For sale
A unique place
Villa Cattaneo Gatti
Faido
A refuge with a soul, for those who look beyond time
Faido, Upper Leventina – Canton of Ticino, Switzerland
Open letter
For those who know how to recognize a rough diamond
This is not a home for everyone.
It's not modern. It's not perfect.
It's not immediate.
But it's true.
It's a villa that has lived.
Who welcomed, cared for, protected, inspired.
And if you're among those who seek places with a history to respect and a new life to imagine, then this dossier is for you.
You will not only find walls, rooms, gardens.
You will find an emotional and cultural legacy that deserves continuity.
And maybe, even a fragment of your future.
A living story, not just true...
The villa was built at the beginning of the 20th century by Elisa Gatti as a love gift to her husband, the doctor Emanuele Cattaneo .
From their union was born a stately residence, rich in frescoes and beauty, conceived not only as a home, but as a place of hospitality, art and care .
In the 1980s, the villa became part of our family: it was purchased by Nicole Philippot, Marie-Claire Moreau, Jacqueline Sylla and Dr. Med. Abraham Sylla.
A doctor, philanthropist, and founder of the NGO Sylla Caap, he moved his medical practice there, as well as his spiritual and family life.
It was here that he treated thousands of patients with medical and holistic techniques.
It was here that he welcomed friends, pregnant women, children, researchers.
It was from here that he carried out, with tenacity and love, his development and solidarity projects in Senegal and Europe.
This is not just a property.
It was our family home, the heart of our history.
The property in brief
Surface & Area
2,038 m² property - R3
Rooms & Services
20 rooms - 6 bathrooms
3 showers and 2 bathtubs
Medical Practice & Wellness Center
Studio at -1 already operational in the past.
With independent entrance from the garden and garage.
Historic garden
With centuries-old trees, stone paths and surrounding woods.
Internal garage
Also accessible from inside the house.
Asking price
CHF 1,600,000.-
Value based on uniqueness and real state.
Housing levels
6 levels
PT, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, roof/terrace,
-1 and -2
Large kitchen
Veranda-style kitchen.
Spacious, bright and convivial
Original structure
Authentic staircase and dome.
Stone staircase and dome still present
Art & Frescoes
Lovingly restored period details
Immediately habitable
Already functioning environments, with careful interventions, without urgent needs.
Future potential
Enhanced space .
Ideal for hospitality, culture, and healthcare projects.
 Villa Cattaneo Galli nel 1930 |  Giardino ingresso principale |  Facciata laterale sinistra |
|---|---|---|
 Facciata nel 2025 |  Cancello ingresso auto |  Lato sinistroIngresso laterale per PT e studio medico -1 |
 Facciata posterioreCucina a modi veranda e finestre ad arco dello studio medico |  Lato posteriore destro |  Vialetto auto e ingresso garage |
 Lato destro |  Ingresso |  Rampa di scale centrale |
 Affresco stanza Bar |  Stanza Bar |  Affresco PT |
 Affresco PT |  Affresco PT |  Affresco 1°Piano |
 Statua rilievo 1°piano |  Affresco 1° piano |  Affresco 1° piano |
 Affresco PT |  Affresco PT |  Affresco PT |
 Affresco 1°piano |  Affresco 1° piano |  Vista dall'alto |
Gallery
A climatic and spiritual refuge
Villa Cattaneo Gatti is located at 711 m above sea level in Alta Leventina.
Far from coasts, large cities, or risky areas, it represents a climatic and geographical oasis, where nature dialogues with the soul.
It is conveniently connected via:
Faido FFS station
A2 motorway exit (Lugano–Zurich)
Tourist and ski areas in the surrounding area
“Time has not stopped here.
He just learned to breathe calmly.”
Who is this place for?
For patrons, foundations, guardians of beauty
For families who want to pass on a living place to their children
For ethical, experiential, and artistic tourism operators
For those who dream of an authentic retreat, in a protected, true and human context
The spirit of the place
Villa Cattaneo Gatti is a place that has never stopped being inhabited with love and responsibility.
In the 1980s, it became the center of the life of Dr. Abraham Sylla—a physician, philanthropist, and founder of the Sylla Caap Foundation—who transformed it into a meeting point for healing, spirituality, solidarity, and culture.
Even today, a small part of the family lives in the villa, including Jacqueline Sylla (co-owner), maintaining the Villa's vocation with respect for its soul and its history.
Upon the buyer's request, we can discuss their presence as caretakers or local collaborators, offering a human and historical continuity that can enrich projects related to hospitality, memory, or the transformation of the villa into a cultural and/or therapeutic venue.
It's not a constraint, but a rare opportunity: that of receiving the gift of knowledge of the place, from those who have lived there every day with dedication.
“In a changing world, entering a place you already love is an invisible but real advantage.”
Post scriptum for those who feel this place calling them
If something, reading these pages, has resonated with you,
Don't let it be just curiosity.
Villa Cattaneo Gatti is not simply looking for buyers.
Look for continuity.
