Villa Braila Park and Library

Villa Braila, the perfect place for a walk or a run through nature, surrounded by age-old trees and an impressive Art Nouveau building.

Lodi is green at heart, with a multitude of wooded areas where you can take a break from your daily routine by taking a stroll or reading. One of these is Villa Braila Park, a place of peace and tranquillity that houses a separate branch of the Municipal Library.

The Park: walk among some breathtaking trees
Not far from the centre of Lodi (about ten minutes walk along Viale Rimembranze) is the Villa Braila Park, home to trees, streams, wooden bridges, a children's playground and a library. A fairy tale setting where you can treat yourself to an afternoon of peace and quiet in the fresh air. Amidst the many trees in this green area, you will spot two large Himalayan cedars, which stand out majestically against the sky (they are a good 36 metres high), a honeyberry tree with its grey bark covered in moss, a common oak (the most prevalent type in Europe), as well as shrubs and two bald cypresses with abundant soft light green leaves, which take on a characteristic reddish hue in autumn. The Himalayan pine is also very distinctive, with its long graceful needles. Continuing along Viale Agnelli, you will find a pedestrianised area where other trees grow, including yew trees: the largest of these is also the oldest (it may be over 100 years old). Due to the huge number of branches adorning it, the trunk of this tree is almost impossible to see, it grows very slowly and is shaped like an imposing sculpture, withstanding pruning well.

The architecture of the Villa
Within the Park stands a historic building designed over three floors in 1901 by the architect Gallavresi. Villa Braila features several characteristic elements of the Liberty style: on the east side, at one of the entrances to the building, there is a wooden portico decorated with floral motifs and supported by reinforced concrete columns.

On this side you will see seven French windows and eight windows, all embellished with ornamental naturalistic motifs. On the south side of the Villa, you can admire the only balcony on the building and its wrought iron railing, which echoes the design of the grilles on some of the windows. On the west side stands a tall glass portico with reinforced concrete columns. Lastly, the fourth side of the house features the "Domus Amica" sign near the main entrance, as commissioned by the former owners.

The Library: books immersed in nature
Today Villa Braila is home to several Associations, a branch of the Laudense Library and some study rooms located on the ground floor, all with free Wi-Fi.
The Library is located at Via Tiziano Zalli 5 and is open from Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 7 pm. Just one good reason to take a breather in the pages of a book, after enjoying a walk and the fresh air in the lush natural surroundings of the Park.