In Palermo, a wonderful historic residence, a unique example of a Victorian villa kissed by the magical Sicilian light to which it owes its singular beauty, built by the Englishman Joseph Whitaker, an illustrious entrepreneur and explorer who made the history of the island and its last Gattopardi.

Villa Malfitano Whitaker is among the most beautiful historic homes in the world, primarily for the curious crossroads of cultures and refined arts that influenced its owners, Joseph Whitaker and his wife Tina Scalia, in the construction of their beloved Sicilian home.

The history of the English Whitaker family is intertwined, in fact, with that of the Leoni di Sicilia, in particular the Florio family with whom the father Joseph and his uncle Benjamin Ingham became partners in the production of Marsala wine, whose success is due precisely to their powerful commercial fleet and relations in Europe.

We are proud to protect the incredible cultural legacy of the Whitaker family that has marked the history not only of Sicily but of Europe over the last two centuries. (Fondazione Whitaker)

Joseph Isaac Spadafora Whitaker, known as “Pip”, was born in 1850 and inherited much of the family’s large fortune and business, although his heart beats for three great loves: archaeology, ornithology, and botany.

It is precisely these passions that make him fall madly in love with Sicily and its rich history, an island that becomes the “base” from which he sets off on his long and innumerable expeditions abroad, especially in Africa.

After marrying Tina Scalia, he decided to build a large villa on the Malfitano estate, in the heart of Palermo, which he entrusted to the architect Ignazio Greco. Built between 1885 and 1889, it is a refined example of neoclassical architecture that draws on various styles in its interiors: the Victorian one, in vogue at the time in his beloved England, but also the French Liberty, and the Italian Pompeian style.

A cultured art connoisseur, Joseph frequents antique dealers and the main international auctions, where he buys objects of great value that are, another unicum of the villa, perfectly arranged as the family left them.

From unique pieces in the world such as the Flemish tapestries of the XVI century, the pair of cloisonné enamel elephants from the imperial palace of Beijing and the late eighteenth-century sleigh of Russian origin, to precious collections of porcelain, fans and paintings, in particular by Francesco Lojacono, considered the most important Sicilian landscape painter of the 19th century.

All perfectly preserved and, little by little, restored thanks to the precious work of the Whitaker Foundation, founded in 1975 by Delia, one of the two daughters of the Whitaker spouses and the last survivor of the family who lived in the Villa until 1971. The Foundation today protects both Villa Malfitano Whitaker and the Island of Mozia with its Museum, of which Joseph Whitaker was a pioneer in the important archaeological excavations that have returned important Phoenician masterpieces.

With great skill and passion, for years Dr. Maria Enza Carollo, Secretary General, has cared for and promoted this priceless heritage through dedicated initiatives and events that can be updated on the Foundation’s website and social networks.

Three levels for 2000 square meters, Villa Malfitano Whitaker tells the story of the glories of an era, as well as the lives of its owners through a succession of details and unique objects. The ground floor welcomes visitors with the most exciting rooms such as the summer living room painted by Ettore De Maria Bergler, the Louis XV living room, the dining room with rich boiserie made by the Ducrot company, and the beautiful orangery, with rare original wicker chairs, built by the Izambert foundry of Paris, the same one that made the vaults of the famous Musée D’Orsay.

The grand staircase leads to the second floor where the family’s private apartments are located: living rooms, a large library, and the bedrooms on which photos of Tina in elegant dresses from the Maison Worth of Paris, the first haute couture house in history, stand out. While the top floor was intended for the staff and the education of the girls, and the basement housed the kitchens, pantries and offices of the Master of the house.

The Villa is surrounded by a wonderful park, an authentic private botanical garden designed by Emilio Kunzmann and populated by an extraordinary variety of plants from Africa, Tunisia, Sumatra, Australia and Latin America, including imposing magnolias, the majestic Dracena Drago and a gigantic specimen of Ficus Magnolioides whose “octopus” foliage has reached an extension of 1000 square meters.

Villa Malfitano Whitaker, where films such as The Godfather – Part III and Lions of Sicily were also shot, is certainly one of the most beautiful Sicilian villas from the golden age of the Island, a visit to which is truly essential for all lovers of Beauty.

The Secret

To the attentive eye, the Villa is full of “quintessentially British” references, both, for example, in the humor of some of the juxtapositions and in the love shown for pets. On the second floor, in fact, we see the portrait made by the Japanese painter O’Tama Ragusa of the Whitakers’ beloved dog, Tuffy-too, who even had his own business card. Whitaker was also the founder and president of the first society for the prevention of cruelty to animals in Palermo.

Usuful Info

Villa Malfitano Whitaker
Via Dante 167
90141 Palermo
info@villamalfitano.it
Tel. +39 091 6820522

Entrance: full ticket Villa and Park 15 euros, consult the Foundation website for other offers and information on events and privatizations