The name of the Tomasi family is indissolubly linked to one of the most famous books in the world, made immortal by the film “Il Gattopardo”, directed by Luchino Visconti. His protagonist Don Fabrizio Salina plays the role inspired by the Prince of Lampedusa and his family.
The eternal beauty and magnificence of Villa del Gattopardo seem to tell one of the most famous phrases in the book: “We were the Leopard, the Lions: who will replace us will be the Shagakalets, the hyenas; and all of you, Cat-partridges, jackals and sheep, we will continue to believe in the salt of the earth“.
The real uniqueness of the Villa is in its beauty and in the people who lived there: an eighteenth-century residence that hosted the last heir of the noble princely house, Giuseppe Tomasi, a shy and lonely man but able to eternalize – with his writing – a lifestyle that only Sicily boasts in the world.
“The meaning of a noble house is all in the traditions, in the vital memories; and he was the last to possess unusual memories, distinct from those of other families“: this quote contains the true value of Villa del Gattopardo testimony, restored to its splendour, the oldest and noblest Sicilian traditions. The last memories of Prince Tomasi of Lampedusa can come alive and vibrant thanks to the wise restoration that has been able to return a precious piece of history.
The residence is notable for stylistic choices and architectural solutions, such as the lavishness of the decorations Louis XVI, the aedicule close to the staircase with pincer according to late eighteenth century schemes, the neoclassical chapel on the ground floor below one of the terraces, the fine frescoes of the noble floor and the remarkable tempera of the lower floor by the Roman painter Gaspare Fumagalli, the stucco, the coffered ceilings with frescoes.
In 1845 the villa was bought by Giulio Tomasi IV, Prince of Lampedusa, with compensation paid by the Bourbon government following the expropriation of the island of Lampedusa, where an astronomical observatory was set up to support his astronomical ambitions.
The interior decoration is the triumph of perspective illusion: trompe l’oeil in monochrome grey, frescoes of vaults, walls and overlays according to a gracious rococo taste, enriched by stucco, often flex to neoclassical influences.
Villa del Gattopardo is not only a splendid residential residence, but the most true expression of an era that has become legend in Sicily, the age of the Gattopardi.
Villa del Gattopardo
If you wish to get to know Sicily in its most authentic and fascinating beauty, experience its ancient and noble atmospheres and immerse yourself in the deep emotions that only this island can offer, then a stay at Villa del Gattopardo, the home of the Princes of Lampedusa, that inspired Giuseppe Tomasi in the writing of one of the most famous novels in the world, Il Gattopardo, is a must.
Here you will rediscover the roots of a centuries-old land, where the beauty of nature is inextricably intertwined with the baroque splendor of the Sicilian aristocracy, in a riot of art, flavor, elegance and hospitality.
Each suite at Villa del Gattopardo is designed to give you sensations of absolute uniqueness, in the privilege of living an exclusive and impeccable experience.Let yourself be bewitched by the Suite del Principe or the Suite Gattopardo and surrender to the millennial seduction of Sicily.
A marvellous and spectacular fountain, a unique spectacle in Europe, pays tribute to the island’s history and to the traditions that tell its deepest essence.
We look forward to seeing you with the certainty that you will fall in love with corner of paradise.
Villa del Gattopardo returns to its ancient splendor thanks to a careful restoration that brings to light frescoes, stairs, ceilings and rooms from another time.
360° Virtual Tour
Enter inside the villa, we will accompany you on this fantastic Virtual Tour. Explore the ancient restored halls of the residence of Prince Tomasi of Lampedusa as if you were there.