Novella, her sisters and parents would visit Palazzo Ruspoli Grimaldi from La Cereda, their family home in Varese, Northern Italy. The former residence of Cardinale Grimaldi (1768-1845), General Anders, Commander of the 2nd Polish Corps, stationed troops in the house on his way North through Italy in 1945, meeting Chiara then aged 9.

After the war, Novella’s great aunt, Cristina Grimaldi, gave parts of Palazzo Ruspoli Grimaldi and Villa Valcerasa to members of her family.

The mission of this project is to reconnect, restore and share those stately buildings and their heritage, whilst enhancing their settings with new world-class climate-resilient gardens.