Villa Togni già Averoldi | Grandi Giardini Italiani

Information

2026 Season
Opening Hours
The gardens are open to the public from March 14th to December 13th, as follows:

March
Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
April, May
Thursday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
June, July, August
Thursday to Sunday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Closed on August 14th, 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th
September
Thursday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
October
Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
November
Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Closed on the 21st, 22nd, 28th, 29th
December
Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Admission
Full price: €12.00
Reduced price for young people (14-25 years): €7.00
Over 65: €10.00
Residents of the Municipality of Gussago: €6.00
Children (6-13 years): €4.00
Children (0-5 years): free
Groups (min. 10 people): €9.00
School groups (max. 25 people): €3.00

In case of events, the ticket price may be subject to change. variations

Contact us
Via Roma, 89
25064 Gussago (BS)

www.domanilaurora.org

History

The Gardens of Villa Togni, formerly Averoldi, in the heart of Gussago, are among the most musical gardens in Italy: a place where history, landscape, and the art of sound intertwine in a truly unique way.

The villa was once home to Camillo Togni (1922-1993), one of the most authoritative composers of the twentieth century. His intense artistic activity brought him to the stages of some of the most important musical institutions, including Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, and numerous editions of the Venice Biennale. In 2025, the documentary “Atto Unico - Life and Works of Camillo Togni”, the first film dedicated to the Brescian maestro, is scheduled for release, further strengthening the bond between the Villa, its gardens, and its musical legacy.

The Gardens of Villa Togni cover approximately four hectares and are divided into an eighteenth-century French Garden, an early twentieth-century English Landscape Park, an orchard, and an olive grove. The French Garden follows the classical principles of formal garden design theorized by Le Nôtre and was created-though not without distinctly Italian influences-in the early eighteenth century at the behest of the scholar and renowned man of letters Giulio Antonio Averoldi. The garden's uniqueness lies in its seventeen trompe-l'oeil frescoes which, together with an important hornbeam hedge, frame all the parterres. Eight of these painted “perspectives” are attributed to Ludovico Inganni, a Brescian quadraturist and grandfather of the more famous Angelo Inganni; this is the only documented work by Ludovico that has survived to the present day.

The main core of Villa Togni, formerly Averoldi, stands on a fourteenth-century fortification dating back to the period of Visconti rule over Milan, when the property belonged to the writer Pagnone Raccagni. Within these walls, in 1426, the Conspiracy of Gussago was plotted: a group of local nobles, led by Gherardo Averoldi, conspired against the Visconti and laid siege to Brescia, facilitating the transfer of the city and much of eastern Lombardy under the rule of the Republic of Venice. These events are celebrated in the Villa's most important hall through two frescoes by Ottavio Amigoni, commissioned by Giovanni Battista Averoldi in 1656.

It was Giulio Averoldi (1563-1602) who purchased the medieval fortification and initiated the transformation of the property into a true family pantheon dedicated to the celebration of the Averoldi lineage. In 1836, Giuseppe Averoldi commissioned a major restoration and expansion of the Villa, leading it toward the architectural layout that we can still recognize today.

In 1906, the Villa passed to the Togni family by the will of Giulio Togni (1869-1933), an entrepreneur in the steel industry and great-grandfather of the current owners. He acquired the property and personally oversaw the restoration and rehabilitation works on both the building and the French Garden, assisted by Egidio Dabbeni. The intervention was completed in 1911 with the inauguration of the English Landscape Park, designed by the French architect Pierre André.

Today, the Togni family still resides within the Villa. Since 2020, they have undertaken an important restoration project of the Villa and its Gardens, also supported by the Italian Ministry of Culture through the PNRR Historic Parks and Gardens Program.

Within this context, the Fondazione Domani l'Aurora - Camillo Togni was established, dedicated to the regeneration of cultural heritage. The Foundation's current General Director is harpsichordist and conductor Giulio Francesco Togni, Camillo's great-nephew, who continues the Villa's musical vocation and strengthens its identity as a garden of art and music.

In 2024, the Foundation founded the Domani l'Aurora Ensemble, an orchestra devoted to the performance of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century repertoire using period instruments or faithful reproductions.

The Great Green. Eco-sustainable practices

Thanks also to funding from the National Plan for Sustainable Development (PNRR), Villa Togni has carried out several important eco-sustainability projects:

◈ Protection of Biodiversity:

Exotic plants occupying 15% of green spaces removed
Over 300 new plants planted, including native trees and shrubs

◈ Water Efficiency
Installation of drip irrigation systems to reduce water consumption by up to 50% compared to traditional systems, optimizing up to 20,000 liters of water per year.

◈ Sustainable Energy:
Installation of a new LED lighting system, reducing energy consumption by 60% compared to traditional lamps

◈ Ecosystem Functions:

Increased green cover by 20% to improve CO₂ capture
Preserved and improved areas for birdlife, including protected species

◈ Sustainable Restoration
Restoration of statues and masonry with compatible materials, preserving 90% of the original elements

◈ Sustainable Mobility:
Added 10 bike racks to encourage sustainable transportation

◈ Reduction of Tourism Impact
Maximum access of 25 people per shift to protect the site and ensure a sustainable experience

◈ Environmental Education and Awareness
Organization of workshops and guided tours to raise visitor awareness

Podcast Grandi Giardini Italiani. La voce dei protagonisti

Ep. 8 - GIULIO FRANCESCO TOGNI TELLS THE STORY OF VILLA TOGNI, FORMERLY AVEROLDI

Giulio Francesco Togni, harpsichordist and orchestra conductor, interviewed by Judith Wade, CEO of Grandi Giardini Italiani, recounts the renaissance of the garden and of Villa Togni, formerly Villa Averoldi, as well as his role as director of the Fondazione Domani l'Aurora.

Two stories intertwine within the walls of this Villa: one more recent, dating back to the early 20th century, tied to music and the figure of Camillo Togni; the other, much older, connected to literature and to Giulio Antonio Averoldi, who in the 18th century commissioned the creation of the French Garden, designed according to the formal principles theorised by Le Nôtre.

Villa Togni, formerly Averoldi, has been part of the Grandi Giardini Italiani network since 2024.

Grandi Giardini Italiani Srl

Grandi Giardini Italiani Srl