Villa Diodati
Origin of the name Villa Diodati
The villa bears the name of the Diodati family, a family of Genevan notables who came from Lucca in the 16th century and for whom it was built.[1]
Founding of Villa Diodati
The Villa Diodati stands at chemin de Ruth 9, on the Cologny hillside overlooking Lake Geneva, in the municipality of Cologny. In 1710 Gabriel Diodati acquired an estate in Cologny and had a new mansion built there, the Villa Diodati. This first house was built around 1710-1711 for Gabriel Diodati-Mestrezat. Its square appearance dates from the works of 1780-1783 for Count Jean Diodati-Tronchin. The villa is famous for Lord Byron's stay in 1816, often joined by his neighbours Percy and Mary Shelley. It has remained in private ownership.[1][2]
History of Villa Diodati
1710. Gabriel Diodati acquires an estate in Cologny and has a new mansion built there.[1]
1710-1711. The first house is built for Gabriel Diodati-Mestrezat.
1780-1783. Works for Count Jean Diodati-Tronchin give the house its square appearance.
1816. Lord Byron stays at the villa, often joined by his neighbours Percy and Mary Shelley. Mary Shelley writes her novel « Frankenstein » in Cologny. Byron reportedly rents the villa from 10 June to 1 November, and John Polidori is said to have written « The Vampyre » there.[2]
1836. Balzac reportedly mentions the villa in his novel « Albert Savarus ».
1924. A Byron monument is erected at the top of the communal meadow for the centenary of the poet's death.
1945. The painter Balthus reportedly lives there briefly.
1953. A building campaign described as disastrous.
1997. New renovation and redesign of the gardens.
Historic sites in Villa Diodati
Villa Diodati. Mansion at chemin de Ruth 9, built around 1710-1711 and remodelled in 1780-1783. Privately owned, it is listed in the inventory of cultural property protection.
Byron monument. Erected in 1924 at the top of the communal meadow of Cologny, for the centenary of the poet's death.
Legends of Villa Diodati
Milton's visit. A commemorative plaque recalls a visit by the poet John Milton in 1638. Since the villa was only built in 1710, this visit is probably merely a tradition.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Diodati » (Micheline Tripet), version remaniée le 23.06.2004
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Cologny » (Jacques Barrelet), version remaniée le 29.08.2005
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population, Protection des biens culturels, fiche KGS 11743 « Maison Diodati, Chemin de Ruth 9 » (texte du Guide artistique de la Suisse, SHAS)
- geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de swisstopo (chemin de Ruth 9, Cologny ; coordonnées)
Other villages near Villa Diodati
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