Look straight ahead to spot a grand, white-painted villa with a red-tiled roof perched atop a bluff, overlooking a lush, terraced garden and an elegant water stairway running down the hill.
Standing here, you might feel as though you’ve just stumbled out of Milwaukee and right into the rolling hills of northern Italy. In 1924, after a dreamy Italian vacation, Lloyd R. Smith-yes, of the A.O. Smith family-decided Milwaukee could use a little Mediterranean sparkle. He hired architect David Adler to bring a piece of Lombardy home, and the result was this Italian Renaissance-style masterpiece, anchored by a show-stealing water stairway inspired by Villa Cicogna Mozzoni. Not only does the house gleam with white brick and terracotta tiles, but inside, the details are a feast for the eyes: imagine ornate fireplaces, beamed cypress ceilings, and ironwork by the famous Austrian-born blacksmith Cyril Colnik, whose creations have a way of making doorknobs look jealous.
As you look down the garden, you’ll see terraces, fishponds, and, if you're lucky, maybe even a secret garden or two-originally designed by Rose Standish Nichols. Although, in true mysterious-gardener fashion, no one has ever found her plans. In 1966, the Smith family handed over the keys to Milwaukee County, and Villa Terrace became a museum, keeping most of the magic intact. The gardens you see were carefully restored after years of effort, culminating in their lush rebirth in 2002.
Today, this place isn’t just for art lovers-those breathtaking Lake Michigan views and storybook terraces have made more than a few couples say “I do.” Sometimes, a visit to Villa Terrace is all you need to feel a little bit closer to Italy…no passport required!
