Villa Mantegazza

This “villa” was built by Paolo Mantegazza (1831-1910), anthropologist, doctor and writer, a great scholar, lover of the mountains and travel. In 1848 he took part in the “Five Days of Milan”; experimenter of the first artificial insemination, he conceived a new theory on human craniology; in contrast to the text “Cuore” by De Amicis (1886), he wrote “Testa” in 1887. He published a series of writings on physiology: Physiology of Pain, Hatred, Pleasure and Women. A hyperactive and eccentric man, he travelled a lot and was one of the promoters of studies on drugs, and in particular on cocaine. From 1865 to 1876 he was a member of the Italian Parliament. Like almost all the “villas” of the late 1800s, this one was also transformed into a hotel by the Bellini ladies who already owned one in Florence; in 1939 it became Albergo Excelsior with the Caniparoli family, still existing. Via Brennero (formerly Via Giardini), 313 51021 Abetone