fiorio, uomo di grande lungimiranza e ambizione, acquisì gli antichi opifici lungo il torrente Albola.
At the end of the 16th century, a family destined to leave an indelible mark on the history of the villa appeared: the Fiorios. Alvisio Fiorio, a man of great foresight and ambition, acquired the old paper mills along the Albola stream. Within a few decades, his family became the undisputed rulers of paper production, dominating not only in Riva but also in San Giacomo and along the Varone stream. Until the 1920s, the Fiorios held firm control over this flourishing industry
But Alvisio dreamed of more than just mills and machinery. He dreamed of a residence that would bring honor to his name.
Thus, in the first half of the 17th century, the remains of the old paper mill of San Giacomo gave way to a new, grand vision. Alvisio, by then Baron Fiorio of San Cassiano, commissioned the construction of an imposing U-shaped villa, majestic and elegant, a place of beauty and stability.
To this day, Villa Angelica stands proudly upon its lands, a silent witness to centuries of history.
The Hidden Sanctuary
But the villa holds more than just earthly treasures. Tucked away between ancient trees and fragrant flowers, it hides another jewel: the Chapel of San Francesco di Paola.
First mentioned in 1723, the chapel was praised by the bishops of the time as "richly decorated and furnished with sacred items of great value.".
Its interior, simple yet solemn, consists of a single nave adorned with delicate 18th-century decorations. At its center stands a magnificent altar made of polychrome natural stone, a masterpiece of forgotten craftsmanship. Outside, in the central niche of the façade, the statue of San Francesco di Paola watches over all who approach the chapel
Vincenzo Errante and the Poetry of the Villa
But no place is complete without those who lived in it, loved it, and made it part of their existence.
One such person was Vincenzo Errante, a man of culture, art, and letters.
Born in Rome on February 12, 1890, Errante was a philologist, historian, and translator, a passionate scholar of German literature. It was he who brought the works of Goethe, Schiller, and Rilke into Italian, building bridges between languages, giving new life to poetry.
But Vincenzo was more than just a translator. He was a poet, university professor, and publisher—a man who shaped the world with words. After World War I, which he personally experienced, he withdrew into the beauty of literature, immersing himself in Shakespeare’s verses, letting the tragedies and sonnets speak through his own heart.
His final years were spent at Villa Angelica, surrounded by the tranquility of the lake, the fragrance of flowers, and the whisper of ancient walls. And when he passed away in 1951 in Riva del Garda, he left behind not just his works—he left behind his spirit in the villa’s hallways, in the shadows of the trees, in the pages of the books he had brought to life.
In his honor, the monument "Il Ninfale" was erected, still standing in the park of the villa—a silent tribute to a man who dedicated his life to words.
A Legacy That Lives On
Today, Villa Angelica is more than just a place of the past. It is a bridge between different eras, a living echo of history.
And perhaps, if one listens closely, one can still hear the faint creak of the old mill wheels, the murmurs of poets in the garden, the wind whispering across the centuries:
"I was here. I lived. And my story will continue to be told."
