Palazzo Filangeri-Cutò
Encyclopedia
The Palazzo Filangeri-Cutò was a palace built in the 17th century by the Corberas, a noble family of Spanish
origin, in the small Sicilian
town of Santa Margherita di Belice
. The palace provided the setting for Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
's celebrated novel The Leopard
, which traced the evolution of Sicilian aristocracy
in the 19th century.
The palace along with much of the town was severely damaged in an earthquake in 1968; in recent years efforts have been made to restore the palace grounds.
, and later of Arabs, became part of the feudal estate of a Spanish nobleman, Baron Antonio de Corbera, in the late 14th century. In the 17th century the Corbera family embarked on an ambitious architectural program, the most spectacular result of which was the Palazzo Filangeri-Cutò, built around 1680.
The 20th century aristocrat and novelist, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, who spent his childhood summers at the palace, gave a description of it in his memoir Places of My Infancy:
"Prince Niccolò" was the novelist's great-great-grandfather, Niccolò Filangeri, 7th Prince of Cutò and Prince of Satriano, Duke of San Martino and della Fabbrica (1760-1839). The palace became known as the Palazzo Filangeri di Cutò after he inherited and restored it.
The entrance hall was lined in a double row with portraits—dating as far back as the 1080s—of Tomasi di Lampedusa's ancestors. In the 18th century one of those ancestors, Niccolò's father, Alessandro II Filangeri, 6th Prince of Cutò (1740-1806) had the palace grounds planted with exotic species such as palms, bamboo and orange trees, and balls were held in the grounds at night around a large fountain. The fountain itself was kept stocked with Belice River eels for the Prince's table.
In 1812-13, the Palazzo became host for three months to the exiled Queen Maria Carolina of Naples
and Sicily, elder sister of the French
Queen Marie Antoinette
.
Later the palazzo was the residence of the "Leopard" himself, Alessandro III Filangeri, 8th Prince of Cutò (1802-1854), last minister of the last King of the Two Sicilies, on whom his great-grandson, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, patterned the protagonist of the famous novel.
Alessandro III Filangeri had no sons. Eventually the palazzo passed on to his grandson (by his only daughter Giovanna Nicoletta, 9th Pricipessa di Cutò), Alessandro Mastrogiovanni-Tasca-Filangeri, 10th Prince of Cutò (1874-1942). (Lampedusa's mother, Beatrice Mastrogiovanni-Tasca di Cutò (1870-1946), was this man's older sister.)
In the latter part of the 20th century the Palazzo was sold, and the new owners sought to capitalize on their purchase by putting up for sale some of its historic fittings, including old paintings cut from ceiling panels. In 1963, the palace provided the setting for some scenes in Luchino Visconti
's award-winning film adaptation of di Lampedusa's novel, also named The Leopard
.
Although the old town is now largely uninhabitable, much of it is still standing and it remains a tourist attraction. In recent years, the government formally recognized the old town's value in this regard by restoring the historic grounds of the Palazzo Filangeri-Cutò to their original plan.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
origin, in the small Sicilian
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
town of Santa Margherita di Belice
Santa Margherita di Belice
Santa Margherita di Belice is a town in the Province of Agrigento in the Italian region of Sicily.It rises in south-west Sicily, 400 metres above sea level, near to where the borders of the Province of Agrigento, Province of Trapani and Province of Palermo meet...
. The palace provided the setting for Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa , was a Sicilian writer. He is most famous for his only novel, Il Gattopardo which is set in Sicily during the Risorgimento...
's celebrated novel The Leopard
The Leopard
The Leopard is a novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa that chronicles the changes in Sicilian life and society during the Risorgimento...
, which traced the evolution of Sicilian aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
in the 19th century.
The palace along with much of the town was severely damaged in an earthquake in 1968; in recent years efforts have been made to restore the palace grounds.
History and description
The locality, which had once been a mountaintop stronghold of BerbersBerber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
, and later of Arabs, became part of the feudal estate of a Spanish nobleman, Baron Antonio de Corbera, in the late 14th century. In the 17th century the Corbera family embarked on an ambitious architectural program, the most spectacular result of which was the Palazzo Filangeri-Cutò, built around 1680.
The 20th century aristocrat and novelist, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, who spent his childhood summers at the palace, gave a description of it in his memoir Places of My Infancy:
"Prince Niccolò" was the novelist's great-great-grandfather, Niccolò Filangeri, 7th Prince of Cutò and Prince of Satriano, Duke of San Martino and della Fabbrica (1760-1839). The palace became known as the Palazzo Filangeri di Cutò after he inherited and restored it.
The entrance hall was lined in a double row with portraits—dating as far back as the 1080s—of Tomasi di Lampedusa's ancestors. In the 18th century one of those ancestors, Niccolò's father, Alessandro II Filangeri, 6th Prince of Cutò (1740-1806) had the palace grounds planted with exotic species such as palms, bamboo and orange trees, and balls were held in the grounds at night around a large fountain. The fountain itself was kept stocked with Belice River eels for the Prince's table.
In 1812-13, the Palazzo became host for three months to the exiled Queen Maria Carolina of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
and Sicily, elder sister of the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Queen Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette ; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was an Archduchess of Austria and the Queen of France and of Navarre. She was the fifteenth and penultimate child of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa and Holy Roman Emperor Francis I....
.
Later the palazzo was the residence of the "Leopard" himself, Alessandro III Filangeri, 8th Prince of Cutò (1802-1854), last minister of the last King of the Two Sicilies, on whom his great-grandson, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, patterned the protagonist of the famous novel.
Alessandro III Filangeri had no sons. Eventually the palazzo passed on to his grandson (by his only daughter Giovanna Nicoletta, 9th Pricipessa di Cutò), Alessandro Mastrogiovanni-Tasca-Filangeri, 10th Prince of Cutò (1874-1942). (Lampedusa's mother, Beatrice Mastrogiovanni-Tasca di Cutò (1870-1946), was this man's older sister.)
In the latter part of the 20th century the Palazzo was sold, and the new owners sought to capitalize on their purchase by putting up for sale some of its historic fittings, including old paintings cut from ceiling panels. In 1963, the palace provided the setting for some scenes in Luchino Visconti
Luchino Visconti
Luchino Visconti di Modrone, Count of Lonate Pozzolo was an Italian theatre, opera and cinema director, as well as a screenwriter. He is best known for his films The Leopard and Death in Venice .-Life:...
's award-winning film adaptation of di Lampedusa's novel, also named The Leopard
The Leopard (film)
The Leopard is a 1963 Italian film by director Luchino Visconti, based on Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's novel of the same name.-Cast:* Burt Lancaster as Prince Don Fabrizio Salina* Claudia Cardinale as Angelica Sedara / Bertiana...
.
Destruction
In January 1968, a massive earthquake devastated Santa Margherita, and many of the town's historic buildings were destroyed or severely damaged. The Palazzo Filangeri-Cutò was almost totally destroyed, with only part of its facade remaining. The town was subsequently abandoned by its 6,000 or so residents, and a new town built for them adjacent to the old one.Although the old town is now largely uninhabitable, much of it is still standing and it remains a tourist attraction. In recent years, the government formally recognized the old town's value in this regard by restoring the historic grounds of the Palazzo Filangeri-Cutò to their original plan.