Frozen in time, this perfectly intact home reflects the residential taste and interests of a typical upper-middle-class family in the late 19th century
Bequeathed to FAI by Emanuele and Siria Carbone in 1987
Inhabited until the end of the last century, Casa Carbone is a faithful encapsulation of the home life of the upper-middle classes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, where the cultured elegance is always moderated by a sense of understatement. The visit is based around the salone centrale, which is the house’s only proper reception room and serves as the fulcrum for the short sequence of rooms and bedrooms, all of which are relatively small, but extremely comfortable, welcoming and tastefully decorated with furniture and furnishings that reflect the desire – very much in vogue during what was an eclectic period – to revisit the styles of the past. A cycle of late 19th-century tempere embellishes the ceiling, with typically Ligurian celebratory figures and themes; the period flooring also embodies the ornamental tradition of the Riviera, with vibrant mosaics and geometric and floral motifs.
Tempere, mosaics and paintings (mostly sourced from the Genoa area and dating from between the 16th and 18th centuries) constitute an impressive backdrop for the rich interior scheme, which is the true beating heart of the home. The charm of the interior lies not so much in the particular properties of a good painting or in the high quality of the pottery, but more in the harmony of the ensemble, which is made up of a heterogeneous collection of painstakingly layered pieces, mirroring the unifying taste and character of the owners of the house. Casa Carbone is thus the ideal launch pad for researching a shared past, composed not of individual masterpieces but of an all-encompassing discernment, expressing the domestic sense of a period that, in cultural terms, is worthy of being treasured and handed down.
Casa Carbone will have the following opening hours:
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays:
- from March to June, 10 am – 6 pm
- July and August, 10 am - 12.30 pm and 7 pm - 10.30 pm
- from September to November 4th: 10 am – 6 pm
- Closed from November 4th to end of February
Guided tours available for groups. Prior booking required.
Please, note that the entrance to Casa Carbone is from Piazza Cordeviola 15, under the arcade next to Tecnocasa estate agency.
By car
From the A12 Genoa-Livorno Motorway (“Autostrada A12 Genova-Livorno”), take the Lavagna exit, then continue along the Genoa-La Spezia tract of the Via Aurelia until you reach Lavagna.
By train
Get off at Lavagna station. Follow the signs for Piazza Cordeviola.
By bus
Scheduled bus service from Sestri Levante and Chiavari, get off at the Lavagna Piazza Cordeviola stop. Enter via the gate marked as no. 15.
Please, note that the entrance to Casa Carbone is from Piazza Cordeviola 15, under the arcade next to Tecnocasa estate agency.
- FAI members: free entry*
- Adults: €5.00
- Reduced (aged 6-18): €2.00
- Children aged 0-5: free entry
- Students aged 25 or under: €2.00
- Residents of the Lavagna local council area: €2.50*
- National Trust members*, those with disabilities + 1 companion: free entry
- Family: €12.00. Allows entry at reduced rates for family groups composed of 2 adults and 2 children (6-18 years of age). Free entry for any additional children in the family group.
*with the exception of specific events, when only the additional event charge will apply.
During events the price may be subject to change.
Please, note that the entrance to Casa Carbone is from Piazza Cordeviola 15, under the arcade next to Tecnocasa estate agency.
Guided tours for groups and individuals are available at a cost of €60.00 per 18 people. Prior booking required.
For information and bookings: faicarbone@fondoambiente.it
Guided tours for schools are also available.
For more information, see the www.faiscuola.it site.
Disabled visitors can access free-of-charge those FAI properties that are open to the public by showing their ANMIC (Associazione Nazionale Mutilati e Invalidi Civili) card.
The property can be challenging for those who have difficulty walking, who may be limited to the garden and the ground floor of the house. Please contact the property for more information.
Choose the Casa Carbone for your events
Casa Carbone is located in Lavagna, not far from the elegant resorts of Rapallo and Portofino, and is the ideal venue for small private parties and business meetings. This perfectly preserved period home, in which the rooms encapsulate upper-middle-class family life in the late 19th century, is the perfect backdrop for temporary exhibitions, courses, press conferences and product presentations. Outside, the garden with its citrus trees is a wonderfully quiet location for shows, concerts, gala dinners and candlelit receptions.
By choosing a FAI property for your event, you are contributing to the conservation and safeguarding of Italy's heritage.
What can you do at Casa Carbone?
Private events
Exclusive lunches and dinners, book presentations, new product launches, runway events and concerts.
Corporate away days
Company get-togethers, conferences, volunteering projects, team-building activities, “out of hours” guided tours and workshops led by experts just for you.
Photo/video shoots
The house provides the perfect backdrop for photo shoots and filming.
For information
Casa Carbone
tel. (+39) 0185 393920
faicarbone@fondoambiente.it
Choose the best space for your event
Capacity
Lunches/Dinners: 50 people
Buffets: 80 people
Dimensions: 370 m2
