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History of Sicily preserves numerous architectural projects designed for a certain social class, the elitist one. Every age was marked by edifices, mostly villas that borrowed the elements of the last emerging trend in order to become a highly fashionable stepping point for the entire aristocratic world.

There are various examples of high class resorts throughout the island but the most striking Baroque examples of this kind remain Villa Valguarnera and Villa Palagonia from 1712 and 1715. Both represent the great work of monk and architect Tommaso Maria Napoli. He is the one who drew into Palermo the comprehension of the Baroque style of the Austrian Empire and adjacently the understanding of Carlo Fontana’s architecture.

Starting with the early years of existence the two villas from Bagheria, province of Palermo, created a certain outlook over the skills of Napoli which immediately set him apart from other architects of his time. The Villa Palagonia is a bit more notorious than the Valguarnera since it presents a different Baroque show than Sicily got everybody used to. Ever since it was built, the villa pulled in many wondering eyes from all over Europe due to its uniqueness. The strange sculptural oddities did succeed in reaching the aim they were designed for: marveling the visitors. Eccentricity prevails over the style: statues of imaginary animals, dwarves, anthropomorphic beasts, figures from mythology, all kinds of caricatures representing women, musicians, knights are the reasons why the villa is surnamed “Villa of Monsters”. But it does make a pretty stylish grotesque appearance although it seems like an impossible mission. The Palagonia has beautiful gardens that come in a full package with peculiar stone statues that surround the walls.

The villa is the larger of the two creations of Napoli. It has curved facades and large arched windows. One of the villa’s own feature is the external double staircase that consists of straight flights that shape direction according to the straight or curved walls. The staircase does raise some questions that concern the designer because their construction was completed over successive generations of the family of Ferdinando Gravina e Crujillas (Fith Prince of Palagonia) which is the one that the villa was dedicated to. As the staircase was built in the later decades, no one can know for certain if they are part of Napoli’s plan. Another similar question is raised by the inner marble walls and the mirrored ceilings.

The Salone degli Specchi (Hall of Mirrors) still hosts balls and other events that gain great touristic fascination with every frescoe of fantastical birds and the rich decorated marble. For those who enjoyed reading about the adventures of Hercules, you should know that Stanza delle Fatiche di Ercole (Room of the Labors of Hercules) presents various frescoes of the hero in this highly elaborate space.

The complexity of the Palagonia is well argued and you should be careful. Once you take the first step into this fascinating world, there is no way you will turn back without desiring to discover every hidden corner.