The House of Visconti di Modrone is a collateral branch of the

Visconti of Milan The Visconti of Milan are a noble Italian family. They rose to power in Milan during the Middle Ages where they ruled from 1277 to 1447, initially as Lords then as Dukes, and several collateral branches still exist. The effective founder of the V ...

. It originated in the 17th century and still exists today. Since the 19th century, several lineage members achieved prominence in different domains of public life, including the theatre and cinema director

Luchino Visconti Luchino Visconti di Modrone, Count of Lonate Pozzolo (; 2 November 1906 – 17 March 1976) was an Italian filmmaker, theatre and opera director, and screenwriter. He was one of the fathers of Italian neorealism, cinematic neorealism, but later ...

Origins

The Visconti di Modrone descend from Uberto, younger brother of Matteo Visconti,

Lord Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power (social and political), power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the Peerage o ...

Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...

, between 1287 and 1322. Since the primary residence of the first generations of Uberto's offspring was in the

castle A castle is a type of fortification, fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by Military order (monastic society), military orders. Scholars usually consider a ''castle'' to be the private ...

Somma Lombardo Somma Lombardo (''Suma'' in lombard) is a town in the province of Varese, Lombardy, Italy. It received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree on 16 June 1959. Industry The airline Neos has its head office in the city. History Th ...

, they were known by the surname of Visconti di Somma. In 1473, the two brothers Francesco and Guido Visconti di Somma divided the castle and the other family properties. In 1683, Niccolò Visconti di Somma, a descendant of Guido, married Teresa Modroni, originating the Visconti di Modrone lineage. The origins of the Visconti di Modrone are recognizable in their current peerages. The title of Count of Lonate Pozzolo traces back to the properties and noble rights in Lonate Pozzolo, a few kilometres south of Somma Lombardo, received by Guido Visconti di Somma in the division with his brother Francesco.

History

In 1778, Francesco Antonio Visconti di Modrone, grandson of Niccolò Visconti di Somma, obtained the title of

Marquess A marquess (; ) is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German-language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman with the rank of a marquess or the wife (or wid ...

Vimodrone Vimodrone ( ; historically ''Modrone'' or '' Vico Modrone'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Milan in the Italy, Italian region of Lombardy. It is located about northeast of Milan. Vimodrone borders the following munici ...

. In 1813, the title of Duke Visconti di Modrone was granted by

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

to Carlo Visconti di Modrone (1770–1836). Mausoleo Visconti.JPG, The Visconti di Modrone family mausoleum, seen from Veduggio 8955 - Milano - Palazzo Visconti di Grazzano (sec. XVIII) - Foto Giovanni Dall'Orto 22-Apr-2007.jpg, Palazzo Visconti di Modrone in Milan Between 1884 and 1890, a family mausoleum was erected at Cassago Brianza. Its appearance, inspired by the dome and the spires of the

Milan Cathedral Milan Cathedral ( ; ), or Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint Mary (), is the cathedral church of Milan, Lombardy, Italy. Dedicated to the Nativity of Mary, Nativity of St. Mary (), it is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdi ...

, has become part of the local landscape. During the 19th and 20th centuries, industrial undertakings were started by different family members around Milan: silk production in Canegrate, a weaving plant in San Vittore Olona, a bleaching factory in Somma Lombardo, and a cotton mill in Vaprio d'Adda. At the beginning of the 20th century, Giuseppe Visconti di Modrone (1879–1941), the father of the filmmaker Luchino, renovated a group of hovels and old stables surrounding a medieval family castle located from

Piacenza Piacenza (; ; ) is a city and (municipality) in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy, and the capital of the province of Piacenza, eponymous province. As of 2022, Piacenza is the ninth largest city in the region by population, with more ...

in the municipality of

Vigolzone Vigolzone ( Piacentino: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Piacenza in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about northwest of Bologna and about south of Piacenza. Vigolzone borders the following municipalities: Bettola, ...

and transformed them into a village of Middle Age aspect which in the early 20th century was named ''Grazzano Visconti''. In 1937, the title of Duke of Grazzano Visconti was granted to Giuseppe Visconti by King

Victor Emmanuel III of Italy Victor Emmanuel III (; 11 November 1869 – 28 December 1947) was King of Italy from 29 July 1900 until his abdication on 9 May 1946. A member of the House of Savoy, he also reigned as Emperor of Ethiopia from 1936 to 1941 and King of the Albania ...

. Grazzano Castle, built in 1395 by Giovanni Anguissola, a brother-in-law of

Gian Galeazzo Visconti Gian Galeazzo Visconti (16 October 1351 – 3 September 1402), was the first duke of Duchy of Milan, Milan (1395) and ruled that late-medieval city just before the dawn of the Renaissance. He also ruled Lombardy jointly with his uncle Bernabò V ...

, passed to the Visconti di Modrone family following the death of marchese Filippo Anguissola in 1870. It is still owned by the family. Entrata Borgo Medioevale di Grazzano Visconti - panoramio.jpg, The entrance to Grazzano Visconti Grazzano Visconti - panoramio - Gregorini Demetrio (1).jpg, Grazzano Visconti Castle

Notable members

Some members of this branch were: * Uberto Visconti di Modrone (1871–1923), entrepreneur * Marcello Visconti di Modrone (1898–1964), son of Uberto * (1901–1942) * Luchino Visconti di Modrone (1906–1976), theatre, opera and film director * Eriprando Visconti di Modrone (1932–1995), director * Violante Visconti di Modrone, set decorator in the

Academy awards The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence in ...

nominated 2017 ''

Call Me by Your Name (film) ''Call Me by Your Name'' () is a 2017 coming-of-age romantic drama film directed by Luca Guadagnino. Its screenplay, by James Ivory, who also co-produced, is based on the 2007 novel by André Aciman. The film is the final installment in Guad ...

References

{{Visconti of Milan