Villa Durando

Research Status: Stub Last Updated: 2026-05-31 Diary Coverage: Carnets 005, 011 (1873, Nice area)

Overview

The Villa Durando was a grand villa in the Nice area that the Bashkirtseff family considered renting or purchasing in May 1873. Marie describes it as "vraiment magnifique mais un peu trop loin" (truly magnificent but a bit too far). It was considered for purchase but rejected as a rental because of its distance from the Promenade and from the area where the Duke of Hamilton was habitually seen.

Diary References

• May 29, 1873 (005.0099): "We have seen the villa Durando, it is really magnificent but a little too far. It would suit us to buy it, but to here it is too far."

Research Notes

The name "Durando" suggests possible Italian origin (the Durando family was a prominent Italian military family; General Giacomo Durando was a 19th-century Italian statesman). However, the connection to this specific villa is not confirmed. Needs archival research into Nice property records of the 1870s.