Dear website visitor,

You can find hereafter a summary of our Association Activity, as well as a gallery of the most significant houses, which are part of our entity.

Our aim with this page in English language is to give you a quick overview of our activity, our targets, and our chart.

Should you require any further information, please feel free to contact us

ABOUT US

 

Our aim: preserve, defend, and develop the Italian heritage

 

The Associazione Dimore Storiche Italiane (ADSI) - Italian Historic Houses Association - acts on behalf of the owners of historic buildings in the Italian territory, as an important part of our cultural heritage.

Historic houses are classified as State listed cultural assets and, as such, are subject to strict regulations aimed at preserving their original structure and character, under the owners' responsibility.

It is a huge and varied heritage, including country houses and mansions, palazzi, villas and castles, as well as gardens and farm estates. They are spread on all Italian territory and are mostly (80%) located in the countryside or in small cities. Each of these assets has a precise identity, unique in Europe, for its history, cultural value and are closely related with the surrounding environment.

They are unique properties with peculiar maintenance issues, which the owners – as guardians of these assets - must face on a daily basis.

However these are assets which – providing a correct management – may be a strategic contribution to the economy of the territory they are part of, as well as to the cultural and social life.

To achieve this target, ADSI Italian Historic Houses Association, through its 4500 members, is constantly engaged, in partnership with the European Historic Houses Association (EHH), in promoting and valorising historic houses.

 

ADSI's commitment involves:

• The Association Members, and the owners of the properties, providing technical and legal advice including fiscal aspects.
• The national and local authorities, building a close and proactive partnership, in order to define with them the best solutions for the daily heritage management.
• The educational system, promoting knowledge among young people highlighting opportunities generated by the heritage management. Historic houses, cannot be moved elsewhere and can create job opportunities.
• The public opinion and media in general, in order to increase the knowledge of this important part of our cultural heritage.

HISTORY

 

The Associazione Dimore Storiche Italiane (ADSI) was founded in Rome, on 4 March 1977, based on the example of similar associations in other European countries.

Since 40years, ADSI is focused on the preservation, valorisation and management of historic houses.

It was established thanks to the commitment and passion of several owners and loyal custodians of the heritage that can undoubtedly be defined as one of the most important historical and artistic heritages worldwide.

 

The founding members of ADSI were:

Gian Giacomo di Thiene

Niccolò Pasolini dall’Onda

Oretta Massimo Lancellotti

Aimone di Seyssel d’Aix

Ippolito Calvi di Bergolo

Augusta Desideria Pozzi Serafini,

Rinaldo Chidichimo

Bona Midana Battaglia

Bonaldo Stringher

Bianca Leopardi.

 

On April 22^nd, 1977, the Board of the Association met for the first time in Rome, at Palazzo Pasolini dall’Onda, and unanimously elected as  National President, Gian Giacomo di Thiene, who held this position until 1986.

On the same day, the first regional branches of the Association were established:

Emilia-Romagna - Friuli-Venezia Giulia - Lazio - Lombardia - Marche - Piemonte and Valle d’Aosta - Puglia - Toscana - Umbria - Veneto

 

The other past Presidents of the Association were:

• 1986/1992 Niccolò Pasolini dall’Onda
• 1992/1997 Gaetano Barbiano di Belgiojoso
• 1997/2001 Aimone di Seyssel d’Aix
• 2001/2010 Aldo Pezzana Capranica del Grillo
• 2010/2016 Moroello Diaz della Vittoria Pallavicini
• 2016/2019 Gaddo della Gherardesca

 

Since June 4^th, 2019, Giacomo di Thiene, is the current National President

ASSOCIATION'S CHART (ABSTRACT)

 

It is defined as “historical house” a building declared of historical and artistic interest, including its park, garden, and other annexed structures, built or subsequently used both for residential or other purposes.

Historical Houses are clearly defined by the “Codice dei Beni Culturali e del Paesaggio” (Cultural heritage National Chart) established by Italian Law nr. 42/2004. However, the Association can declare that a given building can be considered “Historical Heritage” although not included in the above-mentioned Law 42/2004, due to his peculiarities, as well as historical reason.

The Association is a National entity and it is organised in regional branches.

The purpose of the Association is to assist their members in preservation, valorisation and management of historical houses, thus contributing to protect and enhance the knowledge of cultural heritage.

 

To achieve its purpose, the Association may, inter alia:

• Provide consultancy services, as well as assistance in administrative, fiscal and technical matters and information activities to its members.
• establish relations with the related public authorities;
• as a member of the EHH (European Historic Houses) association, collaborate with and join similar organisations at national, European and international level,;
• promote projects, studies and research aimed to the achievement of its purpose;
• recommend possible solutions for applying more suitable legislation, at national and/or European level;
• carry out cultural activities;
• undertake activities for promoting and valorising goods of the Members.

 

The Association has the following membership categories:

• members: persons who are the owners, or joint owners, of historical houses or single units within historical houses, or who hold real rights in the said houses;                 
• honorary members: members who give a significant contribution, by means of funds or in any other way, to the achievement of the organisation's purpose.

 

The Association may achieve its purposes through the contribution of the following persons:

• Patrons: important artists and cultural figures, besides other organisations and institutions, who contribute through their work and experience;
• Supporters: individuals, corporations or organisations that contribute through funding;
• Friends of the Historic Houses: individuals or corporations anyhow interested in supporting the purposes of the Association.

 

The Association operates through the following bodies:

• Members
• Managing Board
• National President
• Steering Committee
• Board of Auditors
• Board of Arbitrators
• Scientific Committee, whose membership and duties are defined in its own Regulation.

 

The Association is managed by the Managing Board, which is composed by the Presidents of the regional Branches and by nine members elected by the Assembly, in accordance with the Regulation.

The Managing Board names the National President.

The regional Branches, represented by their Presidents, provide for the implementation of the Association's purposes at the local level, liaising with the members and operating with the regional and other local authorities.

A Group of so called “Young Members” (within 35 years age) may also be established, at both central and regional level.

ORGANISATION CHART