P

iazza Armerina and its surrounding area knew the most magnificent period for their history between 1700 and 1800. Many local houses, such as the Trigona family, had a special relationship with the Bourbon dynasty. The Casale feud had belonged to the Cammarata Bonifacio family since the Middle Ages.
Since the end of 18th century, new habits and social relations had brought to the construction of country houses (ville) which included servants’ rooms as well. Like medieval farms, new country houses too were located in places rich in water and next to the most important lines of communication.
In the areas nearby they planted out cypresses, oaks, carobs, palms, elms, magnolias, limes, laurels, pitosporoes and fruit trees. Such trees were meant to ensure flowers and scents around the house all year long.
Cammarata country house, which stands along the hillside overlooking the Casale valley, was built according with these criteria in local limestone and therefore its colour perfectly fits in the surrounding landscape.
The house is sheltered from the wind by the surrounding hills and, as it faces south, it is lit by the sun from morning till night.
The house is located and built on the basis of the very same criteria the Romans applied when they chose the bottom of the valley to site the present “Villa del Casale”.
Designed as a holiday home, because of its proximity to the town whence it is easily accessible, the country house was chosen as a welcoming dwelling by Ferdinand IV Bourbon on the occasion of his visit to Piazza Armerina which had been put under the authority of Caltanissetta.
As soon as we enter the House, we can perceive and feel that Romantic taste for the marvellous and the ancient searched for by travellers on their Grand Tour in Sicily, who were fascinated by the charm of classical archaeology pervading Europe in the period which saw the birth of the great collections of Greek and Roman art, which enriched the most important museums of the time.