Villa Bella Vista facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Villa Bella Vista
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In 2016
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 7 Old Depot Rd., Chester, Connecticut |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1908 and c. 1920 |
| Architect | Pierre, Eila; Lanzi, Martin |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 00001560 |
| Added to NRHP | December 28, 2000 |
Villa Bella Vista, also known as the Eila Pierre House or The Ledges, is a historic house in Chester, Connecticut. It was built in 1908 by skilled builders from Italy. This house is special because it was designed to look like old farmhouses from northern Italy. Villa Bella Vista was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. This means it is an important place in history.
Villa Bella Vista: A Special Home
Villa Bella Vista is located in Chester, Connecticut. It sits on a hill and looks out over the Connecticut River. The house is quite large, with two stories. It is made of concrete covered with a special stone-like plaster called stucco.
What Does Villa Bella Vista Look Like?
The house has a tall, three-story tower on its northwest side. The roof of the tower and the main house are not very steep. Their edges stick out far, giving the house a unique look.
On the east side, there is an open porch, which is sometimes called a piazza. This porch is shaded by structures called pergolas. These pergolas are like open walkways with beams that can support climbing plants. Glass doors, known as French doors, open from the house onto this porch.
The house also has several balconies on the second floor. One of these balconies has doors with pointy, arch-shaped tops. These are called Gothic pointed arches, a style often seen in old castles.
Who Built Villa Bella Vista?
The Villa Bella Vista was built in 1908. It was designed by its owner, Eila Pierre. She loved the style of farmhouses in northern Italy. Even though she wasn't a professional architect, she drew up the plans herself. She made sure the house fit perfectly on its hilltop spot.
Skilled builders from Italy worked on the house. These same builders also helped construct the nearby Gillette Castle.
