Villa Valguarnera
| Villa Valguarnera | |
|---|---|
Villa Valguarnera, exterior | |
Interactive map of the Villa Valguarnera area | |
General information | |
| Type | Villa |
Architectural style | Baroque |
| Location | Bagheria, Metropolitan City of Palermo, Sicily, Italy |
Construction started | 1712 |
| Completed | 1761 |
| Client | Valguarnera family |
Villa Valguarnera is an 18th-century villa in Bagheria, in the Metropolitan City of Palermo. It is known as little Versailles.[1][2]
History
The villa was originally designed for Princess Maria Anna of Gravina by Tommaso Napoli in 1712, and later continued by Giovan Battista Cascione after Napoli's death in 1725.[3] It was eventually finished only in 1761, when it was inherited by Maria Anna's niece Princess Donna Maria Anna Valguarnera.[4] Influenced bu Enlightenment, Valguarnera modified the original project, and enlisted mathematician and architect Niccolò Cento to integrate numerous Masonic symbols into the estate's interiors and grounds.[4] Cento also designed a site plan resembling a monumental key from an aerial perspective, ending in a three-nave temple adjoining the circular courtyard.[4] Among the guests hosted at the villa were Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Louis Philippe I, Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily, Maria Carolina of Austria, Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Rudolf Steiner, Carl Linnaeus, Helena Blavatsky and Jiddu Krishnamurti.[1][5]
Differently by many historic villas of the era, the villa has not been modernized, and has preserved its original appearance.[6] In 2015, it served as the setting for a Dolce & Gabbana commercial directed by Giuseppe Tornatore and starring Sophia Loren.[1][7] In 2019, it was used as a location in Ferzan Özpetek's film The Goddess of Fortune.[8][9] In 2020, it hosted the wedding ceremony between Radiohead's singer Thom Yorke and actress Dajana Roncione.[10] In 2026, it was chosen by singer Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner for their second wedding ceremony.[1][6]
References
- ^ a b c d Sharma, Ruchira (9 June 2026). "Inside the Sicilian Villa Where Dua Lipa and Callum Turner Celebrated Their Wedding Weekend—and How You Can Stay There, Too". Condé Nast Traveler. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ^ "Dua Lipa Looks So Chic Even After Spending All Night Partying at Her Wedding". Harper's Bazaar. 9 June 2026. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ^ Cedrini, Rita (2008). Repertorio delle dimore nobili e notabili nella Sicilia del XVIII secolo: Extra moenia (in Italian). Grafill. ISBN 978-88-8207-217-9.
- ^ a b c Montes, Geoffrey (9 June 2026). "The Hidden History Behind the Sicilian Palace Where Dua Lipa Held Her $1.7 Million Wedding". ELLE Decor. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ^ "Villa Valguarnera, la dimora da sogno del matrimonio di Dua Lipa e Callum Turner: quanto costa affittarla". Il Messaggero (in Italian). 6 June 2026. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ^ a b Bauer, Hélène (9 June 2026). "The Incredible Villa Where Dua Lipa and Callum Turner Celebrated Their Wedding in Sicily". Grazia. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ^ "Sophia Loren diretta da Tornatore a Bagheria per lo spot D&G". la Repubblica (in Italian). 30 September 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ^ Priori, Daniele (31 December 2019). ""La Dea Fortuna" di Ozpetek, un meraviglioso inno alla vita". Il Riformista (in Italian). Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ^ "Bagheria è il paese più scenografico d'Italia". ELLE (in Italian). 5 June 2026. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ^ Mier, Tomás (23 September 2020). "Radiohead's Thom Yorke Marries Italian Actress Dajana Roncione in Sicily". People. Retrieved 9 June 2026.