The billiard room is situated at the bottom of the stairs leading to the area of the loggia of the ex-convent church. It is defined by high pilasters made up in different marbles and golden stucco with capitals decorated with peacock plumes among vegetable patterns. All around the walls there is a refined "boiserie" in carved and partially painted oak wood and panels in thuya brier; it was probably made by a German workmen. At Kees's time stood here a French billiard-table (never found), complete with twelve cues, three ivory billiard balls and five skittles. These pieces were contained in a special furniture made inside the boiserie on the wall towards the garden.
A large chandelier still hangs from the ceiling. It is made in golden bronze and opaline glass and has 21 lights. On the walls hang three plates in painted pottery. An harmchair and a carved wood table, belonging to Mr. Kees, stays here together with the erought iron vase-olders.
A photo recalls Mr. Marco de Marchi, the last owner of the villa, who lived here until his death on 1936. A passionate naturalist and philantropist who left his house and wealth for the realization of an Institute for the studies of Hydrobiology, which was completed in 1938 by his wife, Rosa Curioni.
|