Virginia Tech purchased the 250+ year old "villa" in the southern part (Canton of Ticino) of Switzerland in 1991-92. The College of Architecture had operated a study abroad program in that region for several years prior to the purchase of any facility. It is a university (not college) facility, owned by the Virginia Tech Foundation, and rented to the University.

The building was completely renovated after purchase and new (European modern) plumbing and electrical work was installed. Today the three story building can lodge about 30 students, with an annex yet to renovated which might later house an additional 10-15. In addition, the University leases (since January 2000) a 1959 villa designed by a Riva architect as his home. This is immediately up the hill from the villa (with a breathtaking view of Lake Lugano) on the same mountain ridge- a short, but hilly walk from the main building. This leased facility, Villa Pabiano, serves as lodging space for about 15 additional students during the fall and spring semesters. There are two large classrooms: one is used for traditional classes -- 32-34 students in an open "U" arrangement and the other room is set up for artist and drawing tables / easels.

 

The Center was established to provide University students a residential community base from which to learn about and experience the many cultures, economic systems, social milieus and nationalities of Europe. Housed in a renovated 18th century villa, Villa Maderni (the Center) offers dining, lodging and classroom accommodations. Program capacity is 44 students housed in the Villa and elsewhere in Riva San Vitale. CESA currently offers semester length residential programs to Virginia Tech students from the Colleges of Architecture and Urban Studies, Arts and Sciences and Business as well as a varied set of shorter offerings in the summer provided by these and other colleges.
(The above information was obtained from Professor Robinson's page)

The first director of the Center was University Distinguished Professor of Architecture, Olivio Ferrari, who was an early leader of Study Abroad programs for the College of Architecture. After his untimely death in 1994, his wife and partner in the development of the Center, Lucy Ferrari, assumed the role of Director. As she knows the Riva community, the Ticino Canton and Switzerland well, she has been a valuable information resource to visitors and local residents alike. In 1997, she retired from the directorship. However, she still provides lectures and support to the Center.

Canton Ticino entered the Swiss confederation in 1803 as an independent state. The first elected legislative assembly, the Parliament, was held on May 20, 1803 and the President of that Parliament was the archpriest of Riva, Gottardo Zurini. For the 200 years celebration in October 2003, they named a street in Riva after archpriest Zurini. The current president of the Parliament is Marco Fiori.

Volontari Luganesi purpose to be a volunteer in the army was to ensure that Ticino remained a “balaiggio” land, under the control of the Swiss cantons. During certain celebrations that have historical significance, you can see people dressed in these uniforms and they perform a procession in honor of these leaders.

There are five sections of the community that can define Riva starting in the 1800s. These are political/social life, territories, trade/craft, school, and family life. Each section plays a significant role in understanding the developement over the last 200 years.

Political and Social Life
Political debates took place in the streets, at taverns, and on the church steps before and after the mass. The biggest town events were always related to Catholic holidays like ‘Corpus Domini’. Social festivals consisted of bands playing, theatre performance and soccer.

Territories
Riva’s population survived by harvesting crops from their filelds, meadows and woods and fishing from the lake. This became a problem when river “Laveggio” would flood the fields and destroy the harvest. The peasant not only worked in the fields, but also chopped wood and were involved in fishing. Most travel to the North was done by boat as the roads were under maintained for a long time.

Trade/Craft
A few of the trades and crafts commonly practiced were: baking, farming, carpentry, blacksmithing, shoemaking, shop-keeping, and notarizing. Riva people were also skilled at masonry, stone cutting, and stucco, but practiced in other states all around Europe.

School
The first school in Riva was an elementary school, that started around 1801. This is thanks to archpriest Zurini and the lawyer Abbondio Bernasconi. (Bernasconi is the original owner of Villa Maderni. Look on the fireplace for his initials). The subjects included reading, writing, arithmetic, religious studies, social skills, and geography. The students were mostly boys and above the peasant class.

Family Life
The census started around 1808. Prior to this, church records reflect the population count. There was a lot of information collected about men, including age, location, etc. For women, there was just a tally and no information. Within the family, the oldest male was the head of the household. This could be the father, the grandfather, or the great grandfather. Families usually consisted of 20 members or more, including grandparents and other relatives. Most people did not live past age 65.

This house, today called Villa Maderni, was the house of the Lawyer Abbondio Bernasconi. The coat of arms placed on the front door of the building is the one of the Bernasconi family. In it there is a dagger and a star of clear Masonic origin. This is to demonstrate the membership of Bernasconi to the “loggia massonica” (Masonic Lodge). The other side of the Bernasconi family (currently owners of the Villa Alfonso Vassalli) has in the coat of arms a flag in the wind.

The last owners of the Villa Maderni sold it since it was heirless.

The entry hall, in pure Lombard style, is of rare and unusual beauty. The wide stairway going to the first floor (what really should be the second), gives the impression that the family was wealthy. The North side horse stables also indicates that the family belonged to the “elite” class of the town.

The Bernasconi house was built in mid 1700. Lawyer Bernasconi was the leading figure in favor of Riva San Vitale and the last tongue of mendriosiotto land joining the Cisalpina Republic. This Republic was created by Napoleon which included all the territories north of the Pò River to the Alps. Abbondio Bernasconi paid the consequences of this choice, a fine of Fr. 1,400.- (beginning of 1800).

Lawyer Abbondio Bernasconi was the passionate king of the Republic of Riva San Vitale, which lasted only 25 days due to only a moderate support from the nearby towns. The republic was overthrown by the “Luganesi” which detested the village. During this time, the lawyer and a delegation were visiting the French general Chevallier in Milano for joining the Cisalpina of the Napoleon expression.

The predecessors of the Bernasconi were constructors appointed by the King of Spain and the ruling house of Austria. They specialized in the construction of fortresses and other military buildings in the XVI century. The constructors worked in Austria, in Styria and in Hungary against the Turks who laid the city of Vienna in siege. They recruited in the Bourg of Riva most of their specialized man power in such a construction area.

This house has a historic value for the Riva population and was the reference point for the elite of the town. They sought the French ideology of liberty in order to set them free from the “baliaggio” or binds of the Confederation Cantons.

In this house, the Bernasconi built a secret shelter where he hid a portion of documents and the reports he was mailing to Napoleon’s generals. They were discovered only a few years ago by Professor E. Vassalli. The documents related to the damages and fires which Riva had to undergo from the sections against the republic, and in particular from the “luganesi”. This act of Ticino history is falling into obscurity and very few people know exactly the facts of the town.

Bibliography:
1 Storia di Riva Prof. Macchi
2 Artisti di Meride Prof. Martinola
3 Artisti di Arzo Prof. Piffaretti
4 Artisti Ticinese in Austria Prof. Crivelli

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