A former convent of the Franciscan ‘Friars Minor’ from the 1400s, Villa Elisa was seized by Napoleon in the 1800s and converted into a grand villa with a park. It is located in Busca, on the site where there was a Franciscan convent at the end of the 1400s, which was expanded in the 1700s by architect Gallo.
In 1802, during the Napoleonic occupation, the convent was requisitioned and passed to Count G. Caissotti di Chiusano, who transformed it into an imposing and articulated villa, demolishing the church in the process. Some original masonry remains, decorated with frescoes by the Biazaci brothers. The rubble from the demolition was used to create an artificial mound, which now supports a romantic park featuring centuries-old red beeches and a dense, rare grove of giant bamboo.
The residence still retains its classic U-shaped structure around what was once the porticoed cloister. The north wing, used for official functions, may have housed a Masonic lodge. The façade of the south wing facing the garden is the most grandiose.
Visits are by appointment only and are limited to groups of 15 to 20 people, with arrangements needing to be made in advance.
Gardens
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Visits
Cultural tourism 
Gardens Historic Homes open to visitors 
