Italian Villa (1840-1880)

National Register #83001178: Brix Mansion in Fresno, California Brix Mansion in Fresno
Built 1911
Photographed 25 June 2006
California Historical Landmark 864: Gable Mansion in Woodland Gable Mansion in Woodland
Built 1885
Photographed 11 August 2006
San Francisco Landmark #47: Nightingale House Nightingale House in San Francisco
Built 1882
Photographed 31 January 2012
(Click Photos to Zoom)

The Italian Villa style was inspired by villas of Tuscany, Umbria and Lombardy.

The most striking feature of the Italian Villa is the tall tower which is located either at the middle of the façade or at one end.

The Italian Villa shares many characteristic with the contemporaneous Italianate style. The Italian Villa style is typically asymmetrical while the Italianate style emphasizes symmetry. Italian Villa have towers and are free-standing. Italianate buildings lack towers, and while they are often free-standing, the style was popular for urban row houses in cities such as San Francisco and New York.

Distinctive features of the Italian villa:

  • asymmetrical massing
  • tall tower
  • low pitched roof which resembles the pediment of a classical temple
  • projecting eaves with large brackets
  • grouped windows with rounded or straight tops
  • smooth stucco finish with exuberant ornamentation
  • arched loggia
  • rectangular bay
  • pedimented window heads
  • belt course
  • balcony

 

Name Year Address City Sort Address Sort Name
Alexandria Hotel and Annex 1910840-844 Brown Street NapaBrown 0840Alexandria Hotel and Annex
Bidwell Mansion1865525 The EsplanadeChicoEsplanade 0525Bidwell Mansion
Brix Mansion19112844 Fresno Street FresnoFresno 2844Brix Mansion
Casebolt House18652727 Pierce StreetSan FranciscoPierce 2727Casebolt House
Gable Mansion1885659 First StreetWoodland Street 01 0659Gable Mansion
Kruger House 187410292 Donner Pass RoadTruckeeDonner Pass RoadKruger House
McHenry Mansion 1883906 15th StreetModesto Street 15 0906McHenry Mansion
Meek Mansion and Carriage House1869240 Hampton RoadHaywardHampton 240 Meek Mansion and Carriage House
Nightingale House 1882201 Buchanan Street San FranciscoBuchanan 0201Nightingale House
Patrick Ranch187210381 MidwayChicoMidway 10381Patrick Ranch
Villa Montalvo189215400 Montalvo RoadSaratogaMontalvo 15400Villa Montalvo
Westerfeld House18891198 Fulton StreetSan FranciscoFulton 1198Westerfeld House
Yerington Grammar School 1911120 North California Street Yerington, NVCalifornia N 0120Yerington Grammar School
Carson Mansion1885143 M StreetEureka M 143Carson Mansion
Benedict-Gieling House187922 Beaver StreetSan FranciscoBeaver 0022Benedict-Gieling House
Griffith House19122820 Pacific AvenueSan FranciscoPacific 2820Griffith House

Architectural Styles | Architects