Villa Ciani is a historic residence built between 1840 and 1843 by brothers Giacomo and Filippo Ciani, members of a family from Blenio (Ticino), but based in Milan at least since the eighteenth century.
At that time Milan was under the domination of the Austrians and the Ciani supported the Carbonara conspiracy participating in the uprisings of independence. For fear of being arrested, in 1822 they left Milan and after touring Europe they settled permanently to Lugano where they obtained the Ticino citizenship.
Giacomo was politically active at both local and federal levels and gave impetus to hotel tourism in Lugano with the construction of the Hôtel du Parc.
Filippo, the younger brother, among other things promoted the construction of a new prison in Lugano. He showed sensitivity to popular education through numerous philanthropic initiatives, including the foundation of a kindergarten in Lugano.
In Lugano, the two brothers acquired as their own residence the villa on the shores of Lake Ceresio that stood on the foundations of a castle once belonged to the Dukes of Milan in the Sforzesca era. From that moment on, the villa - immersed in a vast park of 63'000 square meters overlooking the lake - will take their name.
After the death of the two brothers, the City of Lugano bought the Villa - in 1912 - which became the Museum of History and the Civic Museum of Fine Arts. Still today, inside his halls you can admire paintings and sculptures dating back to Ciani's period.