The History of the Conti Passi de Preposulo
from Bergamo

The Conti Passi de Preposulo are an ancient family from Bergamo whose story (recorded in the Passi archive) begins in the year 973.
They became owners of the Villa Tiepolo Passi in the middle of the 1800s, inheriting it from the noble Valier family, who had inherited it from the Tiepolo family during the Napoleonic era.
In 1307, the de Preposulo, who held important civic and religious positions in Bergamo and acted as direct interlocutors with the emperor, began to be called “Passi” when Ottopasso de Preposulo negotiated peace between Guelf and Ghibelline factions in the territory of Bergamo. From that point onwards, the family were called “quelli de la pas”
(pas being the word for peace in the local dialect), then more simply
“i Pas” and finally Passi.
From 1400 onwards, the family remained loyal to Venice.
Over the last few years, the Conti Passi de Preposulo family have been working on a fascinating project which seeks to protect and promote the artistic and architectural heritage as well as the landscape and unique way of life of Venetian villas.