History of Villa Spina

History of Villa Spina

Villa Spina, originally called Villa San Vincenzo, was built in 1676 by the Vanni La Torre di San Vincenzo family as a summer residence. The villa is located in the Piana dei Colli, once a sparsely urbanized area at the gates of Palermo, rich in waterways and lush vegetation. Although dating back to the 17th century, the building is considered an example of 18th-century art due to the interior frescoes created by Gaspare Fumagalli and his school.

Commissioning and Ownership:

• Vincenzo Vanni, Master of Accounts of the Royal Heritage, founded the villa on land previously owned by the Archbishop’s Estate.
• The property then passed to his son, Alessandro Vanni e La Torre, Prince of San Vincenzo. The family coat of arms, visible on the villa, represents the union of the Vanni, La Torre, Montaperto, and Marino houses.
• At the end of the 18th century, the villa, not yet completed, was purchased by Giuseppe Vella. Vella, known for a literary fraud involving fake Arabic codices, saw his assets confiscated. A monochrome view of the small church of Castello di Maredolce, a copy of one of the prints from Vella’s “Council of Egypt,” is present among the villa’s decorations.
• In the 19th century, the villa passed to the Isgrò family and subsequently to the Spina family. During the Spina ownership, mezzanines were added (no longer existing today), the park was arranged with a belvedere, and an artificial grotto, a “sirocco chamber,” was built.
• In the 1930s, the villa was purchased by the Palminteri family.
• In 2010, half of the property was acquired by the Venezia family.

Architectural and Decorative Features:

• Villa Spina features a regular layout, an elegant but not majestic façade, and a large double helical staircase leading to the main floor.
• The frescoes on the main floor, created around 1740, are attributed to Gaspare Fumagalli and depict the Allegories of the Seasons, rural landscapes, and still lifes inspired by Neapolitan art.
• The tempera decorations on the ground floor, in Pompeian style, testify to a subsequent change in taste in Sicilian art.
• The figurative majolica floors from Caltagirone on the main floor date back to the second half of the 18th century.

The Park:

• The park of Villa Spina is one of the few that has remained almost intact, both in its flora and original layout.
• In addition to typical elements of 18th-century gardens such as exedras, fountains, statues, and balustrades, the park features a romantic avenue with liburnum trees, an exedra with ficus magnoloides, and flora including palms, cycads, yuccas, dracaenas, and aloes.
• The artificial grotto, built using the “sirocco chamber” technique, utilizes air circulation to create a cool environment.

Recent Events:

• In recent years, Villa Spina has once again become a cultural center thanks to theatrical initiatives such as the “Rooms” performance in 2014.
• There are plans to open the park to the public for the creation of community gardens, dog training, and educational activities for schools.

Additional Information:

• The villa is located near the Palazzina Cinese and Villa Lampedusa.
• In 1986, Villa Spina was declared of particularly important historical and artistic interest.
• In 2023, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage of Palermo authorized a project for the use of the historic garden and the water chimney tower.

Note: Some sources report conflicting information about the history of the villa, particularly regarding owners and dates.