The historic building that houses the Permanent Mission of Italy, as well as the street on which it stands, takes its name from Empress Joséphine, Napoleon’s first wife, who lived there with her daughter Hortense for several years beginning in 1811.
The origins of the property appear to date back to the 14th century. Records from 1538 describe an estate far larger than today’s, extending north to Dupuy’s property (later known as the Reposoir des Picted), south and west to the road from Pregny to Lake Geneva (Chemin de l’Impératrice), and east to the Geneva–Versoix road (Route Suisse). At that time, it comprised a residence with a barn, stables, attic, garden, vineyards, and meadows.
The building took its present form in the 18th century, when Alexandre Sales acquired it in 1751 and undertook extensive renovations, improving both the interiors and the site’s vantage point with its remarkable view of the lake. When Empress Joséphine purchased the estate in 1811, it included a château, three auxiliary buildings, a courtyard, terraced gardens, orchards, meadows, fields, vineyards, rows of trees, and even a small port.
Joséphine lived there only a few years before passing the property to her daughter, who sold it in 1817.
In 1954, the estate was acquired by the City of Geneva and classified as a historic monument. Today, it serves as the headquarters of the Permanent Mission of Italy to the International Organizations in Geneva and to the Conference on Disarmament.
The City of Geneva oversaw a major restoration between 2009 and 2011, carried out by Italian restorers, which included work on the façade and several interior spaces, notably the Hall of Paintings. In 2014, additional renovations were completed to make the building fully accessible to persons with disabilities.