The history and legends of Villa Cerri: where is the house of the doomed lovers?

An elegant late Art Nouveau residence, nestled in the countryside. This is how one might describe Villa Cerri di Lomello, located in the province of Pavia. The property was once owned by Francesco Sempio, founder of Curtiriso and better known as the “”king of rice.”” Yet, despite its potential to be a magnificent historic residence, the villa is infamous for a far darker reason, it is widely known as the house of the cursed lovers and the subject of chilling legends.

The house of the cursed lovers

It all began with an affair. In the summer of 1912, a young bride was said to have betrayed her husband with the stableman of the villa. One day, upon returning from a hunting trip, the husband discovered his wife in the arms of her lover. Consumed by jealousy, he killed them both before taking his own life. From that moment on, the villa was abandoned, though some claim it has never truly been empty.

A haunted and abandoned house

Legend has it that ever since the tragic events of that day, no one has been able to live in the house, which still stands at Strada Provinciale 193bis, 4, in Lomello. Over the years, various owners have come and gone, each fleeing in terror after witnessing strange apparitions. The villa has since become a destination for thrill-seekers and spiritualists drawn to its eerie reputation.

To prevent trespassing, the windows and doors have been barricaded. As previously mentioned, the last known owner was Francesco Sempio, who attempted to keep the villa in a respectable condition while discouraging intruders.

The truth behind Villa Cerri

The true name of the residence is Villa Cerri, named after Pietro Cerri, a local landowner who commissioned its construction in the late 1920s. If you paid close attention to the dates, you may have noticed a glaring contradiction, the so-called massacre of the lovers predates the villa’s existence, making it impossible for the crime to have taken place there.

This is further confirmed by a commemorative postcard produced at the time of the villa’s completion, now in the possession of writer and local history enthusiast Gian Franco Magenta. The postcard not only contradicts the popular tale but also features an image of Pietro Cerri himself, alive and well, standing at the entrance of the house.

Unravelling the legend

Following a family bereavement, the Cerri family eventually sold the villa, and from that point onwards, rumours and ghost stories took hold. In truth, the legend of the cursed lovers likely stems from a combination of older folktales, one involving a gruesome murder in a nearby mill, another recounting a tragic affair, passed down through generations by locals. Over time, these fragmented stories intertwined, giving birth to the myth that still surrounds Villa Cerri today.

*Photo – credits to @lucyvanpelt666

Article translated by Agnese Giardini

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Curiosities

Travel

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