The Villa was initially named Villa Pia after Cristoforo Benigno Crespi’s wife, but it later became known as the Villa Crespi or simply “La Villa.” Today, it can still be read the original “Villa Pia” on one of the gates.
This Moorish masterpiece stands out worldwide for its style, stuccoes, and arabesque inlay. This marvel takes visitors' breath away even hundreds of years after it was built.
The building has gone through a succession of different owners over the years. In the 1930s, it was purchased by Marquis Giacomo Fracassi, and for a time, it became a place of residence for poets, nobles, and royalty, including King Umberto of Savoy. In 1999, after being meticulously updated, Cinzia and Antonino Cannavacciuolo returned to their Eastern Mediterranean charm and turned it into a landmark of Italian hospitality and a temple devoted to refined cuisine and good taste.