Villa De Vecchi

Villa De Vecchi, often called the Red House, was built at Cortenova in the Valsassina between 1854 and 1858 for Felice De Vecchi. The Lombardy cultural-heritage catalogue attributes the design to Alessandro Sidoli and classifies the house within Lombard eclectic architecture. Its unusual mixture of forms reflected the nineteenth century’s interest in combining historical and international styles. The estate once included a garden and service buildings, making it a country residence rather than an isolated horror setting.

Over time, the villa fell into disuse and its condition deteriorated. Broken windows, damaged plaster, and vegetation transformed the building’s appearance, giving it the abandoned look that later attracted photographers and ghost hunters. The Parco Grigna describes its decayed façade as a fitting film-horror backdrop, but visual atmosphere should not be mistaken for evidence of the sensational stories attached to the property.