Casa Malanotti, Palazzo Torracia, Terzolàs, Val di Sole
The story of De Caldes starts in the northern Italian province of Trentino. In Terzolàs, a historical town located in the Val di Sole (Valley of the sun), we find the Palazzo Torracia, the first residence of the Malanotti De Caldes.
The family produced and traded wool and fine fabrics and was ennobled by the late 1300s, as per the decima (record of tithes) of Terzolas in 1385, placing them among the oldest nobilita of northern Italy. The Regesten (inventory of genealogical documents) of the family have been kept since 1472. The distinctive Unicorn atop the coat of arms is now the logo of De Caldes rugs.
The original Medieval coat of arms fresco has been preserved in the Palazzo Torracia, Terzolàs
Among the many illustrious members of the family, Bernardino Malanotti De Caldes is documented in 1598 as the imperial advisor of Archduchess Anna Catarina in the Courts at Innsbruck and Vienna. He also accompanied Princess Cecilia Renata of Austria, daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II of Habsburg, to Poland, where she would be crowned Queen of Poland.
Borgo Malanotte, Vazzola
In second half of the 17th century, the family moved to the Piave river region north of Venice, where they founded the
Borgo Malanotte (borgo = hamlet) and built the Villa Malanotte.
Borgo Malanotte, Vazzola
In the Borgo lived around 250 people, working in the Malanotti spinning mill to continue the production of fine fabrics.
Loving everything exquisite, the family cultivated not only fabrics and rugs. In the grounds around the Borgo, they created a new viniculture for the ancient Roman Raboso grape, resulting in an exquisite red wine which became a perennial favorite of the nobility of Venice. In 2011, the Italian Republic created a DOCG wine designation, the highest official Italian wine classification, in their honor: Piave Malanotte.
Villa Malanotte, Vazzola
Fine fabrics, fine wine, and a passion for the arts characterize the Malanotti De Caldes family. In the 19th century, Adelaide Malanotte-Montresor was the diva in composer Gioacchino Rossini's operas. Among her many admirers was Lucien Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother. In 1813, she sang Tancredi in the premiere of the eponymous opera at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice. Later, Rossini rewrote two arias especially for her. The aria "Di tanti palpiti“, written for and sung by Adelaide, became the most popular aria of its time.
Event in the gardens of Villa Malanotte
Today, both Palazzo Torracia in the Val di Sole and Borgo Malanotte just north of Venice still stand in their old glory.
Mario Gagliardi
Now it is
Mario Gagliardi, designer and grandson of Eugenie Malanotti De Caldes, who continues the heritage by designing exceptional artisanal rugs for De Caldes.
Mario´s design philosophy for De Caldes is rooted in his Italian heritage and incorporates inspirations from places where he lived and worked – Denmark, Japan, Korea, Thailand, the Middle East and India. With great sensitivity for colors, patterns and surfaces, he creates a timeless aesthetic with a contemporary approach. His designs transcend fleeting trends and elevate both historic and contemporary interiors.
De Caldes rugs are made by the hands of artisans who are inspired by the stories behind a design and know the value of each material. It is these inspirations and the human touch of the artisans which create a lasting bond between a De Caldes rug and its future owner.