Castellini Baldissera

The Castellini Baldissera family's ancestral seat is the 18th century Villa Castellini, on Lago Maggiore as well as the 14th century Casa Atellani in Milan. They also own a number of castles and villas in Emilia Romagna and Brianza. The family is still active in banking, real estate and textile production within Italy and the rest of Europe and are also known for having co-owned Banca Barclays Castellini in Milan for several years.[2]

Both the Castellini and Baldissera families have a long military tradition with the Royal Italian Army and Imperial Austrian Army; most members have occupied senior positions in both. Antonio Baldissera, served as the Governor of Italian Eritrea, a role which has caused the family to be the subject of much controversy.[3] Antonio Baldissera's statue in Rome was recently vandalised by protestors as a response to the death of George Floyd. The Baldissera family were also extremely close with the Austrian Imperial family, with the young Antonio Baldissera having been directly recommended for service by Maria Anna of Savoy, Empress consort of Austria.[4]

Count Ettore of Verampio, another relative, was an Italian nobleman and energy magnate who developed a close relationship with Victor Emanuel III. The King helped to endorse the Count's initiative to build the nations modern energy industry. The Count served as a Senator in both the Kingdom and Republic of Italy as well as having founded AGIP and Edison. Piero Portaluppi married into the family and was an architect and real estate mogul who designed a great number of villas and palazzos in and around Milan.[5] Portaluppi was also responsible for the restoration the Duomo di Milano and the Basilica di Sant Ambrogio after World War II.[6]

• Ettore, Count of Verampio (1871-1972), a renowned Italian industrialist.
• General Antonio Baldissera (1838-1917), served as the Governor of Italian Eritrea and a General in the Royal Italian Army, as well as having served as a Captain in the Imperial Austrian Army.
• Nicostrato Castellini (1829-1866), founding father of the Kingdom of Italy, served as a Major alongside Giuseppe Garibaldi.
• Piero Castellini Baldissera (1932- ), architect, designer and the founder of C&C Milano.
• Bartolomeo Bezzi Scala Castellini (1820-1898), Italian nobleman and military officer.
• Piero Portaluppi (1888-1967), architect and industrialist during the Fascist regime.
• Vincenzo Maranghi (1937-2007), banking magnate and husband of Anna Castellini Baldissera.
• Louis Ignace, Baron of Marthod (1792-1812), Major in the Imperial Dragoons, recipient of the Legion of Honor.

The Castellini family originated as wealthy landowners in the early 18th century, living in the various foothills and mountains around Milan, known as the "Alta Milanese" or Milanese Highlands. Around the mid 19th century the family began to industrialise, using their vast territories to raise Sheep who's wool could be used in their mills to produce fine fabrics and textiles. As the country's political system continued to shift, this business model became very popular amongst the Italian aristocracy, and other noble families who had similarly large estates. At the turn of the 20th century the Castellini family patriarch Clateus Castellini, used the wealth his family had amassed from textile production to found a number of private and merchant banks across Italy.[7]

The family are also recognised in the Equestrian world for owning some of the finest stables in Europe and for their expertise in breeding English Thoroughbreds.[7]

Over the years the Castellini family married their children into a number of other noble and princely families, a common practice amongst the Italian aristocracy. Because of this the Castellini are related to the Medici and Sforza families, with a number of direct relatives holding titles from both.[7]

Over the years the Castellini family married their children into a number of noble and princely families, a common practice amongst the Italian aristocracy. Because of this the Castellini Baldissera are closely related to the Medici and Visconti, with a number of direct relatives holding titles in both families.[7] Clateus Castellini married Marchioness Adele Medici of Marignano, while Elena Castellini married Count Raimondo Visconti di Modrone. The family are also related to the Marquesses Ranieri di Sorbello, the Pallavicini and the Marquesses of Casati.[1]

The Castellini Baldissera family are also descended from the d’Estienne De Marthod Family, a noble house from Provence that holds the hereditary Lordships of Orves, Saint-Jean, Bourguet, Marthod and Villemus. Baron Louis Ignace de Marthod served as a Major in the dragons de la Garde impériale and was known for his remarkable skill in battle, for which he received the Legion of Honor.[8]

The 2009 film "I Am Love" by Luca Guadagnino, the director of "Call Me By Your Name", was based solely on the Castellini Baldissera family. All the film's main scenes were shot on the family's various ancestral properties in Milan.[9]

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  The Palazzo Atellani, in central Milan, where Leonardo Da Vinci painted his Last Supper.
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  Villa Castellini on Lago Maggiore, the family's ancestral seat.
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  Palazzo Castellini in Milan during Fashion Week. The palazzo's bottom floors house the family's textile boutiques.