# Castellini Baldissera

The Castellini Baldissera are a historic family, originating from Milan and Brescia.

## History

The Castellini Baldissera family's ancestral seat is the 18th-century Villa Castellini or Villa Grande, on Lago Maggiore, and the 14th-century Casa Atellani in Milan. The family is still active in banking, real estate, and textile production in Italy. It is known for having co-owned Barclays Castellini in Milan for several years.
The Castellini family originated as landowners in the early 18th century, living in the various foothills and mountains around Milan, known as the "Alta Milanese" or Milanese Highlands. Around the mid-19th century, the family began to industrialize. Thanks in large part to Italy's vast territories dedicated to the rearing of sheep, they were able to build several mills that produced fine fabrics and textiles. These became very lucrative. As the country's political system shifted, this business model became very popular amongst the Italian upper classes. At the turn of the 20th century the Castellini family patriarch, Clateo Castellini, used the wealth his family had amassed from textile production and other ventures to found several private and merchant banks.
The family is also recognized in the Equestrian world for their expertise in racing and breeding English Thoroughbreds.

## Notable members of the family

Both the Castellini and Baldissera families have a long military tradition with the Royal Italian Army and Imperial Austrian Army; many family members have occupied senior positions in both. Antonio Baldissera, served as the governor of Italian Eritrea, a role which brought the family under much controversy. Antonio Baldissera's statue in Rome was vandalized by protestors, as a response to the murder of George Floyd. The Baldissera family were also connected to the Austrian Imperial family, as a result, the young Antonio Baldissera was directly recommended for service by Maria Anna of Savoy, Empress consort of Austria.
Ettore Conti of Verampio, another relative, was an Italian aristocrat and energy magnate, who developed a close relationship with Victor Emanuel III. Conti ran several of Italy's initiatives to build the nation's modern energy industry. Conti served as a Senator in both the Kingdom and the Republic of Italy as well as having been a founding member of AGIP and Edison. Piero Portaluppi an architect and real estate mogul married into the family. He designed a great number of villas and palazzos in and around Milan. Portaluppi was also responsible for restoring the Duomo di Milano after World War II.

## Other relatives

The Castellini Baldissera family is closely related to the Medici di Marignano and Visconti di Modrone families. Clateo Castellini married Marchioness Adele Medici of Marignano. Elena Castellini married Count Raimondo Visconti di Modrone. The family is also more distantly related to the Ranieri di Sorbello, Pallavicini, and Casati Marquesses.

## d’Estienne De Marthod

The Castellini Baldissera family are descended from the d’Estienne de Marthod family, through the Baldissera line. The D'Estiennes is a noble house from Provence which holds the hereditary Lordship of Marthod. Baron Louis Ignace de Marthod served as a Major in the Dragons de la Garde impériale and was commended for his remarkable skill in battle, with the Legion of Honor.

## In popular culture

The Castellini Baldissera family provided inspiration for the 2009 film I Am Love, directed by Luca Guadagnino. Many of the film's main scenes were shot on the family's various properties in Milan, with some members repeatedly appearing in minor roles.