Bagheria

Bagheria ( BAGHERIA; Baaria Sicilian ) is a town in the province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, with 54 271 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012).

Location and data

Bagheria is located 16 km east of Palermo.

The districts of Bagheria are Aspra and Mongerbino. Aspra is known for its rich lemon plantations. In Mongerbino there are pristine, small beaches. Here live the rich of Palermo and the surrounding area.

Bagheria is located on the A19 and on the SS 113 Trapani - Messina. The village lies on the railway line Messina -Palermo.

The neighboring municipalities are Ficarazzi, Misilmeri and Santa Flavia.

History

1658 built himself Giuseppe Branciforte, scion of the great Sicilian noble family Branciforte, in Bagheria a medieval styled castle and named it Villa Butera. The construction of the Villa Butera (today Palazzo Butera called ) is officially considered the birth of the modern town Bagheria.

Salvatore Branciforte, grandson of the founder Giuseppe Branciforti initiated in 1769 the first city planning. Thus, a settlement founded by the still central church Chiesa Madrice around. The two main axes today and shopping streets of Bagheria, Corso Butera and the Corso Umberto I go back to that first town planning.

However, the Bagheria unique solubilizing component of urban development is the construction of many villas by other Sicilian noble families who moved into the countryside from Palermo. The Sicily Card by Samuel Schmettau of 1720/1721 already shows 38 of these villas. However, their design was followed in most cases not more like the Villa Butera the medieval, but the then most modern baroque aesthetics. The villas attention not only because of their size and huge gardens, but by their facades. Avenues were aligned axes. Today therefore means the villas of Bagheria as a baroque work of art.

With the described in the novel, The Leopard decline of the Sicilian aristocracy in the 19th century the rise of the bourgeoisie and the Sicilian Cosa Nostra was accompanied.

Especially in the 50s and 60s of the 20th century was one of its business areas, building speculation with money from the application made by Rome available development funds for the poor south.

In this way, ugly apartment blocks emerged in the former gardens of the villas poor construction quality. The Italian writer Dacia Maraini describes this situation from my own experience in her book Bagheria - A childhood in Sicily.

At the end of the 20th century, the decline of the Cosa Nostra began to have positive effects in Bagheria. Unique to publicly owned historic buildings are being renovated and used for cultural and tourist purposes. The conversion of the Corso Umberto I to the pedestrian zone brings peace to the city. The presented in January 2010 Project Bagheria - Baaria, l' altra città is a summary of nearly 40 sub-projects, which should make Bagheria finally to an attractive city for sustainable tourism.

Villas of Bagheria

The baroque villas of Bagheria are almost all based on a system of paths axes, which became the backbone of the later resulting in that stretch city. The oldest and most central axis leads to the Palazzo Butera and has been called Corso Butera to the main street of the village. The axis of the Villa Palagonia branches from this at an acute angle and slightly uphill from. The axes of the villas S. Cataldo, S. Isidoro and Romacca branched off from the main axis, although this situation is now disturbed by the railway. Most of the villas still exist. Some of the extensive gardens and parks, where stood the mansions, but fell in the 1970s and 1980s the building speculation of Mafia victims. The following list describes the still present on the territory of the city Bagheria Baroque mansions.

More villas of this type are located on the territory of the neighboring municipality of Santa Flavia.

• The Palazzo Aragona Cutò is one of the great mansions and was built in 1712-1716 for Baldassare Naselli Prince of Aragona. He is now in the possession of the city and houses the municipal library and the toy museum, but is currently closed. The garden is only a surrounding lawn obtain (aerial and other Geoservices: 38 ° 5 ' 20.7 "N, 13 ° 30' 28.3 " O38.08907613.507867 ).

• The Palazzo Butera was the first of the villas of Bagheria. It was built in 1658 by Giuseppe Branciforte, Principe di Butera, in the style of a castle. The Villa Butera is now owned by the city (aerial and other Geoservices: 38 ° 4 ' 35.3 "N, 13 ° 30' 26.9 " O38.07647713.50746 ).

• The villa Casaurro is a rare example of the residences of the low nobility. It is now privately owned and used by the Associazione Culturale Giuseppe Bagnera for cultural purposes (aerial and other Geoservices: 38 ° 4 ' 56.2 "N, 13 ° 30' 46.8 " O38.08227713.513008 ).

• In 1700 the Villa Cattolica, the Galleria di Arte Moderna now houses the works of the painter Renato Guttuso arose. He was also laid to rest here. His grave is located in the back of the villa surrounded by a garden overlooking the sea, just as it had itself requested the artist. It is the only villa, Villa Cattolica, with its main facade not Bagheria, but to Palermo oriented (aerial and other Geoservices: 38 ° 5 ' 23.7 "N, 13 ° 30' 5.3 " O38.08992413.50146 ).

• The villa Favazzi is another example of the structures of the lower nobility. It is located just off Corso Butera and is now a restaurant (aerial and other Geoservices: 38 ° 4 ' 52.3 "N, 13 ° 30' 24.4 " O38.08119513.506774 ).

• The Palazzo Larderia is distinguished by its unusual architecture. Seen from above, it resembles a star-shaped flower. It is now owned by the School Sisters of Maria Vergine Assunta (aerial and other Geoservices: 38 ° 4 ' 46.2 "N, 13 ° 30' 28.4 " O38.07949913.50789 ).

• The Palazzo Galletti Inguaggiato is one of the medium-sized villas and is situated on Corso Butera. It was built around 1770 and is being restored at the moment. The client is the director Giuseppe Tornatore was born in Bagheria (aerial and other Geoservices: 38 ° 5 ' 10.8 "N, 13 ° 30' 19.3 " O38.08632613.505349 ).

• As of 1715, the Villa Palagonia for Francesco Ferdinando Gravina e Crujillas, Prince of Palagonia, and his descendants was built on the highest point of an axis that passes through the doorway of the building. Part of the plant, a triumphal arch ( Porta dei Giganti ), which is now included in the Via Palagonia. Characteristic are the elliptical ground plan, an elaborate staircase and 62 stone sculptures that surround the main building. This grotesque statues that followed as the interior one iconographic program, the villa made ​​known internationally, but were not understood and criticized by most travelers. They wore the villa the nickname "Villa dei Mostri " (Villa of Monsters ). Goethe described it as " Palagonische frenzy ". The Villa Palagonia is since 1885 owned by the Castronovo family. The ballrooms and the garden can be visited (aerial and other Geoservices: 38 ° 4 ' 46.8 "N, 13 ° 30' 41.8 " O38.0796613.511615 ).

• The villa Rammacca was built in mid 18th century. It is located outside the city center at the foot of Monte Catalfano, today's outdoor recreation area of Bagheria. Therefore, their garden has been untouched by the real estate speculation. The villa Rammacca is privately owned and used for receptions (aerial and other Geoservices: 38 ° 5 ' 44 "N, 13 ° 30' 35.6 " O38.09555713.509875 ).

• The villa Roccaforte was originally a tower in rural areas before the village. In the 18th century, the buildings were converted into a villa at the foot of the tower. It is privately owned (aerial and other Geoservices: 38 ° 4 ' 51 " N, 13 ° 30' 50.6 " O38.08082513.514063 ).

• The Villa San Cataldo built in the 18th century under Prince Galletti di S. Cataldo, but was rebuilt in the 19th century in neo-Gothic style. Since it is on the outskirts, it's situated next to a large baroque garden, which is not related to the Villa, escaped the building speculation. In 1998 she was purchased by the Province of Palermo. It is run by the Jesuit Order and available to the public for cultural events are available (aerial and other Geoservices: 38 ° 5 ' 17 "N, 13 ° 30' 48.9 " O38.08804813.513586 ).

• The Villa Sant Isidoro was originally a rustic house and was rebuilt in the 17th century in a baroque villa. Since it is surrounded by extensive citrus plantations between Bagheria and the suburb Aspra, her garden has been spared the building speculation. However, she is as well as the environment in a desolate state. The plantations were supplied by a large pumping station and an extremely elaborate irrigation system that is still to be seen, but is no longer used. The villa is privately owned (aerial and other Geoservices: 38 ° 5 ' 52.1 "N, 13 ° 30' 4.5 " O38.09781113.501241 ).

• The villa Serradifalco was originally a fort- like, provided with towers homestead. It was expanded in the 18th century in the style of neoclassicism to a villa. As she lies on the eastern edge of the city core, remained her garden of the building speculation spared. The villa is privately owned today (aerial and other Geoservices: 38 ° 4 ' 5.1 "N, 13 ° 30' 49 " O38.06809513.513618 ).

• The villa Spedalotto was built by an unknown architect with hints of neoclassicism end of the 18th century. It is, as the villa Serradifalco on the eastern edge Bagherias and was therefore spared the building speculation (aerial and other Geoservices: 38 ° 4 ' 25.4 "N, 13 ° 31' 4.1 " O38.07372113.517797 ).

• The Villa Trabia is one of the largest villas Bagherias. Its construction was begun in 1759 and completed only towards the end of the 18th century. Approx. 100 years later, the original Baroque building was converted into a neo-classical. Despite its location near the center her garden has been preserved. The villa is privately owned (aerial and other Geoservices: 38 ° 4 ' 36.3 "N, 13 ° 30' 40.6 " O38.07675113.51129 ).

• The Villa Valguarnera, built 1714-1721 for Princess Maria Anna of Gravina, nee Princess of Valguanera, is the most elaborate of all villas of Bagheria. It provides a rising Directions Avenue, a space surrounded by colonnades atria and a concavely curved facade. Her big, eastward sloping terraced garden has been preserved despite the central location. The famous writer Dacia Maraini spent her youth in the Villa Valguarnera. She describes this period of her life in the book Bagheria. The Villa Valguarnera is privately owned. The owners plan to the public from time to time for cultural events to provide (aerial and other Geoservices: 38 ° 4 ' 35.3 "N, 13 ° 30' 55.9 " O38.07647813.515522 ).

• The Palazzo Villarosa was the first villa Bagherias, which was built from the outset in the neoclassical style. Especially characteristic are its Corinthian columns. The Palazzo Villarosa is privately owned and used for receptions (aerial and other Geoservices: 38 ° 4 ' 30.4 "N, 13 ° 29' 59.7 " O38.07510213.499909 ).

Museums and parks

The Toy Museum Museo del giocattolo is located in the Palazzo Aragona Cutò and displays a collection of old Sicilian toy. There is also a permanent exhibition of the painter Renato Guttuso in the Villa Cattolica. The modern Sicilian art is exhibited in the Museum Bagheria. The Parco di Monte Catalfano is the recreation area Bagherias.

Sons and daughters

• The mathematician Giuseppe Bagnera was born 1865 in Bagheria. A school and a cultural association in Bagheria are named after him. He died in 1927 in Rome.

• The poet Ignazio Buttitta was born in 1899 in Bagheria. His focus was on the political issues of Sicily. He died in 1997 in Bagheria.

• The painter Nino Garajo was born in 1918 in Bagheria. His works are attributed to the Sicilian and Italian realism. He died in 1977 in Rome.

• The painter Renato Guttuso was born in 1911 in Bagheria. His works are attributed to the realism and related mainly to Sicilian subjects. He died in 1987 in Rome.

• The writer Dacia Maraini was born in 1936 in Florence and moved in 1946 to their grandparents, who lived in the Villa Valguarnera Bagheria. She went to Rome in 1954. Your years in Bagheria she describes in the book Bagheria, A childhood in Sicily.

• The photographer Ferdinando Scianna was born in 1943 in Bagheria. He was discovered by the famous Sicilian writer Leonardo Sciascia, who by chance visited in 1963 a photo exhibition of young photographers. One of his other patron was Henri Cartier- Bresson, one of the founders of Magnum Photos.

• The director Giuseppe Tornatore was born in 1956 in Bagheria. He won an Oscar for his film Cinema Paradiso. Opened in 2009, the film Baaria, a tribute to his hometown, the Film Festival in Venice.

Film

• In Bagheria some scenes of the film The Godfather was - Part III rotated.
• Furthermore, the film Baaria plays ( Sicilian for Bagheria ) by Giuseppe Tornatore in Bagheria.