Romantic Dream for Rent

Tucked away in the local foothills of the San Gabriel mountains lies a hidden estate steeped in history and set in a backdrop of peace and tranquility. An estate where a Tuscan-inspired villa built on dreams, can be yours for a night.

Renting a dream has never been this real.

Famed architect Wallace Neff designed Villa del Sol d’Oro, which stands on the grounds of what today is Alverno High School in Sierra Madre. Its façade is a two-thirds scale replica of the Villa Collazi near Florence, which is said to have been designed by Michaelangelo

The Villa was originally built to house prominent Los Angeles physician Walter Jarvis Barlow and his family. After Barlow’s death in 1942, his wife sold the estate to the Sisters of Francis, who used the Villa as a convent and noviate. The school was constructed by the order in 1960 and turned over to the Immaculate Heart Community, who still sponsors the school, in 1978.

Being a school, some might think it a shame that such a beautiful piece of property be left unused during days-off.

Fortunately, it need not be so.

Through the years, the Villa has played a huge role in shaping Alverno life with its annual Festival of Haunts, Winter Formal dance, and other community get-togethers. However, locals aren’t the only ones who can enjoy the Villa’s exotic charm.

Alverno High School is aware of the magnificence of its estate and the school administration is more than willing to let others bask in its beauty by renting it out for special occasions.

Dreaming of an outdoor wedding under the Tuscan sun but can’t afford the trip to Italy? Villa del Sol d’Oro it is. Want to host an Italian-themed party but don’t care for the long trip to Tuscany? Try Villa del Sol d’Oro.

This is not to say that the Villa is only used as a second-class substitute for the real thing, rather, it serves as a first-rate venue in a class of its own for life’s important events.

The beautiful estate has also been featured in various Hollywood productions like including Legally Blonde, The Princess Diaries, A Walk in the Clouds, and many more. Further testament to the estate’s beauty and grandeur.

To find out more about the school and estate, visit http://www.myalverno.org.